The CIVIC has been at the heart of Honda, reflecting the values demanded by the times
Can you tell us about your career to date?
Uchino
I have been with Honda for 35 years. I was appointed as the Creative Director in 2021, directing the overall creative process as the Executive Chief Engineer, and I am in charge of overseeing all design in Honda's internal combustion engine (ICE) domain. I started working on the 11th generation CIVIC when it was undergoing a minor model change.
Ishii
I started working at Honda in 2008, so this is my 17th year here. I have always been involved in exterior design as an exterior designer. So far, I have worked on the 5th generation CR-V project and served as Project Leader for the 11th generation CIVIC. I recently became the Project Leader for the 11th generation ACCORD, and I'm in charge of designing compact cars for the ICE domain under Mr. Uchino.
What kind of car is the CIVIC to you?
Uchino
I think the CIVIC is the most central model of Honda's four-wheeled vehicles. It's the car that best expresses the essence of Honda, and it's truly the standard. It's basically Honda's star player. I think it should continue to be a car that is a companion to many people, regardless of age or gender.
Ishii
I also feel that the Civic is a car that is the purely distilled essence of Honda. It's sporty, yet also very easy to use. It packs the Honda philosophy of being fun to drive and fun to use into a standard-sized car.
Uchino
The first generation of the CIVIC was launched in 1972, so it's a car with a history of over 50 years. However, this first generation really came into its own in Europe when it came third at the European Car of the Year awards in 1974, becoming the first Japanese car to do so. First place went to the first generation S-Class from Mercedes, and second place went to the X1/9 sports car from Fiat. The Civic, a compact car, came in third place. At the time, many manufacturers were trying hard to create “national mass-produced cars” for the masses, but they hadn't quite managed to establish them. It was the CIVIC that set the new standard. I think that was the first impact of this car.
The 11th generation model, pursuing exhilaration while weaving history
Is there anything you were particularly conscious of in developing the 11th generation CIVIC?
Ishii
For the 11th generation, we chose exhilarating as our keyword. We aimed to create a car that would be exhilarating to look at, exhilarating to drive, and that would make life itself more exhilarating. The 10th generation model was well received for its sporty, bold design, but for the 11th generation model, we wanted to take that even further and provide a consistently high quality experience, not just in terms of the car's interior and exterior design, but also in terms of the driving experience.
How did you approach expressing the concept of exhilaration?
Ishii
The scene that came to mind while thinking about the concept was a morning driving experience. We wanted to make the moment of getting into the CIVIC in the morning a satisfying and refreshing one, allowing you to start the day in a positive frame of mind.
We value the feeling that driving itself becomes a refreshing experience, clearing your mind so you can focus on work and everyday tasks. In North America in particular, most people use cars to get around, and traffic jams are common during the morning commute. For this reason, we thought that one of the CIVIC's main roles should be to make the first part of the morning as comfortable and satisfying as possible. In addition to the interior design being noise-free and high quality, we also paid close attention to driving visibility. The horizontal interior design makes it easy to get a sense of the vehicle, and helps you feel a sense of unity with the car while driving. The interior space is designed to be open and expressive so that you can feel this from the outside as well, and the CIVIC was built around this consistent concept.
Uchino
I was stationed in North America when the development of the CIVIC began, and Mr. Ishii was visiting there on a business trip. When the two of us were thinking about what “exhilarating” means, we went cycling along the beach in Los Angeles. There, we experienced a feeling of openness and satisfaction, and we thought about how we could incorporate that feeling into the design of the CIVIC. I actually felt that it would be really satisfying to ride with the horizon at your side without any noise, and I think that might be connected to the cabin's optimal field of vision and the low beltline (the lower edge of the side glass.)
Has the design of the 11th generation CIVIC incorporated lessons learned from past models?
Ishii
In fact, there are parts that are based on the framework of Honda cars from the 1980s. Honda cars from that era had a very distinctive glassy design, with a thin body, low center of gravity, and a large glass area in the cabin. The presence and openness of these cars was a topic of conversation even among the design team in the early stages of development, as they still have a unique charm.
Uchino
I think it comes down to the fundamental beliefs of car manufacturing. The philosophy of “Thin, Light and Wise” that is also expressed in the new Honda 0 Series of EVs is what gives Honda products their originality. This is not just limited to EVs; the destination reached while keeping this in mind is a value that Honda has always cherished.
The ”Thin, Light and Wise” approach has changed over time, but it’s still part of Honda’s DNA. The third generation CIVIC was like that, as was the fourth generation, and the same philosophy was used for the PRELUDE and ACCORD. This is one of the directions for proportion that only Honda can create.
However, as time goes on, cars are becoming heavier and heavier due to improvements in performance. Tires are getting bigger, and brakes are getting larger. This makes it really difficult to maintain a thin design.
You have to make the structure stronger to improve safety performance and meet pedestrian protection standards, which inevitably makes the body thicker, right?
Uchino
Exactly. In this hybrid model, the battery has to be installed under the floor. Current EVs have a long cruising range because they have a high capacity battery, but this raises the vehicle height and limits the freedom of design.
Despite this, Honda is still taking on the challenge of achieving “Thin, Light and Wise.” For example, using packaging that has been stripped down to the bare essentials and devising ways to use materials in new ways enabled us to reduce the thickness of the entire body while still ensuring safety and a sense of space. Taking on these types of challenges is the essence of Honda.
Winning North American Car of the Year twice with the current model as a presence that will continue to be loved
The CIVIC HYBRID, which was released as a minor change model in 2024, won the North American Car of the Year award. It was the second time that the 11th generation CIVIC won the award and the fourth time that the CIVIC won the award, making it the most for one model.
Uchino
There are so many CIVICs on the road in North America. Especially on the West Coast, you can't walk down the street without seeing one. I think this has less to do with the sheer number of units sold and more to do with the fact that the CIVIC has become a trusted companion for customers in North America. In this context, I'm very happy that the 11th generation model won such high praise again. In particular, I believe that the award for the hybrid model is proof that Honda's electrification technology has been properly recognized.
Ishii
It's unusual for a minor change model to win the Car of the Year award, but I think that just shows how well it has been received by users in North America. In a culture where cars are closely intertwined with people's lives, I think that the styling, exhilarating daily driving experience, wide field of vision, and improved quality were all factors that were recognized.
The hybrid model won the award. Was there any difficulty in achieving a balance between environmental friendliness and the fun of driving?
Uchino
To be honest, I think that environmental friendliness is a given. Honda has been a pioneer in environmental technology since its founding. This was true of the CVCC engine from the 1970s, for example, and Honda has always pursued both the fun of driving and improved environmental performance at the same time.
However, I'd like to focus on how to enhance the inherent appeal of cars rather than putting environmental performance at the forefront. For example, rather than buying a car because it has good fuel economy, I'd like to see people buying a car because it's fun to drive and then realizing that it's also environmentally friendly. It's Honda's responsibility to pursue environmental performance, but I also think it's our role to continue to provide the fun of car ownership.
Ishii
I completely agree. I don't think that environmental performance and the fun of driving are necessarily mutually exclusive. For example, in our current hybrid models, we use Active Sound Control technology to retain the feeling of controlling the engine, even in the quietness of the electrified drive.
In addition, reducing the weight of a car and improving its aerodynamic performance not only improves fuel and electricity consumption, but also significantly affects driving dynamics. A car with a light body and low aerodynamic drag will have better acceleration and cornering feel. In other words, you can reduce the environmental impact while also enhancing the fun of driving, rather than losing it. We want to actively incorporate this kind of approach to break down the stereotype that high environmental performance = boring cars.
Uchino
For example, even if the next generation of the CIVIC is electrified, we must never change its essence, which is “exhilarating, fun to drive and satisfying.” Even once we enter an era where carbon neutrality and zero emissions are required, the fun of driving and the sense of excitement will always remain a part of Honda's DNA. I think that Honda's approach is to see the evolution of environmental technology as a means of enhancing the fun of driving.
What kind of evolution will the next generation of the CIVIC undergo?
Ishii
What I can say for sure is that the next CIVIC won't disappoint; it'll be a car that is full of surprises. I have no doubt that it’ll evolve while retaining the essence of the CIVIC, such as the fun of driving and Honda's philosophy.
It'll be a car that makes you think “Wow!” the moment you see it, with a strong sense of innovation, youthfulness and the spirit of taking on challenges. I can't say what form it will take yet, but it’ll definitely be packed with surprises that are typical of the CIVIC.
Uchino
At the Honda Design Center, we have a direction of providing “surprises and excitement in life.” The same is true for the CIVIC. The CIVIC is a car that should continue to provide surprises and excitement in every era.
We also need to continue to evolve the DNA of the CIVIC for the next generation. As electrification progresses going forward, the big challenge is how to expand the fun of driving. With EVs, adding the fun of a new driving experience might help provide a more direct driving feel.
SUVs have become increasingly popular in recent years, but I think that's exactly why we need to clearly define the direction that the CIVIC should take. I'd like to evolve the CIVIC into a car that makes people think “Wow, the CIVIC truly is great” by offering a value that is unique and has a different appeal than that of SUVs.
As you can imagine, an uncertain future awaits us. There are some aspects of the CIVIC that will have to change as the way cars are used in the future changes significantly, including the move towards EVs and the evolution of autonomous driving technology. However, even amid these changes, we will never compromise on the fun of driving or the essence of the CIVIC. I believe that the next-generation CIVIC will also be a car that is full of the kind of surprises and excitement that only Honda can deliver.
Profiles
Hideaki Uchino
Automobile
Creative director
Yuki Ishii
Automobile
Product designer