Thursday 29th September 2016

Honda Civic Type R prototype - Paris 2016

First surprise of Paris is out - Honda is working on another Type R already! (Updated with new pics)

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Now this is a turn up. Not much more than a year after the first drives of the current Civic Type R commenced, Honda is already previewing a replacement with a new prototype. This after waiting all those years for another hot Civic...

20-inch wheels on a Honda Civic!

It's a curious strategy, one we won't see the full results of until this afternoon - Honda has so far only issued a few sentences and these pictures. But there's enough to build a discussion on, and PH loves to debate a Type R, so here goes...

Honda says this car offers "an insight into the styling of the next generation Civic Type R", which will go on sale next year. It's probably worth pointing out here that the concept of the current car - seen at this very motor show just two years ago - was very close to the production car in terms of design bar the spoiler. So what's seen here is most likely a very representative preview.

Like the current car there's certainly no missing it (or mistaking it), the car a feast of spoilers, scoops and aggressively flared bodywork. Honda says the car is "enhanced by muscular body styling and modifications to aid aerodynamic performance". And perhaps it's just the air scoop, but is there a hint of Subaru from the front three-quarter?

Looks pretty production ready from here...

At the back there's a carbon diffuser and, believe it or not, all three of those exhaust pipes are functional. The red accent line is familiar from the current car, as are the Brembos and the wheels, although the latter are now up to 20-inch. Plus, of course, there's a ruddy great wing on the back.

Interestingly Honda has confirmed at this point that this new car will be sold in the USA, the first time a Honda Type R has been officially offered there. And it will go there after being built in Swindon. The official unveiling is at 1330h BST, so expect plenty more on this Civic later today.

Watch the video here.

[5ohmustang]

Finally the CTR coming to the States. The demand for fast Hondas here is great. Dealer markups will be insane, the focus RS has arrived with markups as high as 25k over msrp.

They did sell the Acura Integra type r here for a short time.

This needs to be awd.

[5ohmustang]

I bet the middle red exhaust is actuated by a butterfly valve when R mode is selected.

[5ohmustang]

Latest report is that it will be sold in Spring 2017, USA will get it first. Looks to be fwd sadly. It will have a comfort mode as well as R mode.

[5ohmustang]

sleepera6 said:

Again, FWD is far better for this........
Seriously? 4wd Type R ruins the experience.

I need awd for snow. The U.S. has a very limited choice when it comes to fast awd cars. I'd rather it be rwd than fwd.

[5ohmustang]

5ohmustang said:

We do not get the a45 AMG, the only Stu's are blobeye and newer which are very overpriced used. A blobeye sti is $15k or above.

Evos, only 8 and above, again seriously overpriced.

The importation laws prohibit cars under 25 years old. If you want fast awd, you will pay a lot.