If it’s not broken, why fix it? So goes an old aphorism. Honda, it seems, believes in the contrary—if it’s not broken, enhance it. So it has launched a Civic variant, 1.8V, to join the older 1.8S.

The snazzy Civic has always been one of the best looking sedans in India, but now Honda is pampering motorists with additional features like leather seats, front fog lamps and turn indicators integrated with the side-view mirrors. The new variant is more colourful too. It comes in two additional shades—Mystical Violet and Carbon Bronze Pearl.

Honda, known worldwide for its flawless auto engines, has retained the 1.8S engine for the new variant, which comes with the option of a five-speed manual gearbox or an automatic one.

With its futuristic interiors and stunning styling, the Civic’s design could be one of the most radical that Honda has come up with in recent years. The sporty sedan comes with 15-inch, five-spoke alloys which make the car look more like an Italian beauty than an efficient Japanese vehicle. Beauty with an undertone of aggression, if you consider the new fog lights.

The rear, somehow, doesn’t synchronise with the revolutionary design. It’s still too muscular and chunky. The car also has low ground clearance. So before zooming off at high speed, just watch out for the speed breaker.

One could spend hours admiring the car from outside, but the interiors are even more radical. Step into the Civic, and the first thing you notice is the cockpit-like digitised instrument panel. The car also has illumination control for the panel, a chrome switch panel, integrated 2 DIN music system with radio and a six-CD changer.

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