After skipping one generation, Honda Civic set for an Indian return in 2018.
A report from Hindustan Times has indirectly confirmed that the Honda Civic is returning to India with the tenth generation model, and could launch at the Auto Expo next February.
HT says that Honda Cars India Limited would make the Honda Civic at the Greater Noida plant in U.P. where the eighth generation Honda Civic was also made. The previous generation Honda CR-V is assembled here from Thai CKD kits, and the Honda Brio, Honda Amaze and Honda City are manufactured.
The tenth generation Honda Civic measures 4,630 mm in length, 1,799 mm in width and 1,416 mm in height, and has a wheelbase of 2,698 mm. It is available with 92 kW (123.32 hp) 1.6-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder, 104 kW (139.41 hp) 1.8-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder, 158 hp 2.0-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder, 92 kW (123.32 hp) 1.0-litre VTEC Turbo three-cylinder and 127 kW (170.24 hp)/130 kW (174.26 hp)/134 kW (179.62 hp) 1.5-litre VTEC Turbo four-cylinder petrol engines. Customers can choose either a 6-speed manual transmission or a CVT.
The tenth generation Honda Civic is not available with a diesel engine. Besides the slump in demand for sedans in the C-segment, the lack of diesel engine was a big factor in the discontinuation of the previous generation Civic in India. Honda has learnt its lesson and is waiting to have a localised diesel engine (the 1.6L i-DTEC that will be manufactured at the Tapukara plant in Rajasthan for exports from next month) not to repeat past mistakes.
The Civic has to offer everything demanded by a potential customer from the get-go, as the competition has hardened with direct rivals like the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra and Skoda Octavia, and SUVs like the Mahindra XUV500 and the Hyundai Creta.
Also Read: New Honda CR-V with 1.6 i-DTEC diesel to launch in India in 2018
The all-new Honda Civic could start at around INR 15 lakh (ex-showroom) when it reaches showroom next year, though there is no official word on the matter.
[Source: Hindustan Times]
