Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Europe, Hatchback, Honda
The 2012 Honda Civic has already launched here in the United States, but the party is just about to start for our friends in Europe. Across the pond, the Civic has always been quite different from the model we receive in North America, and for the new model year, that tradition will carry on. How can we tell? The first bit of information Honda chose to release about its new five-door European Civic concerns ride and handling, not fuel economy or interior comfort or how many different paint colors will be available.
Initial development of the Euro Civic started in Japan, but when it came time to tune the suspension, the project was handed over to the company's European division. "Every time we visited Europe during the development of the car, we achieved significant improvements in the ride and handling, tuning the car for the local demands," states the Civic's chassis development leader, Kazuo Sunaoshi. The European Civic will retain its torsion beam rear suspension setup from the current car, though Honda has increased the wall thickness of the beam and fitted a larger-diameter stabilizer bar.
The new Civic will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, with only the five-door hatchback configuration being offered. Like the previous Civic, we can expect a range of gasoline and diesel powerplants for European markets, and who knows, maybe a too-hot Type R model will be in the works, too. Follow the jump for Honda Europe's official release, as well as a video of the Civic's ride and handling undergoing testing.
Continue reading Honda to debut all-new European five-door Civic in Frankfurt [w/video]
Honda to debut all-new European five-door Civic in Frankfurt [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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