Honda Civic Type R pick-up!

Well, they couldn't possibly make it look worse...

You probably won't have heard of the SMMT Test Day. Held at Millbrook, it's essentially an opportunity for journalists to wangle a go in cars they've not already drained the tank of, while also whingeing to PRs about the refreshments. This year, however, it's been made rather more interesting thanks to Honda and a one-off Civic Type R...

As you can quite clearly see, it's a pick-up. Codenamed 'Project P' by Honda, the pick-up has been built from a pre-production Type R - maybe it was one of those ones that blitzed the 'ring - and even keeps the spoiler of the hatch. With the same 320hp as the standard car and presumably little weight difference, Honda claims the pick-up Type R can still reach 62mph in less than six seconds and top out at more than 165mph. We'll take their word for it.

The Type R truck has been built Synchro Motorsport - the same people behind the Civic Type R tourer - with Alyn Jones from Synchro describing this car as a "fantastic opportunity for the team to show just what their creative minds could do." There's even talk of sending it around the Nordschleife for another tenuous Honda front-wheel drive record; most likely wouldn't be the weirdest thing on the track that week.

While there are no plans, of course, to produce a Civic Type R pick-up, although Honda will apparently use it to shift lawn and garden products around when required. The spoiler even moves, to "allow direct and unfettered access to the rear of the truck." So bravo Honda, for doing something a bit daft - for no reason other than because you could. We look forward to the HR-V roadster...