(December 13, 2010) One of the most anticipated new car releases for the 2012 model year is the Honda Civic. The Civic is the heart and soul of Honda in North America, and its millions of owners will testify to the Civic's popularity over the years.

It was last redesigned in 2006 so the styling direction taken for the 2012 Civic, which will go on sale this spring, has been eagerly awaited. Honda today perhaps gave us a glimpse into the future with the release of a sketch of the Honda Civic Concept to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Concepts are just that, concepts, but we will hopefully get from this concept the sense of the direction of the new Civic.

John Mendel, American Honda executive vice president of sales, will introduce the concept vehicle at an auto show press conference. To get the lastest developments on future models including the Civic go to Honda's Consumer Web Site.