From The AutoIndustrie Blog: New Civic Won't Arrive Until 2012; the guy is talking about Thailand Market; launch in Pakistan is also associated with Thailand Launch
- New Civic will come sometime in 2012; later half probably
- It will probably have same 1.8L iVTEC Engine; but might get ECO functions; given Altis 1.6 is getting similar treatment.
- The shape; especially back lights and bumper will be different than USA/Canada version
Thursday, May 5, 2011
According to sources the 9th generation Civic Full Model Change will not reach our local markets until early 2012. Honda's plant in Ayudhya, Thailand is not only a regional hub but also serves as a "leader plant" for the region, supplying vehicles to Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and ASEAN region (except Singapore). In other words, Honda Malaysia's Alor Gajah plant in Melaka is not going commence local assembly of the next generation Civic until Thailand starts. Originally the 9th generation Civic was targeted to be launched by end 2011. However the project was delayed, partly by changing regulatory environment, particularly in the US and also impact from the global financial crisis.
The models we will be getting however, will be slightly different. Our local models will spot a slightly different grille, clear lenses front turn signals different front bumper (which also means a different front fog lamp housing structure). American models had to comply to Federal regulations, namely 5mph resistant bumpers, mandated under 49 CFR Part 581 regulation as well as amber colored turn signal lenses as well as different airbag deployment standards. Models sold outside USA and Canada should ape more to the Chinese market models, whose pictures have leaked out to the net.
A similar two engine line-up will be offered (1.8-liter and 2.0-liter). However we are not sure about Singapore as Singapore imports its Civics from Japan rather than Thailand and the existing Singaporean model line-up includes a 1.6-liter petrol engine option which is not available elsewhere in ASEAN.
