Wednesday 14th May 2014

Civic Type R seen undisguised

Now just launch it already Honda!

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Renaultsport launches its Megane 275 Trophy and pictures surface of the Civic Type R testing in a very short space of time. Coincidence? Innate cynicism would have to assume not.

Fastest FWD be damned; Honda targets AMG

Honda has been fairly brazen in its intention to take the FWD 'ring record with the next Type R. We knew that. What we didn't know was how the production version would look; having driven an early prototype and seen the Geneva concept there were certainly strong hints but nothing definite.

Now, at last, the Civic Type R is here in all its camo-free glory. It appears to be the production version, we hope it's the production version, but these aren't official pictures. Yet.

Honda's overt intentions for the car are reflected in its wild appearance. That huge wing for the concept is still in place, some rather natty gold rims allow the gigantic brakes to be seen and all manner of intakes, scoops and vents adorn the body. It isn't subtle, that's for sure. The Type R is afflicted by the current trend in four-cylinder cars to have four exhausts which looks a bit daft. It's easy to forget that Honda Type Rs were often quite subtle aesthetically (think of the first UK Civic) and this is quite an extreme change.

What was so wrong with two pipes? Or one?

Just in case Honda's intentions weren't quite clear for the Civic(!), see the cars it has been benchmarking the Type R against. There's an A45 AMG visible in the pic but apparently the Golf Rand that Renault have been seen testing with it also.

With the new NSX due to make its debut at the Festival of Speed, the Civic may still be a little way off. To be honest there seems little point predicting just when Honda will launch new cars now, it's become a case of being patient. 2015 is still the rumoured date, so let's sit tight.

[Sources: WCF, autoevolution]

[Ali_T]

Sorry Honda, but that's just crass, no matter how fast it goes. The front arch extension is far too bulky with that silly fake vent, the rear arch extension is incomplete because they couldn't be bothered making an extra part for the rear door, and the rear wing has lost the lights running up it like the concept. Not that the concept was much better, but it had a few intriguing parts that are missing here. Real shame. I still remember back to my old EG6 Civic VTi and how much subtler it was than any other hot hatch, and elegant as well. Honda need to get in touch with Pininfarina again.

[Type R Tom]

Can't wait for a test drive!

[thatdude]

Exhausts aside (4 is silly, 2 would be ok exiting in the centre maybe) i like it, specialy in matte black (although i bet it's a pain to look after?)

[lauda]

It does look like it's crashed through a branch of Halfords but then again, so did the Megane R26.R and I'd happily drive one of those. Well, sort of happily. I know I'd look a tit, but I'd be prepared to accept that due to how good the car is to drive.

[SnailTrail]

I think it looks stunning. Has the engine performance been confirmed yet?

[X5TUU]

those arches are awful IMHO ... disappointed that the production version will be 5dr as well ... whats the world coming to!

[JonnyVTEC]

X5TUU said:

those arches are awful IMHO ... disappointed that the production version will be 5dr as well ... whats the world coming to!

Did you expect anything else. There isnt a Gen 9 Civic 3 door hatch body to start.

That said trying to hide the fact works okay on the shopping versions, this stands out due to that rear arch piece!

[motor mad]

X5TUU said:

disappointed that the production version will be 5dr as well ... whats the world coming to!

Had the previous Type-R been a five door, I would have owned one.

[Tim16V]

I agree that the body mods are far too fussy and disjointed. Crazy.

There was nothing wrong with the subtle approach of the last one. Anyone that was interested in cars knew what it was, but going about your daily business now in something that looks like a boy racer wagon is going to be strange.

The German manufactuers have 'subtly menancing' down to a fine art and that 's why they're so successful so hopefully Honda will offer 'bodykit deletion' as a no cost extra.

[buckline]

Looks good from the front like the FN2 did but the rest of it i could leave to be honest. performance and price point should be quite interesting.

[is1]

I'd hate to be Honda having to develop and produce this car at this point in time.
It seems they have quite a few issues to address/overcome and may fall short on many of them - there is the acceptance (or otherwise) of the move from N/A engines and a much revered gearchange, the obsession with the Ring lap time, numerous more rounded competitors, lack of a USP and current motorsport involvement (although F1 engines will bring them back into the spotlight).
Then there's the likely cost.

[MikeG88]

Ive got my eye on this!

[hornetrider]

X5TUU said:

those arches are awful IMHO

They look absolutely horrendous, like stick on Halfords tat

[ultrastapler]

Not a looker is it, and I normally like the be-winged hottest hatch variants

motor mad said:

Had the previous Type-R been a five door, I would have owned one.

Me too. FN2 was a good family car in the making, if only it had 5 doors.

[C.A.R.]

Ha - it's hideous.

It looks like a go-faster Prius. Except that, if it were a Prius underneath it would probably be a bit cooler.

'Subtle' was the key.

[Megaflow]

Christ, that was beaten by the ugly stick wasn't it...

[pimpchez]

Hopefully thats not finished bodywork wise .

[Ali_T]

Bring back Pininfarina.....

[chrisemersons]

Anybody over the age of 25 driving that is going to look a proper tit !!!

[filski666]

looks a bit ....erm...how can I say this politely...."aftermarket"?