Honda reveals Type R concept 29 | 09 | 2016
HONDA HAS PREVIEWED its all-new Civic Type R at the Paris Motor Show. The concept, which is based on the 2017 Honda Civic, will go on sale in the second half of next year after a world debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show in March (Honda reveals new Civic).
Given Honda’s previous reputation for essentially making its ‘concepts’ become reality, it’s fair to say what we see here is pretty much how the Type R production car — which will be built at the company’s Swindon plant — will look.
The new model will set a new benchmark for front-wheel-drive performance cars, with Honda targeting a new Nürburgring lap record. That will mean beating the current fastest front-driven car, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S, and forthcoming rival, the 2018 Renault Mégane RS.
While Honda bods remained tightlipped about the technical details of the forthcoming Type R, we can expect it to remain front-drive, which flies in the face of current four-wheel drive models such as the VW Golf R and Ford Focus RS.
Instead, Honda will rely on the new Civic’s wider chassis to improve grip and handling stability, along with a new aerodynamic package, including two rear spoilers and a front splitter.
The concept also gets a bold and unusual front-end design with airflow into the engine bay split between three vents – a conventional lower vent, a narrow central grille and slot-like upper grille.
The area of the central grille is reduced by the Honda badge, but also functions as part of the Type-R’s ped-pro crash impact hardware. It’s also impossible to miss the high-set rear spoiler and huge 20in alloys.
The concept’s aggressive looks are also bolstered by new skirts made from carbon fibre, flared when arches, a new fixed spoiler, three exhaust outlets, smoked LED headlights and a new air intake on the bonnet.
While it’s likely the production Type R will have a minimum of 300bhp, despite being pushed, Honda officials refused to give any specific details.
Like the current Type R — which was only launched last year — the newcomer will be offered with a GT trim-level, and is likely to be priced just slightly higher than the £30,000 price tag of today’s model.
The current Type R, a halo product for Honda alongside the NSX supercar, currently accounts for 4% of Civic sales. Honda expects to sell around 1000 of the new Type R in the UK annually.
“The difference between the current Type-R and the new one is the new one has been designed in from the start of the programme,” Honda’s UK managing director Phil Crossman said. “We’re confident it will meet the sales targets we’ve set for it.”
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Jim McGill