The next Honda Civic Type R was seen driving, still camouflaged. Its aerodynamic panoply will make it much less discreet than the standard model. It should offer more than 300 hp, but its future in Europe still raises questions.
The new Honda Civic 5-door has just been unveiled, and Honda is already working on the development of its Type R variant, announced as soon as the Civic 11 prototype was presented. The manufacturer is currently testing its sporty compact on the roads of southern Europe. Camouflaged test vehicles give us an idea of what the turbulent Japanese will look like.
A more than suggestive look
The aesthetic treatment of the next Type R seems to respect the codes of the last two generations to date. We therefore notice an imposing rear spoiler, curved and overflowing from its uprights. The front bumper seems very openwork, and it could be that the fenders house extractors here hidden. Ground clearance is low, and the generously sized black rims house brakes that are too. At the stern, we find the triple central exhaust outlet of the current model. In some pictures, we can see red bucket seats in the cabin. No doubt about it: even if the new base Civic does settle down significantly in terms of styling, the Type R will always be so exuberant.
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What future for the Type R in Europe?
A question mark remains regarding the powerplant of the future Civic Type R. The car will likely take over the 2.0 VTEC Turbo four-cylinder which sends 320 hp to the front wheels of the current model. via a six-speed manual transmission, a type of transmission confirmed by a Honda representative for North America.
But the new Civic isn’t due to launch in Europe until fall 2022, and Honda has announced that its entire European range will be electrified by then. Several options therefore seem possible. The next Civic Type R could be hybrid in Europe, which would cast doubt on the proposal for a manual gearbox without completely excluding it since the brand is attached to it (the Honda CR-Z hybrid had one). It could also be 100% thermal, but in this case it is its marketing on the Old Continent that would be uncertain. Unless Honda deviates from its own policy to offer amateurs a last-ditch. Its main rival, the Renault Mégane RS, will probably pass the torch to a 100% electric model with Alpine badging.
TO READ. Renault Mégane Electric Alpine Line. The heir to the Mégane RS?
Source : motor.es
