Honda to Unveil Production Civic Type R in Geneva
CARS.COM — Honda has confirmed that the production version of the latest Civic Type R hot hatch will break cover at the Geneva Motor Show in March. And this time, we don’t have to envy a car we won’t get: Honda will bring this Type R version of the Civic hatch to the U.S., following the first-time introduction here of the regular Civic hatchback for 2017.
Related: 2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Review: First Drive
As is usual for Honda, we expect the production model won’t vary much from the wild Civic Type R prototype that got its U.S. debut at the 2016 Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas in November.
That includes the prototype’s in-your-face front end with winged carbon-fiber splitter and gaping air ducts. There is more carbon fiber for the side sills and rear trim, and a dramatic rear wing that outdoes the flashy version on the previous model. Not likely to make the cut is the prototype’s brushed gunmetal finish, but we hope to see the model’s novel triple exhaust.
Honda gave no power details ahead of the Geneva debut except to say that the new model would get the “latest 2.0-liter VTEC turbo.” The last-generation R’s 2.0-liter turbo, mated only to a six-speed manual transmission, put out about 306 horsepower.
As in the past, the Type R will be built at Honda’s Swindon plant in the U.K., with production starting this summer, Honda said.
In the U.S., Honda’s new hot hatch compact will rival pocket rockets including the Ford Focus RS, Subaru WRX STI and Volkswagen Golf R. They all offer all-wheel drive, however, and the Golf offers a dual-clutch automatic. Compare those cars here.
You can get on Honda’s list for email updates on the U.S. version here.
Honda’s 2017 Geneva stand also will show the newest Clarity fuel cell car and the NeuV (new electric urban vehicle) autonomous city car for ride sharing unveiled in the U.S. at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show.
