What's all this about?

It's the new tenth-generation Honda Civic, due out in 2017. And isn't it rather splendid?

It is. Has this been shown at Geneva?

Indeed it has, although this is called the Civic prototype and it's designed to show off the styling - it doesn't even have an engine and we know nothing about the interior. But, wow, if Honda can keep the Civic looking this good when production starts in Swindon (yes, that's right, Swindon) next year, we and many other people will be delighted. The design of both the front and the rear of the car is much better than the current model, with the main criticism of the existing Civic - that of poor rear visibility - solved thanks to a lower boot line and a one-piece screen. But we love the big air intakes at the front, the mean headlights and that much nicer backside. Also, look at it from the front three-quarters and we think there's just a soupçon of the EK9 Civic Type R about it. Which, if EK9 means nothing to you, refers to the original Honda hot hatch of the late 1990s. Trust us, visual allusions to the EK9 are a Very Good Thing.

Is it my eyes, or is it bigger?

Good spot. It's 30mm wider and 130mm longer than the current car, with most of that length incorporated in the wheelbase - meaning nice tidy overhangs and more space within. It's also 20mm lower, though, which gives it the excellent stance.

So, no engine; can you give me a hint of what will power the Civic?

Oh, we can do more than that. While the Geneva prototype might not have an engine, Honda is happy to confirm three powerplants for the Civic MkX. The first is the familiar 1.6-litre i-DTEC diesel, although it has been heavily revised for better performance and green data. However, alongside those will be a pair of 'Earth Dreams' VTEC turbo petrol units, of either 1.0- or 1.5 litres in capacity. The Civic will be the first European Honda to feature these engines and they are part of the Japanese brand's move to forced induction. If the current Civic Type R is anything to go by, Honda has quickly mastered the turbo tech.

What else did Honda have in Geneva?

The hydrogen-powered Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle, making its European debut following a Tokyo global debut in October 2015, was there, which has a theoretical 440-mile range. Another hybrid, this time the stunning NSX supercar, also showed, with sales already under way in the US. There was the Jazz 'Keenlight' Concept too, a personalisation styling exercise for the excellent city car, and Honda's F1 contender from its second season in competition, 1965's RA272. Oh, and perhaps most excitingly of all, the Civic 1.4 S Limited Edition. Which is a run-out model of the current car that adds extra kit for no cost, in order to try and boost sales.

Matt Robinson - 1 Mar 2016