As promised, Honda revealed at the New York Auto Show a striking new version of the Honda Civic Hatchback, bringing a bit of Euro chic to Americana. Unveiled in prototype form, the new Civic is also quite un-American under the skin.
The 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Prototype unveiled in New York has a 1.5-liter DOHC direct-injected Turbo engine and a 6-speed manual transmission. That’s something a European would appreciate as clever, efficient, and pretty sporty. But to an American that engine belongs in a food blender, and as for the manual gearbox, they think it’s a commie plot. That’s probably why the production version will also get a CVT option.
Specs and details of the sporty new Honda Civic Hatchback are yet to be released, but design-wise, it is pretty much what you can see here. So if you’ve been thinking about ordering a Ford Focus or a VW Golf, hang on a bit and see this thing in the flesh before making up your mind.
“The Civic Hatchback wraps the 10-generation Civic platform and five-door hatchback utility in emotional, Euro-inspired styling,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president and general manager of the Honda Division of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Offered with the first application of the 1.5-liter turbo engine paired with a manual transmission, this sportiest Civic to date will attract a whole new set of enthusiasts buyers to the model and Honda brand.”