New Honda Civic Type R Concept previews production Type R

The new Honda Civic Type R Concept previews production Type R

We had a concept Civic Type R at Geneva earlier this year, but this latest Honda Civic Type R Concept – heading for a debut this week at the Paris Motor Show – almost certainly preview the full production Civic Type R due to arrive in Honda showrooms in 2015. Honda has made sure this Type R Concept is anything but a shrinking violet, giving it a startling blue paintjob with red highlights and keeping the statement massive rear wing intact, complete with quad tail pipes, aggressive rear diffuser and butch body kit.

Under the skin of the front-wheel-drive Type R will be a new 2.0-litre i-VTEC which offers more than 278bhp – enough, it’s expected, for a sub-6 second 0-62mph – mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox with a new steer axis control at the front which minimises torque steer so you can get the power down properly.

The new Type R will also see the debut of a ‘+R’ button which dials the Type R up to 11, increasing engine response, remaps the torque for more aggression, makes the steering more responsive and gets the adaptive dampers working at their best.

Suehiro Hasshi, Civic Type R man at Honda R&D, said:

In default standard mode, the Civic Type R is exceptionally agile, an everyday sports car with an enjoyable and fluid acceleration. The ‘+R’ button brings out a more dynamic and athletic car for the driver, to set pulses racing. The difference in character is immense. The ‘+R’ mode is extreme; the car is ideal for track use and will be appreciated by the genuine sports-driving enthusiast.

It’#s expected the new Civic Type R will go on sale early in 2015 after its debut at the Paris Motor Show, and although Honda hasn’t revealed prices yet we’d expect it to be somewhere around £30,000.

Not a bad price if the new Type R lives up to its promise.

By Cars UK