New Honda Civic Type R concept headed to Paris

Honda has revealed a new Civic Type R concept; prior to its global unveil at the Paris motor show this week. Unlike Indian market where it was a sedan model, Honda offers a hatchback version of the Civic overseas.
The Civic Type R model is currently undergoing an extensive development programme with a team briefed to make it the fastest front-wheel-drive car yet around the Nürburgring. The Renault Mégane RS 275 Trophy-R currently holds the record with a lap time of 7min 54.3sec.
At the heart of the new Civic Type R is an all-new turbocharged 2.0-litre i-VTEC petrol engine from Honda’s next-generation Earth Dreams Technology range. Honda won’t yet officially confirm a power output, other than saying it will be “more than 276bhp”. However, engineering sources have privately admitted that the engine has already been tuned to produce 300bhp, and more could be possible. A torque output of 41.5kgm at just 2000rpm is quoted by the same sources. Honda has confirmed that the 2.0 i-VTEC engine will redline at 7000rpm, maintaining the legendary high-end shove afforded by the VTEC variable valve timing technology but with the addition of extra low-end grunt from the turbocharger.
Civic Type R project leader Suehiro Hasshi said, “Honda has had four Type R model derivatives: the Civic, Integra, Accord and NSX. The engine in the new Civic Type R is unrivalled against all of them in terms of raw power, torque and engine response.”
Another confirmation is the transmission. Honda has skipped the current trend towards dual-clutch automatic gearboxes and equipped the Civic Type R with a six-speed manual gearbox as standard. This is in order to “maximise driver enjoyment”, according to Honda. “The manual transmission allows the driver to select their chosen gear, for example, down from fifth to third when approaching a corner,” said Hasshi. “The concept of the new Civic Type R is to be the complete driver’s car, so this was the best option.”

New Civic Type R concept