Honda has released press pictures of the 9th generation or 2012MY USDM Civic, a car which is set to go on sale Stateside in Spring 2011. Supposedly designed from the ground up, the 9th gen Civic does not share parts with the outgoing model. Strange, as the car looks similar but is somehow not as forward (or futuristic) looking as the 8th gen model, which has got to be one of the nicest 4 door sedans in the South East Asian market today.

I am a little disappointed. The car (even the US only 2 door coupe shown down below) looks less sporty, less aerodynamic and more conservative than the 8th gen Civic. If I were to make a comparison, it would be like comparing the looks of the EK or 6th gen Civic to the dull looking 7th gen Civic. The 9th Gen Civic Si (pic above - which could be the base for the Civic 2.0Si sold around the region) looks a little un-sporty. Take a look at the front bumper and then take a look at the ride height. I sometimes wonder how can a Civic Si look like its running off-road suspension settings. Someone from the HONDA America PR department isn't paying attention to details.

Luckily the interior looks similar. It is still driver-centric and pretty much as futuristic as ever. Everytime I drive the current, 8th gen Civic (the photo right above this paragraph) I feel like I am stepping into a car car from 2020 instead of circa 2008-2010. I mean compare that dashboard with a Toyota Corolla or even a Mitsubishi Lancer and you'll know what I mean.

Maybe Honda is feeling the same as it did when they did the change from the 6th Gen to the 7th Gen. They want to capture the conservative crowd again. But in all honesty, that generation of Civics was a flop. They were dull shopping trolleys and meant to target Corolla owners. Of course, this time they did not go ultra dull as before. And with that comment I can safely say that the new Civic, when it is launched here (which should be the same but with slightly different lights front and rear), will be high on the list of people who can afford it.

Hey, its a Honda and somehow, in these parts of the world its prices are premium.

Civic HF, Si in Sedan, Coupe and Natural Gas Specifications

140 horsepower, 1.8-liter i-VTEC