Europe's Role In Honda's R&D Gains Greater Influence
With the debut of the European developed and British-built Honda Civic Tourer in the middle of this month, a new era of greater influence from the contintent over the automaker’s R&D unit has begun.
Adrian Killham, the tourer’s project leader at Honda’s R&D facility in Swindon — the first non-Japanese engineer to hold the title — believes developing cars for Europe in Europe is crucial for success in the continent, from driving dynamics to luggage space, and even the type of carpeting now used throughout the automaker’s global lineup.
The European influence will also come into play when the new Civic is introduced in 2017. In the meantime, Honda aims to raise the profile of the Civic Tourer by entering it into the 2014 British Touring Car Championship season, the first estate to trade paint with the likes of BMW and Kia since Volvo’s turbocharged 850 R in the 1990s.
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Interesting that the British "who lost their Automotive Industry" according to past posts on TTAC are now overtaking the French car industry. Looks like the demise of British Leyland was NOT the demise of the Industry there.
I'm waiting for one of these to show up at the local dealer (expected in the middle of March here)I'm going to at least have a look, and maybe test drive, but I don't see my self trading in the CRV in a (used) touring , until the smaller kids have grown out of their 'thrones'. The hatchback already used to have very good interior space compared to most european offerings, but the basic body is ready for an update, even if it had a substantial facelift a couple of years ago. Honda still has a long way to go before they are competiive in any other segment than crossovers. PS: Why won't they call it 'Aerodeck'?
Bring the Civic hatch back to North America!
This is the perfect example of why proper estates really, really need their own bespoke rear side doors, and should NOT use the same ones as their hatchback or sedan sibling models. (Unless those are REALLY boxy sedans. Volvo may have gotten away with it on the 700 series, but nobody has since, that I know of.)