The new Honda Civic Type R has sparked a lot of
controversy with its exaggerated exterior design, so we can only imagine what
this pickup truck derivative would do. Created by the brand’s Product
Engineering department in the UK and codenamed ‘Project P’, this concept was
showcased at the annual SMMT Test Day. It’s based upon a pre-production version
of the hot hatch, which had its C-pillars and roof chopped off and replaced by
a roll bar.
The rear seats and boot have been completely
removed, making room for the open bed. As for the interior, this Honda Civic
Type R study can sit two. Despite going through a massive makeover, the Project
P retains the car’s body kit, alongside the rear wing, and is finished in Rallye
Red.
The powertrain, transmission and gearbox remain
unaltered. Honda estimates that their hot hatch turned hot pickup takes less
than 6 seconds to sprint from rest to 100 km/h, and can reach a top
speed in excess of 265 km/h.
Even the special driving modes of the road-going
Honda Civic Type R have been retained, and the automaker claims that the
Project P is both comfortable and capable of being raced on the track. As
expected, Honda has no plans of putting this Civic Type R into production, but
they could try to “take the record for the fastest front-wheel drive pickup
truck” at the Nurburgring, according to Alyn James, project lead.
