Honda Civic Type R : Geneva-bound concept previews upcoming hot-hatch styling
The aggressive looking Honda Civic Type R concept will make its world premiere at next month's Geneva motor show, previewing the final production version of the Japanese hot-hatch due in 2015.
Referred to by the Honda design team as a "racing car for the road", the Civic Type R concept is said to express the bold styling and strong performance characteristics "for which Type-R is renowned" and features a menacing bodykit, heavily flared and ventilated guards and an oversized rear wing with infused tail-lights.
A quad exhaust system with large-diameter pipes flank a purposeful rear diffuser while red-highlighted black alloy wheels complete the look.
All but confirmed for our market, the new fourth-generation Honda Civic Type R will feature a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with at least 206kW of power and 400Nm of torque.
Teamed with a six-speed manual transmission, the front-wheel-drive Type R – which CarAdvice drove in prototype form last year – is also likely to have a 7000rpm redline.
Priced from $39,990, the previous-generation Honda Civic Type R was axed in 2010.
Expected to reach local shores in late 2015, the new Civic Type R is tipped to be followed in 2016 by the all-new second-generation Honda NSX, confirmed at last year's Tokyo motor show to team a twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine with three electric motors, a lithium ion battery and a dual-clutch transmission.
Joining the Honda Civic Type R concept at Geneva will be the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) Civic racer, the NSX's hybrid drivetrain and the FCEV concept – the latter first seen at November's Los Angeles auto show.