TOKYO -- Honda released images of its latest Civic hatchback on Thursday, with hopes that the all-new model will become a foundation for developing cars more efficiently.
The 11th-generation Civic reflects Honda's company-wide initiative called Honda Architecture, which is aimed at increasing the efficiency of development and expanding parts-sharing for among the automaker's mass-produced cars.
Yosuke Sato, development leader for the automaker, told reporters this month the company utilized Honda Architecture to increase efficiency when developing the Civic's engine compartment by integrating parts and arrangements for components such as an inlet air cooler.
"Successive car models will overall become more efficient," Sato said.
Honda said in 2019 that it expected to reduce the number of man-hours spent on developing mass-production models by 30 percent by 2025 to accelerate its research and development in new technologies such as electrification and autonomous driving.
Honda has sold more than 27 million Civics worldwide across 10 different generational models since it was introduced in 1972. The Civic is one of Honda's top-selling cars in the United States.
The new Civic will offer features such as advanced safety and driver-assistance technologies.
While the Civic will be offered with the choice of a continuously variable transmission or a six-speed manual transmission this time, the automaker said it plans to roll-out hybrid and sporty type-R versions next year.
Sales of the new Civic will start later this year in Japan, the U.S. and Europe, the company said, with prices to be revealed in August.
