Honda's hidden talents

Honda says the new Civic's low overall height, big wheels and wide stance creates a feeling of stability.

Honda New Zealand isn't saying much about its new Civic. It won't even admit that the production version - revealed for the first time today - is almost identical to the bold concept unveiled at the Geneva motor show in March.

No clues either about what New Zealand buyers can expect in equipment levels. Nothing about the price, or model line-up.

"We have nothing to say," said the company's marketing manager Graeme Meyer.

How about a launch date. "We have nothing to say," he said.

Surely Honda will go with the 1.8-litre engine and not the 1.4-litre?

"We have nothing to say," he said.

What about the new six-speed gearbox?

"We have nothing to say," he said.

The colour scheme? Some jazzy new colours are on offer apparently.

"We have nothing to say," he said.

What Meyer didn't say was that the new Civic will probably appear here before Christmas. That's the word on the street anyhow.

It mightn't be in large numbers but it will be in showrooms, taking pride of place in the Honda order of things to whet buyers' appetites.

The eighth-generation Civic will officially be unveiled at next month's Frankfurt motor show.

Honda HQ in Japan describes it as a "five-door hatchback with three-door looks exclusively designed for Europe."

It features the same cab-forward, wedge-shape styling as the concept.

The integrated lighting and the triangular foglights and exhaust outlets are the same, too.

Honda says the final design's low overall height, big wheels and wide stance creates a feeling of stability, while the wedge profile emphasises the bold look and hints at an equally adventurous interior.

The new Civic is is 35mm shorter, 35mm lower and 65mm wider than the present Civic hatchback. The wheel tracks are wider, too - 34mm at the front and 35mm at the rear. But designers have repacked the interior for more room.

The Civic, like the Jazz, has a centre-mounted fuel tank, which, along with "one-motion" rear seats that fold flat into the floor, helps free up more cargo space.

The dashboard features a "dual zone" instrument panel. Vital controls and instruments sit within an inner zone surrounded by a secondary zone housing radio, heating and ventilation controls and trip information. Honda says the design displays vital information like road speed more prominently.

Honda offers a range of three engines: 61kW/1.4-litre and 103kW/1.8-litre petrol units or a 103kW/2.2-litre diesel unit mated to either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic with manual mode.

Standard safety equipment includes anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution, a stability package, active front head restraints, front seatbelt pretensioners, seatbelt reminders all round and front, side and curtain airbags.

Also included is climate control air-conditioning, trip computer, rake- and reach-adjustable steering column.

Premium models get automatic lights and wiper functions, high-density headlights, dual zone air-conditioning, retractable door mirrors.

Honda says the new Civic will be one of the safest cars in its class, despite its short front overhang.

It expects to get a Euro NCAP five-star result for front and side impact safety, three stars for pedestrian safety and four stars for child protection safety.