Geneva show: Honda’s Civic grows dog-friendly

HONDA never brought wagon versions of its large Accord and mid-size Accord Euro wagons to Australia.

Instead, it preferred instead to sell them into the US and Europe where the stretched-space version was more popular.

It’s a shame, because Honda has unveiled a sweet-looking station wagon in Geneva overnight, but based instead on the smaller Civic hatch and sedan.

While only a concept, the car-maker has already confirmed that the “tourer” version of the Civic will go into production late this year, with a European showroom debut slated for early next year.

While the Civic Tourer Concept is fairly muted compared with the wild-looking Civic hatch concept that changed little in the jump to production, there are some elements that should stir some excitement.

While the front looks like an overtly stylised version of the Civic hatch concept shown in Frankfurt several years ago, the rear is pure hot-hatch by comparison.

A fast-rising beltline runs back with a steeply raked roof accentuated by heavily creased rear contours.

The tail-lights, similar to the headlights in the Civic hatch concept car, run like a slash across the boot, while steeply raked glass is tucked away under a deep rear spoiler that is integrated into the roof.

Down below, a big, blacked-out diffuser is highlighted by a pair of centrally located trapezoidal exhaust tips that jut out ever so slightly.

Honda Australia spokeswoman Melissa Cross said there were no plans at this stage to bring the wagon version of the Civic to Australia.

“We’re just focussing on hatch and sedan for the moment,” she said.