Although the 2018 Honda Civic Type R is still officially a prototype, it does look like it is finished. This vehicle has been revealed at the Montreal Auto Show, and we had a chance to peek inside for the first time.
There are numerous red details on the dashboard, doors and steering wheel, which are in compliance with also red Recaro seats. The seats might look a bit rugged, but they are actually soft and comfortable. The cabin of the Type R prototype is equipped with a metal shift knob, drilled metal pedals and there are numerous trim pieces made of carbon fiber as well. All of these are missing on the regular versions of the new Civic Hatchback, so is a drive mode selector switch that has “R+” and “Comfort” labels on it.
The Honda Civic Type R was presented at the 2016 Paris Motor Show in September, and it also appeared at the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Showing this vehicle in Canada was a logical move for Honda.
Senior Manager, Product Planning and Business Development for Honda Canada, Hayato Mori said: “The Honda Civic, as well as hatchbacks, are dear to the Montreal market, so it only makes sense to bring our flagship Civic to the show.”
Although Mori said nothing about the engine specifications, we know that the Civic Type R will come with the unit that will be mated to a six-speed manual transmission and this will be the only option. Mori added: “With a lightweight sports car in its purist form, there’s was no choice but to go with a genuine six-speed manual transmission,” which means that a CVT will not be available.
The engine we mentioned earlier will probably be a 2.0-liter turbo-four which will deliver more than 300 horses, according to rumors. However, there is no official information about the engine’s output, since the engineers are still putting the finishing touches to this mill.
The 2018 Honda Civic Type R looks like a regular hatch but decently pumped up. Everything on the Type R is larger so, for example, we have wide air vents and massive 20-inch alloy wheels, and this prototype also features triple exhaust pipes and huge rear wing. We expect this model to be available in several authentic colors, with the most prominent one being the trademark Championship White.
Release Date
The production Honda Civic Type R will make its debut in spring this year. Stay tuned for more information.
