Civic RS, possible refresh look for 2025+ Civics? (TAS 2024)

[onepointsix]

Shown during a promo at TAS 2024 was this Civic RS with different style front bumper. The RS in Japan is supposed to be their equivalent of the Si here in North America. The new front bumper looks interesting, a bit closer to the Type R in looks.

Sponsored

 

[Fanatic]

Looking good. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Contoso]

It feels even closer to the Accord in looks, but it is nice.

 

[TypeRD]

Subtly more aggressive than current. Looks good.

 

[chopsuey34]

Saw this yesterday. I'm pretty sure this is what the refreshed 11th gen grille will look like next year. The side profile shots show a protruding lower "chin" similar to the Accord, so that's probably the direction Honda will be taking its sedan designs. Plus this comes out for MY2025 right in time for the scheduled 3rd refresh and Honda wouldn't spend all that design money on a grille for only 1 limited model in Japan.

Ambivalent on the new design, neither love nor hate it.

 

[Shankmeyster]

Looks like a bumper swap is in order.

 

[onepointsix]

 

[randomFL5guy]

Do we think the 2025 FL5 will be refreshed too, or will that be pushed off to 2026?

 

[TypeRD]

If past history is an indication, 2025 will likely be the face-lift year.

 

[chopsuey34]

Do we think the 2025 FL5 will be refreshed too, or will that be pushed off to 2026?

Honda is following its mid-2010's product cycle pretty closely. Civic (MY2016 -> 2022), CR-V (MY2017 -> 2023), Accord (MY2018 -> 2023). Every product received a 3 year refresh, so Civic is scheduled for MY2025 to receive an refresh. FK8 was released for MY2017 and received a refresh for MY2020. With the same schedule, FL5 should get a refresh in MY2026 (but there's always a chance they roll the CTR refreshes in with the regular Civic a year early for cost synergies or whatever corporate speak)

I mentioned before that Honda wouldn't spend millions on changing just 1 grille for a lower volume Japan only trim, so if they're already unveiling this new grille, they're probably going to stick to refresh schedule.

The only thing that might halt the product cycles is that pandemic cause inventory problems hit sales enough that Honda pushes the non-refreshed version of each model out 1 year to depreciate their investments in machinery more and enhance economies of scale / lower unit costs. Honda is driving for EV eventually, so I don't think they'll delay that.

Sponsored