AUTO EXPRESS AWARDS - Honda takes the Design award for the tenth generation Civic.

The 10^th generation Civic, due in showrooms from spring 2017, has won its first UK gong at the 2016 Auto Express Awards last night.

Picking up the coveted Design Award, which was voted for by readers of autoexpress.co.uk, the Civic fended off 14 competitors to the top spot.

The car is proving to be a much anticipated arrival on to UK forecourts next year with the new Civic claiming almost a fifth of the entire vote.

With the production version set for global unveil at the Paris Motor Show at the end of September; the concept was unveiled at March’s Geneva Motor Show to critical acclaim.

Produced at Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) in Swindon, the car will be exported to global markets, including the US.  The design of the prototype heralds a significant step-change from previous versions of Honda’s core European model, focusing on provocative design and rewarding driving dynamics.

The all-new Civic hatchback will be 30 mm wider, 20 mm lower and 130 mm longer than the current generation. New larger and wider wheels and tyres give a feeling of an assured stance, while the long wheelbase, short overhangs and sleek cabin area further add to the dynamic feel of the exterior.  The all-new Civic Hatchback will feature a range of three powertrain options: 1.0-litre and 1.5-litre VTEC TURBO petrol engines, and a revised 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel unit. Civic will be the first European model to feature the two all-new petrol engines.

Phil Webb, Head of Cars at Honda UK, commented: “This time last year we were starting to refresh the range.  Since then, we have significantly increased our market share, expanded our offering and started to win awards again.  

“This Design Award for the next generation Civic is all the more significant because it is voted for by readers.  It’s a sign of things to come and we expect big things for this car.”