Honda introduced the ninth Civic generation in 2011, and, like its predecessors, it was available in a coupe shape, following the same successful recipe of lightness and trouble-free maintenance.
The carmaker delayed the car’s introduction due to the weak car market. It feared that a new model wouldn’t get enough sales and, by the time the sales will rise up again, it will already be outdated. So, it waited until December 2010 to announce the model and introduced it in both coupe and sedan shapes in Detroit at the 2011 North American International Motor Show.

Honda’s designers made the car with an aggressive styling and a sharp nose. Its smiling front grille was flanked by the slim headlights, swept-back over the front fenders. The bumper featured a wide and tall grille, compared to the front fascia’s size, and two side-scoops for the fog lights, if installed. Its raked windshield was followed by a short, curved roof extended in the back by a sloped-down windscreen and a short trunk lid.

Inside, the carmaker installed a two-step dashboard design. The tachometer was placed in front of the steering wheel and, in an upper cluster, the speedometer and other indicators for the fuel level and coolant temperature. Honda put an infotainment system on the center stack with a touch-screen navigation unit depending on the options. Its bolstered bucket seats were primarily designed for comfort. Those who wished more side-support had to wait until 2012, when Honda introduced the SI version.

Under the hood, the carmaker offered only one engine option, a 1.8-liter naturally aspirated VTEC engine. It paired it with a five-speed manual or to a five-speed automatic.