This is the Honda Civic That India Wants

The New York Motor Show of this year saw Honda of America unveiling the 2016 Civic in concept form. The 10 generation Civic will make its official debut later this year, in multiple body styles. From sedan to hatchback, to Si to Type-R editions, the 2016 Civic aims to put performance on the pedestal it deserves to be on. The 2016 Civic will debut Honda’s new 1.5 liter-4 cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that also gains direct injection. A 6 speed, short shift manual transmission will accompany, seeking to make the engine-tranny package an enthusiast delight. A new CVT gearbox will be offered too.

Now, the 2016 Civic has gotten larger, with a boost to wheelbase while the track has gotten wider. However, the design of the new car focuses on keeping a taut, compact form factor. Notwithstanding its increased dimensions, the 2016 Civic tries to actually look smaller. Firstly, it sits lower. The greenhouse is set back while the hood gets longer and the front overhang, shorter. Things get rounded off with a more compact rear, making the car look sporty out and out, at least in concept form. Safety gets a bolster, with a range of advanced features making it to the new car. The men in white coats at Honda have been entrusted the task of making the new Civic sportier to drive as well.

An engaging driving experience is what the latest iteration of the Civic promises to deliver, in spades. This comes as a welcome departure, especially given that the current, and 9th generation Civic’s big push towards being ‘practical’, in the process taking away much of the emotion that the brand had managed to evoke generation after generation, from younger car buyers in particular. With the 10th generation model’s sporty bent, Honda will aim to pull back a few of the younger lot. So, this is pretty much what the Civic is about as far as international markets are concerned. India launch on the cards?

For now, Honda sees no point in bringing the 10th generation Civic to India anytime too soon, for the D-Segment sedan space isn’t going great guns. The likes of the Renault Duster and the Mahindra XUV500 have proven to be worthy alternatives to D-Segment sedans, with buyers now loosening their purse strings to more crossovers than sedans, in the 12-20 lakh rupee segments. Adding a turbo diesel engine to the 10th generation Civic, and of course bringing in the sporty, 1.5 liter turbo petrol unit, with the sharp styling and all, will allow the Japanese automaker to make best of the immense goodwill that the Civic continues to enjoy in India. But will Honda bite the bullet? Slim chance.