New Civic Type R prototype breaks cover in paris 2017
New Honda Civic Type R
You wait ages and ages for a new Honda Civic Type R, and well, two arrive almost back-to-back. Yes, scarcely a year after we first drove the current banzai Civic, Honda has just unveiled a concept version of the next-gen car, due to go on sale worldwide in 2017. And once again, it wants a Nürburgring lap record.
Officially called the Type R Prototype, the car you’re gawping at is strictly a concept for now (though doesn’t it look production ready?) so there’s nothing in the way of technical data. But we do know it will stay front-wheel drive, both to stick with Type R tradition, and to allow Honda to get its FWD Nordschleife honours back from VW, who nicked them with the Golf GTI Clubsport S.
And this Civic really is ‘worldwide’. No Civic Type R has ever been officially sold in the USA – it’s been a case of import your own at great expense with much tedious paperwork. But because the new Civic hatchback is a global car, aimed at Japan, Europe and indeed the USA, the angry-looking Type R will also land Stateside. It will still be built in Swindon, though.
Having recently gone to the trouble of building a 306bhp 2.0-litre turbo VTEC powerplant, the new Type R will use that engine. Though we suspect it will be a little uprated to keep pace with the likes of the 345bhp Ford Focus RS, and to give it an edge over the Golf (and perhaps other rivals) for that lap time.
Beneath the skin, it’s based on the all-new Mk10 Civic platform, and the Type R is set to borrow the same variable steering system and refreshed rear suspension setup. Honda has designed the standard Civic to be more fun than ever to drive, and engineers say it’s been a great springboard for making a bona fide performance version. We’re promised a sharper chassis than ever.
