Honda Patents New 2012 Civic Sedan and Coupe Designs in Europe

A peek through the European patent office files revealed images of Honda’s freshly launched in North America, 2012 Civic in both four-door sedan and two-door coupe guise. Given that the European market will get its own, bespoke version of the Civic, chances are that Honda simply wanted to cover its back like most of the competition just in case another automaker (we are looking towards you China) got any crazy ideas.

However, it is possible that Honda will offer the four-door saloon model in certain European countries to compete against the Volkswagen Jetta. With the exception of one version of the Civic sedan seen in this set of images and which features slightly modified taillights with additional strips that extend towards the license plate holder, there are no other differences compared to the North American Civic.

Read more »

New Honda Fit Shuttle: Leaked Brochure Reveals Station Wagon-Like Model

A bonanza of allegedly official brochure photos showing a new, station-wagon-like variant of the Japanese domestic market [JDM] Fit have leaked onto the internet. Named the Fit Shuttle, the car appears to be based on the recently refreshed Fit (Honda uses the Jazz nameplate in Europe, Australia and other international markets) featuring a longer body with taller roofline and a redesigned rear end.

As you can see in the brochure shots, the Fit Shuttle will be offered in two flavors, a Hybrid version powered by the same IMA system with a 1.3 liter i-VTEC engine featured on the five-door hatchback model, and a more powerful variant with a regular 1.5-liter gasoline unit.

According to the Japanese media, the Fit Shuttle will be introduced in its home market within the next few weeks with sales to start around March. We'll follow the story and keep you posted on any updates.

Kudos to J.F. for the tip!

Sources: Ryuji & Mincara

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

New Honda Fit Shuttle: Leaked Brochure Reveals Station Wagon-Like Model

A bonanza of allegedly official brochure photos showing a new, station-wagon-like variant of the Japanese domestic market [JDM] Fit have leaked onto the internet. Named the Fit Shuttle, the car appears to be based on the recently refreshed Fit (Honda uses the Jazz nameplate in Europe, Australia and other international markets) featuring a longer body with taller roofline and a redesigned rear end.

As you can see in the brochure shots, the Fit Shuttle will be offered in two flavors, a Hybrid version powered by the same IMA system with a 1.3 liter i-VTEC engine featured on the five-door hatchback model, and a more powerful variant with a regular 1.5-liter gasoline unit.

According to the Japanese media, the Fit Shuttle will be introduced in its home market within the next few weeks with sales to start around March. We'll follow the story and keep you posted on any updates.

Kudos to J.F. for the tip!

Sources: Ryuji & Mincara

_______________________________GALLERY_______________________________

SPY VIDEO: Is this the New 2012 Honda Civic Sedan?

What is claimed to be the new 2012 Honda Civic Sedan was caught almost naked with very few body parts masked, hot weather testing in the Dubai by Car Magazine Middle East. Having eliminated the possibility that this may be a local version of the Fit/Jazz-based City small sedan, the next step is to see if this is a brand new edition of the Civic saloon or a facelifted model.

And here's where it gets confusing. Although at a first glance it appears that the car seen here is a 2012MY (or 2011MY) facelift with a Honda Insight-esque front and reworked rear end, a closer inspection at the video reveals a slightly different window line (see the rear quarter windows) and unique doors. That said, we're not entirely sure if it's a new model or a heavily redesigned version of the current Civic.

The website also provides a glimpse of the interior which features a newly styled cockpit with an almost old-school-BMW-like driver orientated dashboard design.

Check out the video below and scroll further down to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Source: Car Middle East , Via: WFC

_______________________________VIDEO_______________________________

Mid-Engine Honda CR-Z in Super GT-like guise Spied in Japan

Found on the GT Channel website, are these photos of a Honda CR-Z racer with a widebody mock up and what appears to be a mid-mounted engine. The unfinished project also gets carbon fiber doors. We don't have any information on the mystery car, but chances are it's either being readied to compete in Japan's Super GT racing series or to be displayed as a concept model at an upcoming motor show such as the Tokyo Auto Salon in January 2011. More photos after the jump.

Source: GTChannel , Via: Minds-Farm

SPIED: 2012 Honda Civic Scooped on Video

Over in Europe, Honda is busy developing a new Civic ahead of its rumored release date either in late 2011 or early 2012. Spy shooters have captured on film a heavily cladded prototype lurking around Honda's offices in Germany.

We're not entirely sure if this here test car is a brand new model or a heavily revised version of the current, European market, five-door Civic, with fresh sheetmetal, but either way, it appears that the glasshouse, if not identical, is very similar to today's model, while the car also sports the same hidden door handles tucked away at the corners of the rear windows.

The five-door model will be followed -at least in Europe- by a sportier looking three-door hatch, hopefully offered in a Type R guise with a newer engine. The reason we used the word "hopefully" is because Honda is being secretive about a possible replacement to the current Civic Type R, which is being discontinued in Europe as its 2.0-liter engine does not meet the more stringent EU5 emissions standards.

However, Honda recently confirmed the development of a new / updated gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain for the Civic as well as a smaller displacement turbo diesel engine that will fit right under the current 2.2-liter i-DTEC unit.

Via: Youtube/AMS

SPIED: Honda Civic Hatch Prototype with Full Hybrid System Snagged Testing

Only a few weeks after Honda President Takanobu Ito disclosed plans to equip the next generation of the Civic Hybrid with a new high-output and compact in size, lithium-ion battery, and our spies have captured a pair of test mules in the body of the current, European market Civic five-door hatch, testing near the company's R&D center in Offenbach, Germany.

According to our man with the long lens, the two prototype Civics "left the traffic lights in complete silence", which points to a full hybrid set up with the ability to run on electric power only.

The next generation of the Civic is due for release in 2011 or 2012 the latest. Aside from the hybrid model with gasoline-electric technology which could be offered in Europe in both hatchback and sedan forms, Honda has also confirmed the development of a smaller displacement turbo diesel engine that will fit right under the current 2.2-liter i-DTEC unit.

More Rendered Speculation on Honda S2000's High Performance Hybrid Coupe Successor

Truth to be said, we've lost track of the number of inside stories and rendered scoops concerning Honda's rumored, but never officially confirmed, S2000 successor that have made their way on the internet from various Japanese magazines the past year or so.

We've no idea if Best Car's latest story on a high-performance hybrid sports coupe that would essentially replace the S2000 is based on facts or fiction, but the Japanese magazine is once again claiming that Honda is working on what could be best described as the CR-Z's big brother.

Aside from the new rendering that has nothing in common with the magazine's previous S2000 CGI, Best Car this time says that the sports model will be a 2+2 coupe with a hybrid powertrain combining a 2.5- or 3.0-liter engine to an electric motor.

No word if power will be transferred to the rear axle or as previously claimed, to all four wheels.

Via: Best Car

2010 Honda CR-Z Sales Brochure: The Full Monty in Pictures

From what we know, Honda will toss the covers off the production version of the CR-Z hybrid coupe at the Detroit Show on Monday afternoon. And even though we've shown you brochure images of both the standard and MUGEN variants, as well as still video shots of the CR-X's spiritual successor, Carscoop reader S.Z. pointed us to a Japanese blog that just posted more than 30 scanned pictures of what is said to be the domestic market sales leaflet. Hit the jump to check out the complete set of photos.

Via: Gazoo G-blog - Hat tip to S.Z!