Over in Europe, Honda is busy developing a new Civic ahead of its rumored release date either in late 2011 or early 2012. Spy shooters have captured on film a heavily cladded prototype lurking around Honda's offices in Germany.
We're not entirely sure if this here test car is a brand new model or a heavily revised version of the current, European market, five-door Civic, with fresh sheetmetal, but either way, it appears that the glasshouse, if not identical, is very similar to today's model, while the car also sports the same hidden door handles tucked away at the corners of the rear windows.
The five-door model will be followed -at least in Europe- by a sportier looking three-door hatch, hopefully offered in a Type R guise with a newer engine. The reason we used the word "hopefully" is because Honda is being secretive about a possible replacement to the current Civic Type R, which is being discontinued in Europe as its 2.0-liter engine does not meet the more stringent EU5 emissions standards.
However, Honda recently confirmed the development of a new / updated gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain for the Civic as well as a smaller displacement turbo diesel engine that will fit right under the current 2.2-liter i-DTEC unit.
