It'll get them all in a tizz in Eastbourne and trigger hyperventilation down at your local senior citizens' club. Parachuting this month onto the unsuspecting grey heads of Britain's elderly drivers comes this radical rework of the Honda Civic - a car that has ditched its blue-rinse image in favour of a shameless appeal to younger drivers.
Deconstruct the initially dazzling face of the all-new Civic and there's a whiff of gimmickry about it. With seven generations already under its belt, Honda has finally decided to get radical. It sells around 35,000 Civics a year, all built in sunny Swindon, but the clear belief this time round is that the car needs a stronger youth vote.
So they want to shake off loyal buyers - is that wise?
The average Civic buyer is currently 58. Honda reckons this new look will shift the model onto the wish-lists of 25-40 year-olds. So it has to rival VW's Golf, BMW's 1 Series and Audi's A3. Why the grey pound isn't so hot to Honda, however, beats me.
Where's the gimmickry then?
Check that full-width front light unit (the middle bit doesn't light up, it's just for show) and the rear end's triangular exhaust recesses. Oh, and the disguised rear door handles, built into the framework (a three-door model will follow later this year). The Civic's coup� outline and wedge nose certainly make a strong first impression, though it's a gamble whether the kind of customers who find a Golf's understated conservatism appealing will do anything more than gawp. Certain elements also represent style before function: that rear spoiler, intersecting the glass, is a visual obstruction out on the road. And they forgot to add a rear wiper too, presumably being too busy disco dancing at the time.
Does the cabin match the shell?
You bet. Full marks for effort and achievement here. The instrumentation is the latest hologram technology, all nicely backlit in retina-soothing blue and split between digital readouts above and dial designs below. The steering wheel is a gem of design detailing and the pedals are drilled-out aluminium. Cool. The rev counter gets pride of place and - just to add to the sporting experience - there's a big, red 'start' button, too. Whether all this works comes down to taste. This is a proper cockpit, the mood overtly dynamic, though some may feel it's all just a little too Tokyo amusement arcade. My tip is to go for a top-end model and spec the optional front and rear panoramic glass roof - it makes the interior feel less jet-fighterish. Space in the rear, however, is surprisingly good - decent enough for two lanky adults on a long journey.
So let's talk diesel...
And good job you want to, as only a buffoon would touch the 1.6 and 1.8-litre petrol alternatives here when faced with such an excellent choice. It's Honda's 140bhp 2.2-litre unit, as used to such wonderful effect in the larger Accord.
