New Honda comes in any shape as long as it's sedan

The Civic will have the fuel tank mounted under the cargo area.

The new Honda Civic will be available only as a sedan when it is launched in New Zealand in February.

The five-door Civic hatchback unveiled to the world a couple of months ago is available only in the European market.

Honda had to modifiy the design of the car for Europe and ended up putting the fuel tank in the five-door under the front seats.

The change created more cargo space, but forced Honda to re-route the exhaust system. Civics for all other markets, including New Zealand, have the fuel tank mounted under the cargo area.

The current model Civic hatchback is expected to be the last available here for some time. The new four-door will also be sold in hybrid form. This model will be launched in March.

Honda New Zealand is already taking orders for the 2006 hybrid - stock of the previous model has run out.

The carmaker says the new petrol/electric model combines improved driving dynamics with a new power train that uses 10 per cent less fuel while providing around 20 per cent more power.

Honda chief executive Takeo Fukui says carmakers will to have to slash the cost of developing petrol-electric hybrid vehicles compared with conventional models before they truly catch on with the public. He says the hybrid premium won't disappear until the cars are made in larger numbers and carmakers gain more control over the costs of components. He was speaking at the launch of the American-market hybrid Civic, which differs in design from the one New Zealand will get.

Honda will also launch its new Legend sedan next year. The top-end Legend comes with a high-tech all-wheel-drive system.

Also due in 2006 is the facelifted S2000 sports car. It gets two additional colours and new equipment, including stability system, drive-by-wire electronic throttle, audio system with two speakers in the roll-over hoops behind the headrests, alloy wheels and steering wheel. The seats and console have also been revised.