Civic lessons

PITSTOP

What you are seeing are the first official pictures of the new Honda Civic. Um, not the one that just debuted at the ongoing Frankfurt Motor Show, that one is the Europe-specific futuristic looking hatchback.

This Civic, ladies and gentlemen, just went on sale in the US. So what's the big deal, you ask. Well, it's the one that's headed to our shores. This, the eighth generation Civic, fits perfectly between the City and the Accord in terms of the Honda design language.

In fact, it looks like a combination of the other two Hondas, except for the aggressive front bumper and Euro-chic taillamps. As an aside, we might as well tell you that Honda recently revamped the City for the South East Asian markets, and the facelifted City's front treatment matches that of this new Civic.

Honda launched a hot coupe version of the new Civic with a 197 bhp 2000cc VTEC unit in the US, and along with it, surprise, surprise, a hybrid version of the sedan too. Oh, a natural gas version also debuts in the US next year. However, what's more relevant to us, is a smashing new engine for the three-box body.

It's a new 140 bhp 1800cc VTEC that promises to be the most powerful in its segment when launched in India "" that is if you don't include the turbocharged gasoline-drinking Skoda Octavia RS. Trust Honda to make this engine barely sip the unleaded stuff. A five-speed manual and a four-speed CVT automatic will be offered as gearbox options for our country.

Inside, the Civic debuts with a novel instrument console called Dual Link, in which you get the important stuff viewed from the top of the steering wheel, while the rest of the information is seen in the traditional way, through the steering wheel.

The controls and the overall layout promise to be ergonomic, in the true Honda format. The new Civic is marginally shorter than its arch-rival, the Toyota Corolla, but it promises better interior space and legroom, thanks to a longer wheelbase.

While the US-spec model gets a whole lot of safety features, we will have to see what Honda Siel Cars India deems necessary for us Indians.

The new Civic will make its Indian debut most likely early next year, and like its siblings, promises to be immensely successful.