Autocar - First for car news and reviews

Honda is to shut its European design facility in Offenbach, near Frankfurt, according to media reports.

The decision to close Honda’s car and motorcycle design studios at its European R&D headquarters was taken at the end of September in a bid to cut its costs.

“This is a regrettable structure change due to the current economic picture,” said a Honda source. “The German design activities will be discontinued with effect from the end of November.”

Motorcycle design is likely ...Read the full article

Sad, but understandable. Hope they keep the people responcible for the OSM, it looked excellent in the metal.

If what you say is the whole story, and the only memorable cars to come out of the studio in 10 years are two concepts, then I'm not surprised Honda are closing it. Even the F1 team were more productive than that. Perhaps they were busy designing parts to meet European legislation.

I presume the current Civic exterior wasn't designed there! Can't believe how dated it looks already. Did the designer get a large set of triangle templates for Christmas?

Like the interior though!