This is Not a Second-Generation Honda Crosstour

Mark Stevenson
by Mark Stevenson

But it sure does look like one.

Honda Europe announced Wednesday that the Civic Hatchback Prototype will debut at the Geneva Auto Show on March 1. The hatch — which is likely a production car with fancy mirrors, rocket ship door handles and a dual center exhaust — will go into production in the United Kingdom next year and be exported to North America.

The latest Civic concept will preview “the exterior design of the all-new hatchback model, scheduled for a European launch in early 2017,” said Honda. Expect it to use the same naturally aspirated 2-liter engine and turbocharged 1.5-liter engine as the sedan and coupe, and also be the basis of the next Civic Type R.

It really does look like a squished Crosstour, though.

Mark Stevenson
Mark Stevenson

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  • RideHeight RideHeight on Feb 11, 2016

    More jargon drift... for the purpose of throwing anything bulky in the back this be no hatchback but a liftback ala '70s & '80s Pintos, Celicas, Stanzas, Camrys..etc., only lower at the rear and less useful.

  • Kmars2009 Kmars2009 on Feb 11, 2016

    I have a love/hate relationship with the new Civic. I love the look, size, and shape, however it's too large now to have the Civic name. The Accord has the same problem. Looks too Acura'ey, and is the size of a Buick.

    • Sgeffe Sgeffe on Feb 13, 2016

      It lost three inches in length but gained more interior room, plus 300 pounds or so. Will be interesting to see what Honda does for the next Accord; the only truly epic fail on their part would be to pull the V6 option. It always seems as if each Civic re-do results in a car roughly the size of the Accord preceding it by two generations, so this one isn't a complete surprise. (And I've NEVER seen rear footroom in a Civic like this new one--six-footers will have plenty of room back there!)

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