Have you been waiting for the new Honda Civic hatchback to make its way to American showrooms? Well your wait will soon be over, friend, as the first shipload is on its way to the United States. And while it’s underway, Honda has released full details and the first official photos of the new five-door model.
Shipload? As in, from Japan? Yes and no. While Honda builds the Civic sedan and coupe in Indiana and Ontario for local consumption, the “global production hub” for the five-door model is in the UK. That’s where they’ll be exported from to locations around the world, and the US is getting the first units off the line.
Now that the ship has set sail, we’re glad to finally tell you what’s on board. No longer “forbidden fruit” to American buyers, the Civic Hatchback will be offered in five trim levels: LX, Sport, EX, EX-L, and Sport Touring. Only one engine will be offered – a 1.5-liter turbo four – but in two states of tune and with two transmission options.
The LX, EX, and EX-L models boast 174 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. The Sport and Sport Touring models pack the same twist, but a high-flow exhaust helps them produce a little more power at 180 hp. Buyers will also be able to choose between a continuously variable or six-speed manual transmission (depending on the trim).
What’s more is that the hatchback pictured here in production guise for the first time will also serve as the basis for the next Civic Type R, which promises to be something to shout about.
In the meantime, the Civic hatchbacks are making their way and are scheduled to reach dealers next month already in September. British and European buyers, meanwhile, will have to wait until early next year.
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