Rumors of Civic 5 door for North America coming from Honda UK

With a major expansion penciled in for the Swindon, United Kingdom Honda plant, Civic Hatchback fans speculate as to an imported 2016, turbocharged 5 door for North America.

Honda Europe Manufacturing announced on Tuesday, a major expansion of the Swindon, UK facility for the dedicated production and export of the Civic based 5 door hatchback cars to regions of Europe and “Key” global export markets.

Although North America is not specifically mentioned in Honda’s news release, speculation as to the imported Civic Type R, or at the least, the import of a performance turbocharged engine, grows in the U.S. and Canada; on the eve of Honda’s “Big” New York International Auto Show announcement scheduled for Wednesday.

As of Tuesday morning: Our American Honda contacts remained tight lipped as to the Wednesday announcement; and, while not denying the possibility of an imported Euro-Spec performance hatchback for North America, point to the wait and see implications of the Wednesday announcement.

What we do know: "Fun things coming"

With turbocharged engine production coming on line at Honda’s largest engine plant in Anna Ohio, Torque News anticipates a Wednesday announcement of a Turbocharged Civic Si manufactured in North America; a “possible” sport-edition HR-V hatchback and a revitalized CR-Z hybrid hatchback.

Says Jason Smith director of Honda of the U.K. Manufacturing (HUM)

“By establishing HUM as a global production facility for the Civic five door, Honda is demonstrating its long-term commitment to manufacturing in the UK and Europe.
This is incredibly important for HUM and is a reward for the commitment and effort put in by Honda Associates in recent years,” said Jason Smith, Director of HUM. “As a global production facility for the Civic five door model we look forward to making the most of the opportunity to export this model not only to our European customers, but also, to key global markets.”