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Feann Torr30 Jan 2015
NEWS

GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: New Civic Type R for Swiss fair

Production version of highly-anticipated new Honda hot hatch to debut in Switzerland

Honda has released a very short and sharp 16-second teaser video for the production version of its new Civic Type R, confirming it will make its public debut on March 3 at the 2015 Geneva motor show.

The teaser video reveals a handful of details, such as the headlight shape and use of LEDs for accentuation, the brake light design, and a '+R' button that will engage a high-performance mode with sharper throttle mapping and steering response while firming up the adaptive dampers for flatter cornering.

We also notice the tachometer's 7000rpm redline, which means the Civic Type R's 2.0-litre turbo-petrol screamer's 206kW-plus peak power should arrive at around 6600rpm. As previously reported when we drove a prototype version of the Type R in late 2013 the engine is still a typical Honda unit that loves to rev and gathers "more momentum as the turbocharger floods air to its lungs from 4000rpm".

Honda says the debut of new 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine will be joined by the Civic Tyre R's "aggressive function-led styling and pioneering new chassis technologies" that will deliver "one of the most immersive and rewarding driving experiences available in any sector".

The Japanese car-maker has teased and tantalised us with info about its next Civic Type R for what feels like half a decade, revealing concept versions of the car a year ago at the 2014 Geneva motor show and more recently at the Paris motor show last October (pictured).

The five-door hot hatch has been several years in the making and is scheduled to go on sale in Europe early this year, but won't be offered in Australia until 2016.

For more than two years Honda has held the line that the Type R will be the world's finest front-drive performance car, as it aims to knock the Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy R off its perch by beating its Nurburgring lap time of 7:54.36.

Indeed, when these fresh spy shots of the car undergoing cold-weather testing near the arctic circle were taken, the Type R was seen with a variety of benchmarking rivals, including the Mercedes-Benz A 45 AMG, Renault Megane RS and Volkswagen Golf R.

The pre-production prototype features the same big rear wing as the latest concept seen at Paris (pictured), confirming it will be fitted to the production model.

The Honda Civic Type R, which has also been spotted numerous times at the Nurburgring, will be joined in Geneva by the new NSX hybrid supercar, which receives its first European showing.

According to Honda, the arrival of the two heavy-hitters signals "a new era for the Honda brand".

Both the Civic Type R and NSX will be available to Australians from 2016.

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