Honda will show a ‘concept’ of its next-generation European market Civic hatchback at the Geneva motor show next month.

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A ‘concept’ version of the redesigned coupe model for the US, unlikely to be sold in Europe, was displayed in Chicago last week.


Honda will also use the Geneva show to give Europeans their first look at the redesigned Legend sedan – already launched in the US as the Acura RL.


Honda said the so-called “Civic Concept” will provide a close indication of how the eighth generation production version will look. The five-door hatchback has a sleeker, sportier and more sophisticated appearance which, the automaker said, will take the model into the premium C-segment in Europe.


The final production version will make its public debut at the Frankfurt motor show in September before sales begin across Europe from January 2006.

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The redesigned European-market Civic will be built only at Honda’s manufacturing plant in Swindon, UK, though similar derivatives are likely to be built in Japan and at other Honda plants in the Far East to supply the Japanese domestic and Asia-Pacific markets, as with the current model.








Honda Legend European prototype

At Geneva, Honda’s Legend European Prototype, will show off what the automaker claims is the world’s most advanced four-wheel drive system – dubbed SH-AWD for ‘Super Handling All-Wheel Drive’.. The system freely distributes the optimum amount of torque to all four wheels in accordance with driving conditions, resulting in a claimed “significant enhancement” in vehicle manoeuvrability.


The specification of the European Honda Legend has yet to be finalised, but the model is expected to make its sales debut next year.


Honda will also launch the diesel FR-V minivan at Geneva – it shares its 2.2 i-CTDi turbodiesel with European versions of the Accord (Acura TS-X).


The latest version of the FCX, a hydrogen-powered car which uses an in-house developed fuel cell stack, will make its European debut in Switzerland as well.


Honda said the FCX is the world’s first fuel cell vehicle able to operate at temperatures as low as -20 degrees Centigrade.