Honda Civic hatchback breaks cover

THE HONDA Civic hatchback has been revealed, and will go on sale overseas, initially in Europe, sometime next year. The hatchback is based on the 11th-gen Civic that was unveiled a few months ago. It adopts a fastback-style sloping roofline, ditching the current model’s prominent rear wing, while the rear hatch itself is said to be lighter, and features smaller hinges for a cleaner roofline, while the A-pillars are two inches further back than on the current car. The Civic hatchback will be a hybrid-only proposition using Honda’s e:HEV petrol-electric set-up. It will be paired with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 180bhp and 240Nm, coupled with either a 6-speed manual or a CVT gearbox. Another is a 2.0litre naturally aspirated four-cylinder that churns out 158bhp and 187Nm. Inside, it features a standing 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system as standard, a larger 9-inch unit as optional and a 10.2-inch fully digital instrument cluster as a part of the latest gadget updates.