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Honda US used a live streaming platform to reach a key target audience for the redone 2022 Civic due out early in ’21 |
Honda’s US unit has previewed the 2022 Civic sedan on Twitch, the live streaming entertainment service.
The new Civic was shown in ‘prototype’ form in a new color, Solar Flare Pearl.
The redesigned model line reaches US showrooms in late spring 2021, with the sedan launch to be followed by hatchback, Si, and Type R versions.
Honda said the Twitch debut was “a nod to Civic’s industry-leading and global appeal with young buyers”.
“The 10th-generation Civic has been an unparalleled success – America’s most popular car four years running, and the most popular vehicle, car or light truck with Millennials, Gen Z, first-time new vehicle buyers and a growing population of multicultural customers since its 2015 launch,” Honda said in a statement.
“The 11th generation will build on that appeal with an even sportier, fun to drive new chassis, more powerful and fuel efficient powertrains, multiple new Civic first features and technologies, and further advances in active and passive safety features and performance.”
The 11th generation car will introduce new Civic-first technology including an all-digital driver’s meter cluster and a new nine-inch full-HD display audio touchscreen.
There will also be multiple new active and passive safety systems, including an upgraded suite of Honda Sensing safety and driver assist technology, and multiple new airbag designs plus an advanced new version of Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure with both improved occupant and pedestrian collision protection. The new, more rigid body structure also will contribute to further advances in driving refinement, ride quality and sporty handling.
The 11th generation will continue to be built in North America and, for the first time, the hatchback will be manufactured in the US at Greensburg, Indiana.
Current model hatchbacks for North America are built at Swindon in the UK, but that plant is scheduled to close next year. In August, just-auto reported Honda planned to transfer some Civic model production from the UK to Japan ahead of the closure of Swindon in 2021, according to sources in Japan. According to reports, some of the company’s UK production will transferred to its plant in Yorii, Saitama Prefecture, in response to falling demand in Europe and also due to the UK’s scheduled exit from the European Union at the end of 2020. The Swindon plant currently produces Civic compact cars for sale in the UK and in North America. The company had already decided to source North American Civics from within the region while production of Civics for sale in Japan would also be consolidated at the Yorii plant.
Civic is also produced in Alliston, Ontario, Canada.
Since 1986, Honda has produced more than 10.5m Civics in North America, 5m of those in the US.