2018 Honda Civic Type R Prototype
Joining the new Honda Civic hatchback in a world
premiere at the Paris Auto Show is the near-production 2018 Civic Type R
Prototype, and this one is coming to North America where the 2017 five door
model just landed at the brand’s US dealerships.
The Civic Type R Prototype is a
‘prototype’ mostly in the name, as the only thing that seems to separate it
from the actual production car that will go on sale State-side next year as a
2018MY, is the rather cool brushed titanium-like finish of the body, as
evidenced by our recent sightings of testers.
The new Civic Type R is as aggressive and brash as
the short lived, current model, that was never offered in North America,
sporting a similar styling treatment on the outside with bloated and vented
front fenders, breathing ducts on the bumper, a big rear wing, diffuser, plus a
few new elements, including an intake hood scoop and an unusual exhaust setup
with three pipes in the center.
We don’t have any performance specifics yet, hopefully will repeat the 2.0-liter four-cylinder
turbocharged VTEC engine from the current car where it develops 306 hp and 400 Nm of torque, with some sources pointing to improved power figures to
better compete with Ford’s Focus RS.
Expect a six-speed manual to feed the front wheels,
likely through a smart differential that will be supported by changes to the
regular Civic hatchback’s new global platform, including to the suspension,
brakes, steering and electronic driving aids, to tame those horses on the road
– and the track.
