2014 Honda Civic Type R Confirmed: Report

Honda's fan-favourite Civic Type R is back in the spotlight this week, with new reports out of Europe suggesting that development of a brand-new R is now well underway.

The carmaker has yet to confirm plans, but according to Britain's Autocar, the new model's coming will be announced at the Paris Motor Show in September, and previewed at next year's Geneva Motor Show.

A Type S-like version is expected to debut before the new R however, with tuners Mugen and Team Dynamics already previewing concepts at the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed.

These latest reports follow spy photos in June of a black-clad Civic Hatch in sports trim, with a large wing mounted on its tailgate.

Honda Motor Europe boss Manabu Nishimae told Autocar at last year's Tokyo Motor Show that “customers are keen to see sporty models and while we can’t deliver immediately we are going to develop and deliver those products.”

While it is unclear if the familiar three-door shape will return, TMR's spy photos reveal a sports variant under test based on the existing five-door.

Previous generations of the Civic Type R hatch have focused on a three-door design, while the most recent versions were offered in both three-door hatch and - in Japan - four-door sedan form.