Frankfurt LIVE: Honda Civic Hatchback (Euro-spec)

Honda's redesigned Civic hatchback has officially taken to the Frankfurt stage.

Following in the footsteps of its North American counterpart, Honda has released its all-new Civic hatchback model for the European market. The car made its world debut earlier today at the Frankfurt Motor Show.

According to Honda, sources of inspiration for the new Civic included a "˜blended wing body' airplane in which the fuselage and wings blend into a single body for superior aerodynamic performance. While we wouldn't immediately invoke an airplane comparison to describe its styling, the latest Civic certainly stands out with a contrasting-color area around the front license plate and distinctive, curvy character lines above the wheel openings.

Unlike its North American cousins - the Civic sedan and coupe - the European version of the Civic will be offered exclusively as a hatchback.

Honda says the European-spec Civic will offer the most cabin space and cargo room in the C-sector, while interior quality and comfort will also be improved over the outgoing model. The company also notes that nearly all of the body components on the new Civic have been redesigned with particular focus on ride, handling and reduced CO2 emissions.

The eighth-generation Civic received flak for switching from an independent rear suspension to a torsion beam setup, but apparently not enough for Honda engineers to change the design for the 2012 model. However, Honda has developed a new fluid-filled bushing system that promises to give the car better stability, particularly at high speeds.

The new Honda Civic hatchback is expected to hit European dealerships in early 2012.

Live images by Mark Elias