Honda will launch the 10th generation Civic later this year, according to the executive vice president of the company’s US division, John Mendel.
In order to prepare for the launch of the all-new model and to respond to consumer preferences, Honda will discontinue the current Civic Hybrid and Civic Natural Gas at the end of the 2015 model year, the executive added.
“These moves will allow greater focus on Civic’s sporty new driving character,” Mendel was quoted as saying by Autoblog. Previewed this spring by the Civic Concept at the New York Auto Show, the upcoming Civic will feature Si and Type R variants. According to Mendel, the Type R will arrive in 2017.
The new Civic will get a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a short-throw six-speed manual and a CVT. “We’re creating the strongest and most balanced vehicle lineup in our history,” the executive said, adding that some Civic versions will still return more than 40 mpg (5.9 l/100 km) in highway driving.
Besides the changes to the Civic line, Honda has discontinued the Accord plug-in hybrid to focus on the updated Accord Hybrid, which is scheduled to launch in early 2016. However, a new plug-in Accord will arrive in 2018.
When asked about a “baby NSX” sports car in the wake of patent images that leaked last week, Mendel gave an interesting answer. “No I can’t tell you anything about the baby NSX. I mean I could, but I’d probably be fired.”
Note: Honda Civic Concept pictured
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