Tuesday 30th September 2014

New Civic Type R - Paris 2014

Did we say new? We meant 'new concept' as Honda confirms 'over 280hp' for long awaited Type R

---

The Japanese art of the performance car tease continues at Honda, which is showing (yet) another concept of the Civic Type R ahead of sales starting next summer. They were slightly apologetic at Honda Motor Europe when we rang them - the car seen here is essentially the same as the one revealed at the Geneva show in March, just with a new paintjob and slight refresh, but still no interior.

Lick of paint and engine details for Paris

Instead the big news is that Honda has confirmed the engine: a 2.0-litre turbocharged VTEC making "over 280hp" and redlining at 7,000rpm. As we know, the car will be a five-door only, but the next piece of important news is that the car will be manual-only. No dual-clutch, just a six-speeder for maximum purist cred.

The car's aggressive looks have already been heavily commented on, and it looks certain that performance details such as that mahoosive rear wing, blistered wheel arches and quad exhausts round back (a generous one per cylinder) will stay. "We certainly hope so," our press contact told us.

As for price we're told it'll be "competitive" against rivals like Seat's Leon Cupra 280 (£27,000), VW Golf R (£30,000) and the Renault Megane 275 Trophy (£29,000).

We already know Honda plans to out-Nurburgring the Seat and the Renault and beat their recent record-attempting laps for production front-drive cars round the track, currently held (just) by the Megane RS 275 Trophy-R in a time of 7.54.36. The Civic Type R is being developed in Europe and has been spotted hammering round the track. Our press source reckons the R&D department are "very confident" of pinching this not terribly relevant but still attention grabbing record.

OK, we've got used to the looks, let's just have it!

More fresh news includes confirmation that the new car will come with an +R button on the steering wheel that gives greater throttle response, quicker steering and sharper handing via the adaptive dampers.

We're also told that the front suspension is fitted with two 'kingpins' that help minimize torque steer, which sounds similar to Ford's RevoKnuckle for the Focus RS and the Megane's PerfoHub system. We'll try and find out more at Paris.

Honda says the new car has better "power, torque and engine response" than any model it has previously sold wearing the Type R badge, including the Japan-only NSX Type R. We'd be a bit sceptical about that given that the 280hp 'gentleman's agreement' to limit power was in force around then, but it certainly seems like the new Type R will deliver on sheer grunt in the era of the super hatch. We'll all just need to accept driving a car with a whacking great wing again, in an era when Golf R has seduced us with a more subtle approach.

[Speed_Demon]

Can't see how they're going to break the record without some lightweight trickery, which would certainly be welcome IMO.

Also nice to have an in your face alternative, as opposed to its rivals which very much tend to blend in.