American Honda dealers may get a version of the Civic that’s very different from the model they’re selling now in a way to help out the carmaker’s struggling British factory, according to a new report.
Nikkei says Honda’s U.K. facility in Swindon will start exporting the European-market Civic hatchback built there starting as early as summer 2016. The publication claims between 30,000 and 40,000 British-built Civics could head for North America.
It’s an effort to cut costs as Honda’s European operations continue to struggle in that depressed market. Honda’s market share has dropped to just 1 percent following the global economic downturn and the culling of several models such as the Accord. The Swindon factory is apparently running at about half capacity. Previously, it’s given the U.S. market some second-generation CR-Vs and the seventh-generation Civic Si hatchback.
A new Civic is due for a release early in 2016 as a 2017 model. As reported by Automotive News earlier this month, the 10th generation Civic will get a 1.5-liter turbo four on at least some versions. The European Civic hatchback built in Swindon went on sale in early 2012, the Tourer wagon variant released a year later. The Civic Type-R was just unveiled this month at the Geneva Motor Show. That generation of Civic shouldn’t be around too much longer before a redesign then.
However, it’s likely the North American Civic and European Civic will have much more in common than the two models do now. That would allow the underused U.K. factory to supply cars for North America and relieve some of Honda’s overworked factories on that continent.
I’ve maintained the Civic hatch and Tourer would make a great future Acura ILX, but it’s frankly welcome in any way in the U.S. And here’s to hoping it teaches the North American Civic some things before its debut.
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