The new Honda Civic Type R Prototype had its official Asian market debut at the 2017 Tokyo Auto Salon. The Prototype previews elements of the styling of the next-generation Civic Type R – its premiere will be later this year.
During Honda’s unveiling of the new Civic Type R Prototype in Tokyo the company announced that Japanese sales of the Civic Sedan and European-built Hatchback and Type R will begin in summer 2017.
The Civic Sedan’s production will happen at the Saitama Factory group of production plants in Japan. The UK Manufacturing (HUM) in Swindon, UK will make the five-door Hatchback and Type R models.
The Civic nameplate first appeared in 1972. Since then the company produced approximately 24 million examples of the model.
The next-generation Civic Type R is a part of the same development programme as the other members of the Civic family. The car is for export to markets around the world, including the US. That will mark the first official sell of any Honda-badged Type R in North America. The previous generation Civic Type R was sold in Japan, but only in small numbers. Sales of the new generation high-performance hatchback in Japan will have no limit.
Honda Type R Prototype’s base is the sleek new Civic hatchback
The new car has a muscular body styling and modifications to aid aerodynamic performance.
The aggressive front bumper has an extension – a winged carbon fibre splitter and sporty red accent line, which runs around the entire car. Additional slatted ducts add width to the bumper, and diamond-mesh inserts fill the sculpted air intakes.
Carbon fibre side skirts run the length of the wheelbase, between piano black 20-inch alloy wheels with red accents and 245-section high-performance tyres. Enlarged arches accommodate the new wheels.
A substantial carbon fibre diffuser runs below the wider rear bumper. It frames three fully-functional tailpipes with a pair of directional strakes at each side. Unique peaks at the roof flanks point backwards towards a dramatic, visually striking rear wing.
Honda’s exhibit at the Makuhari Messe convention centre in Chiba Prefecture includes a variety of cars and motorcycles. There are also several Honda competition vehicles from the worlds of Formula 1, MotoGP and SUPER GT.
