Honda will reveal the new Civic Type R hot hatch in production form for the first time at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. It will reportedly enter production at Honda’s Swindon plant during this summer before sales begin during this September.
Based on the recently released tenth-generation Honda Civic hatchback, the new Type R will like its predecessor use a turbocharged 2.0-litre VTEC petrol engine. It will also be wider, longer and have a lower ride height than its predecessor.
Honda are for now keeping most details of the new Type R a secret. However, it’s expected that the production version of the hot hatch will look mostly very similar to the prototype version shown at the 2016 Paris Motor Show last September.
The prototype’s styling featured some striking design features reminiscent of previous Type R models, including a large rear wing, black and red alloys and sharper, more aggressive looking bumpers.
A carbon fibre splitter, smoked LED headlight lenses and a large bonnet scoop where other highlights of the Type R prototype’s design.
Honda are reportedly sticking with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual gearbox like the previous Type R had, but extra engine power and improved aerodynamics can be expected.
Online reports say prototypes of the new Type R have been testing at the Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit and Honda may even be targeting the fastest lap record at the track for a front-wheel drive production car. To claim that record, the new Type R must beat the time set by the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S last year.
Expect far more official details on the 2017 Honda Civic Type R to be released when the hot hatch makes its public bow in production form at Geneva.
Check out what we think of the standard tenth-generation Honda Civic in our video review:
