The next-generation Honda Civic will be smaller, lighter, less thirsty and cheaper than what was originally planned, according to Honda CEO Takanobu Ito, who told Automotive News about the mid-development change in plans. “We are taking more time to rethink the new Civic and all our models”, Ito said. “We had to revisit our development work and our planning to comply with the change in the environment”.
Tsuneo Tanai, Honda’s Chief Operating Officer for Automotive Operations, confirmed with Automotive News that the major change boils down to rising raw material prices, from oil to steel and aluminium. Tanai further revealed that the reduction of weight across all models has emerged as a priority, while hybrid technology will feature more prominently. Even electric vehicles, which Honda was initially against, are on the table now.
Civic’s platform underpins both Honda CR-V and Stream, so any delay will affect all three models. That said, neither Ito nor Tanai could provide a launch date for Civic, with the former saying “The team is struggling. We are injecting more manpower to meet our target”.
Tags: Automotive News • Civic • CR-V • Future • Honda • Honda Civic • Honda CR-V • Honda Stream • Japan • Stream • Takanobu Ito • Tsuneo Tanai
