The Honda Civic Type R was unveiled about a year and
a half ago, and it appears the model is already getting its first facelift. Recently snapped undergoing
testing in Europe, these prototypes have a camouflaged front fascia which looks
virtually identical to the current model. However, a closer inspection reveals
modified air intakes and some other subtle styling tweaks.
The changes continue at the rear as the white
prototype has been equipped with a modified bumper that features horizontal
elements on the faux fascia vents. One of the red prototypes, on the other
hand, has the current rear fascia and a significantly smaller rear wing. It is possible that Honda is
going to offer two different type of rear wings for those that prefer a more
subtle and less racer-boy look for their Type R.
The rest of the design appears to carryover so it’s
likely that the cabin will remain largely the same. However, it’s possible the
car could be equipped with an updated infotainment system that features a
dedicated volume control knob. That’s a minor change, but it would bring the
Civic Type R more in line with newer models such as the Insight and facelifted
Pilot.
Little else is known about the car and it remains
unclear if there will be any changes under the hood. Regardless of what
happens, the current model has a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine
that produces 306 hp and 400 Nm of torque. It is
connected to a six-speed manual transmission which sends power to the front
wheels via a limited slip differential.
This setup has been proven to a be a winning
combination as the Civic Type R has set front-wheel drive lap records at a
number of tracks in Europe. These include the Nürburgring, Spa-Francorchamps,
Silverstone and the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours in France.
