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.

[robemcdonald]

When did the civic type r become a Subaru Impreza?

[Hitch]

Three exhaust pipes never works, even if one is red!

[Alapeno]

robemcdonald said:

When did the civic type r become a Subaru Impreza?

Came to say this as well. Looks like an in between of the previous gen and the latest one, with a load of bits stuck on.

[robemcdonald]

Hitch said:

Three exhaust pipes never works, even if one is red!

F40s look pretty good to most people.

[MikeTFSI]

Hitch said:

Three exhaust pipes never works, even if one is red!

Worked beautifully on the F40...

[KJH]

Honda have probably not made a good looking car since the DC5 (RSX & Integra) or the S2000. Thankfully it do not have the "reverse blade" wheels on it, that Honda seems to love these days.

[matpilch]

it certainly does look like an Impreza head on and in profile, which is a good thing if not a little surprising

[Evolved]

My god what a butt ugly car that is. The current one looks awkward from some angles and this just adds to that.

[FN2TypeR]

No devil horn rear lights, boooooooooooooo!

[RumbleOfThunder]

robemcdonald said:

F40s look pretty good to most people.

MikeTFSI said:

Worked beautifully on the F40...

Unless the red un is a screamer pipe (It won't be), it's another ridiculous addition from Honda.

[giveablondeabone]

Hitch said:

Three exhaust pipes never works, even if one is red!

Or is it a screamer pipe....?

[giveablondeabone]

RumbleOfThunder said:

Unless the red un is a screamer pipe (It won't be), it's another ridiculous addition from Honda.

Beat me to it!

[ayman82]

robemcdonald said:

When did the civic type r become a Subaru Impreza?

Exactly what I was thinking!

[TypeRTim]

RumbleOfThunder said:

robemcdonald said:

F40s look pretty good to most people.

MikeTFSI said:

Worked beautifully on the F40...

Unless the red un is a screamer pipe (It won't be), it's another ridiculous addition from Honda.

Reminds me of the exhaust thread that was TOTD a couple of weeks back. Not quite sure of the logistics of how all 3 of those pipes are functional considering from the turbo back there will only be one pipe (2 if that third one is a screamer). Unless they split the pipe at the mid-section. But then, why???
Still, slightly less ridiculous than quad pipes off a transversely mounted I4 single turbo!

[SuperchargedVR6]

A hatchback with 20" wheels, sigh. And people complain of harsh ride quality. Variable viscosity damping can only do so much.

But it looks just as shat as the current one. Meh.

[SuperVM]

TypeRTim said:

Reminds me of the exhaust thread that was TOTD a couple of weeks back. Not quite sure of the logistics of how all 3 of those pipes are functional considering from the turbo back there will only be one pipe (2 if that third one is a screamer). Unless they split the pipe at the mid-section. But then, why???
Still, slightly less ridiculous than quad pipes off a transversely mounted I4 single turbo!

The three pipes will just be the exit from the rear exhaust box, which will probably have one or two pipes running into it from the downpipe(s).

[LP670]

honda living up to the impossible dream slogan... they've somehow made it uglier than the current model!

[R66STU]

ayman82 said:

robemcdonald said:

When did the civic type r become a Subaru Impreza?

Exactly what I was thinking!

Exactly what I was thinking too!

[AMGJocky]

What a rotter.