I posted about this yesterday, but it's good to see other sources saying similar things. But i really need to gripe about Honda's practices in releasing cars lately...
I understand wanting to build hype and get people talking... but they go about it in the worst way possible it seems.
The perfect example is the Acura NSX... they teased the concept model, what, 2 years ago? Then a second concept model. Now they've revealed the production car but still haven't given solid specs or an on sale date. They built up hype and then effectively killed it by stretching it out too long. Granted i know there were engine issues relating to the NSX which delayed its official release... but... what i read online, nobody even cares about the NSX anymore. It's become old news. They've been teasing and talking about the car so long that everyone has given up and lost interest.
Then they debuted the refreshed accord coupe and sedan on that online streaming thing in Silicon Valley. Nobody saw it. Which means anyone who doesn't read the auto mags won't even know the accord got refreshed and has class competitive tech again. Not that Honda has to work real hard to get people on lots, but, someone who is in the market for a midsize is going to hear about and see the huge releases for other redesigned models and not even know the accord has the same tech and features to offer now.
Now the civic... They show the concept and give the most vague release date they can. Yes, we can assume this month or that month on most things. Now they've given us a debut date... but its the sedan only. Why? Why not the coupe as well (the eye catcher in terms of appearance). The coupe and sedan are mechanically the same car with only very minor differences in suspension setups and trim options. Why stretch out things by not showing off the production coupe at the same time, when there is only going to be a delay of a few months between their on sale dates? Also... this debut is style only. No specs on engine, fuel consumption, pricing, etc. No, that waits until next month literally right before they go on sale. If i was someone who wasn't dedicated to the civic and was looking at my options what am i going to do? Go get the car i actually know something about? Or hold out hope that when the specs do come out i'm happy with them? Lost sales again.
I can understand delaying the Si debut, those are still some time away (spring 2016) and being special variants they deserve their own spotlight. I can only think that honda is going to do the same with the Type R next year. Tease and tease people until they lose all interest and go with a competitors car.
I just don't understand honda's thinking on these releases. Debut the coupe AND sedan. Give the basic specs and trim break downs. Save the finer details for release, but make a big splash by showing off the bread and butter models together. Instead, tease and make people wait, get impatient, lose interest and end up going for one of the many other new options coming out before or around the same time as the new civic.