All-New Honda Civic Hybrid

The new Civic will get a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a short-throw six-speed manual and a CVT. "We're creating the strongest and most balanced vehicle lineup in our history," the executive Mendel said, adding that some Civic versions will still return more than 40 mpg (5.9 l/100 km) in highway driving.

Besides the changes to the Civic line, Honda has discontinued the Accord plug-in hybrid to focus on the updated Accord Hybrid, which is scheduled to launch in early 2016. However, a new plug-in Accord will arrive in 2018.

When asked about a "baby NSX" sports car in the wake of patent images that leaked last week, Mendel gave an interesting answer. "No I can’t tell you anything about the baby NSX. I mean I could, but I’d probably be fired."