Performance Honda fans all over the world have been itching for this car’s release for years now. While the hot hatch battles have been waging between VW, Ford, Opel and Renault, the Orientals have not possessed a suitable weapon in their arsenal with which to go to war. (We’ll have to completely ignore Toyota as it opted out of this fun game ages ago.)
But all that is about to change. At the Geneva Motor Show later this week, a brand new Honda Civic Type R Concept will be unveiled. It’s a bit cheeky for the Japanese manufacturer to choose a show in the heart of Europe to debut this latest model, but it’s probably a clear indication that it is aiming for the European hot hatches.
The radical-looking car was designed more so by function (read: the wind tunnel) than it is by form. In fact, several of the cues that look rather good serve a purpose first, such as that gaping air dam which feeds the intercooler, or the bonnet vent responsible for expelling hot air from the engine bay. The low-slung side sills direct air up the flanks and into the rear wheels for brake cooling, the warm air is then removed by the gills on the rear bumper – cool.
Most dramatic of all the addenda is probably that twin element rear spoiler, which is likely to make even Subaru drivers feel some wing envy. Honda claims that the styling inspiration for the Type R Concept is its WTCC racer and that very few body components are shared between a regular Civic and this hot version.
Powering this menacing-looking machine will be a 2,0-litre, turbocharged motor that will crank out roughly 225 kW, placing it near the front of the class and outpowering the likes of the Renault Megane RS (195 kW), Opel Astra OPC (206 kW) and VW Golf R (206 kW). In the hot hatch stakes it is only outdone by the Merc A45 AMG (265 kW). Power will be delivering solely to the front wheels, in all likelihood via a mechanical limited slip differential.
Sadly the Type R is only due for production in 2015, so the Honda die-hards will have to wait for that comparison test that we can’t wait to put together. Fortunately, associate editor Ian McLaren drove a development mule of this car late last year in Japan and shares his thoughts.