Honda boss confirms Civic hatch

Honda Australia boss Yasuhide Mizuno has confirmed his company will add a range of Civic hatches to its local line-up.

As reported here back in May, the Japanese giant was close to a decision on the UK-built hatches. Currently only the three-door Civic Type-R performance flagship makes it Down Under. Now Mizuno says the company has confirmed the introduction of at least two high-spec five-door hatches for 2009.

"Exchange rates are still very challenging but we will introduce Civic Hatch to the Australian market next year," Mizuno told the Carsales Network.

"The timing is still to be confirmed. We have important new model launches in the early part of the year [Ed: City, more here; and the new Odyssey -- expected to debut in Japan this month] and we don't want to cannibalise sales or attention, so we are probably looking at June," Mizuno said.

According to Mizuno, both automatic and manual five-door models will be offered at the same high-spec trim grade. He says the hatches will target Volkswagen Golf buyers and will be priced and specified accordingly.

Mizuno would not confirm the badging the hatches would wear. There is a possibility, however, that they will be designated as Type-S models, to capitalize on the 'rub-off' of the top Civic model. The Type-R will remain the sole three-door model, however, he said.

One interesting possibility is the availability of a turbodiesel Civic Type-S hatch. Already sold in the United Kingdom, the lack of an automatic transmission version would arguably not be a handicap Down Under given the S's sports-touring pretensions. Alas, initially, the hatches will be petrol only, however.

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