All About Japan Autos

The last time Honda redesigned the Civic was in 2006. Five years later, the automaker will release the 2012 Honda Civic.

For now, the automaker has only provided a sketch of upcoming Civic. The drawing “conveys the sleek and aerodynamic profile of the show vehicle,” says Honda. “The production version of the ninth-generation 2012 Civic based on the revealed concept will go on-sale in spring 2011. John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president of sales, will introduce the concept vehicle at a press conference.”

Based on the sketch, CNET thinks the new Civic will be heavily restyled and have a sporty look. “One notable element is the roof, which appears to be glass. We would not expect Honda to offer a glass roof standard, but it may be an option,” they write.

Autoblog adds that the sketch merely gives the industry an idea of how the Civic will look. “Of course, it’s always difficult to tell what will survive the transition between design sketch and reality,” they explain. “We don’t expect to see those huge wheels nor the wildly flared hips make their way to production. Speaking of production, Honda has a long history of rolling out concepts that are nearly identical to the real deal.”

Honda hasn’t released any specifications or photos for the 2012 Honda Civic. You’ll have to wait until the 2011 Detroit auto show to get more information on the coupe and sedan. In the mean time, shoppers planning to buy a new car in the next few months might want to wait — especially if they want a Civic. Honda is well known for producing quality vehicles, and with affordable small cars offering a complete package of affordability, good fuel economy and jazzy styling, Honda has to keep up with the best of the pack. The 2012 Honda Civic may be even better than its older sibling.

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