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What is claimed to be the new 2012 Honda Civic Sedan was caught almost naked with very few body parts masked, hot weather testing in the Dubai by Car Magazine Middle East. Having eliminated the possibility that this may be a local version of the Fit/Jazz-based City small sedan, the next step is to see if this is a brand new edition of the Civic saloon or a facelifted model.

And here's where it gets confusing. Although at a first glance it appears that the car seen here is a 2012MY (or 2011MY) facelift with a Honda Insight-esque front and reworked rear end, a closer inspection at the video reveals a slightly different window line (see the rear quarter windows) and unique doors. That said, we're not entirely sure if it's a new model or a heavily redesigned version of the current Civic.

The website also provides a glimpse of the interior which features a newly styled cockpit with an almost old-school-BMW-like driver orientated dashboard design.

Check out the video below and scroll further down to share your thoughts in the comments section.

Source: Car Middle East , Via: WFC

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Found on the GT Channel website, are these photos of a Honda CR-Z racer with a widebody mock up and what appears to be a mid-mounted engine. The unfinished project also gets carbon fiber doors. We don't have any information on the mystery car, but chances are it's either being readied to compete in Japan's Super GT racing series or to be displayed as a concept model at an upcoming motor show such as the Tokyo Auto Salon in January 2011. More photos after the jump.

Source: GTChannel , Via: Minds-Farm

Over in Europe, Honda is busy developing a new Civic ahead of its rumored release date either in late 2011 or early 2012. Spy shooters have captured on film a heavily cladded prototype lurking around Honda's offices in Germany.

We're not entirely sure if this here test car is a brand new model or a heavily revised version of the current, European market, five-door Civic, with fresh sheetmetal, but either way, it appears that the glasshouse, if not identical, is very similar to today's model, while the car also sports the same hidden door handles tucked away at the corners of the rear windows.

The five-door model will be followed -at least in Europe- by a sportier looking three-door hatch, hopefully offered in a Type R guise with a newer engine. The reason we used the word "hopefully" is because Honda is being secretive about a possible replacement to the current Civic Type R, which is being discontinued in Europe as its 2.0-liter engine does not meet the more stringent EU5 emissions standards.

However, Honda recently confirmed the development of a new / updated gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain for the Civic as well as a smaller displacement turbo diesel engine that will fit right under the current 2.2-liter i-DTEC unit.

Only a few weeks after Honda President Takanobu Ito disclosed plans to equip the next generation of the Civic Hybrid with a new high-output and compact in size, lithium-ion battery, and our spies have captured a pair of test mules in the body of the current, European market Civic five-door hatch, testing near the company's R&D center in Offenbach, Germany.

According to our man with the long lens, the two prototype Civics "left the traffic lights in complete silence", which points to a full hybrid set up with the ability to run on electric power only.

The next generation of the Civic is due for release in 2011 or 2012 the latest. Aside from the hybrid model with gasoline-electric technology which could be offered in Europe in both hatchback and sedan forms, Honda has also confirmed the development of a smaller displacement turbo diesel engine that will fit right under the current 2.2-liter i-DTEC unit.