Honda Motor Co. debuted a vastly redesigned 2013 Civic compact at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Thursday, a revamp the company hopes will win back disappointed customers after a botched 2012 next-generation launch.
"People say something went wrong, but it's still the best selling car in America, so we feel like it was good," said Art St. Cyr, vice president of product planning and motor sports for American Honda Motor Co. "This one is even better."
The new Civic has a better interior and smoother exterior styling that includes an open-mouth lower bumper with a horizontal chrome accent and a sportier, black honeycomb mesh grille. The car looks lower and longer, and St. Cyr promises it handles better. Complaints about excess cabin noise also have been addressed, he said.
The redesign just 18 months after its latest refresh is highly unusual, but St. Cyr said it is an example of how Honda can and will respond.
The changes also arrive in time for Civic's 40th anniversary in the United States next year.
"This was in the works before the last model was released," St. Cyr said.
Pricing for the new vehicle is $160 more than the current model.
Honda, in its current Civic, opted to scale down content in the car, trying to hedge against a sluggish economy. But other automakers doubled down and actually offered more content. Consumer Reports panned the current Civic, calling it a "step back" for Honda.
Still, Civic sales through October have risen more than 38 percent, but that's compared with a production-constrained 2011.
"It is way more than a refresh," Jesse Toprak, auto analyst at TrueCar.com, told The News prior to the auto show. "It looks like a new car."
John Mandel, executive vice president of American Honda Motor Co., told journalists gathered for the new Civic's unveiling, "Honda is the most trusted brand in America. We remain committed to the values that earn that reputation."
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