Honda made a big step for its design ideas when it replaced the second generation with the 1983 third generation of the Civic.
In 1983, two major novelties came from Japan: the Mario Bros game came on the market and the third generation of the Honda Civic. While the popular videogame had to wait for another two years to become famous, the Civic was an instant hit.

Honda offered the wedged-shaped Civic in a few body choices, ranged from the three-door hatchback to the sporty coupe CRX, the sedan, and the Shuttle, the latter being at half-way between a small-sized SUV and a station wagon. They featured rectangular headlights and corner-mounted turn-signals with transparent lenses. Its plastic, wrapped-around, bumpers were black or painted, depending on the trim level. A vertical rear side defined the car’s shape more as a kammback than a hatchback. The Civic didn’t feature a real tailgate since only the rear window could have been opened upwards.

Inside, the Civic continued the straight-line design concept. It featured a flat dash-panel and a small instrument cluster with a trapezoidal shape. Depending on the engine and trim level, it featured just two gauges for fuel and coolant temperature and a speedometer. Upper versions were enhanced with a tachometer.

Under the hood, Honda installed a choice of three engines, including a punchy 1.6-liter, which provided 150 hp. It was the beginning of the VTEC technology, and the entire world was stunned by the high specific power offered by the small Japanese carmaker.