Filed under: Trends, Coupes, Geneva Motor Show
Screaming Yellow Zonker: Honda Civic Type-R breaks cover before Geneva debut
Perhaps figuring that they'd need a very dark sheet indeed to conceal the searing yellow paint on their
latest Civic Type-R Concept, some Honda press images have apparently snuck out in advance of the car's debut at the
Geneva Motor Show next week.
While officially just a concept, the hot hatch is likely a sincere indicator of the 2007 CTR, which (as ever) isn't slated for U.S. consumption. The showcar is allegedly powered by the same 197-horsepower 2.0-liter four-cylinder that motivates the current Type-R, though it isn't known for sure whether the production version will be a carryover piece as well.
In light of the escalating small arms race taking place among hot hatches around the globe, it would be rather surprising if Honda failed to make any major improvements to the CTR's power supply. That said, if this word is indeed accurate, consider it more grist for the rumor mill clamoring about an even hotter Civic Type-RR.
Honda of Europe President and CEO Takeo Fukui will introduce the car with a little help from Jenson Button, one of Honda's most popular Formula One drivers.
[Source: Eurocarblog.com]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Philip Dunlop 8:32AM (2/24/2006)
I think it looks great! Hopefully I'll see a few of them on Irish roads, but they're rare enough, if that is any appeasement for the US fans of the car.
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Lithous 8:38AM (2/24/2006)
The ultimate jelly bean exterior styling. This one must be lemon flavor.
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tony belligerent 8:58AM (2/24/2006)
197hp 4cyl eggshell with room for one, maybe two.
You can keep this yellow lemon.
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Philip Dunlop 9:03AM (2/24/2006)
It's a Honda Civic. You'll fit four people. I can't remember ever hearing of a Civic with seating capacity for one person.
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David 9:10AM (2/24/2006)
**************** MAGNIFIQUE ***************
Je craque. Merci Mr HONDA.
Encore et Encore des petites bombes.......
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RossL 9:34AM (2/24/2006)
Love it. Out of curiosity, wonder what the dimensions are. The pix make it look considerably narrower than the North American Civic, but maybe that's just the camera angle.
As with every other car design, if you don't like it - guess what? It wasn't designed for you.
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Corey 10:05AM (2/24/2006)
Civic del Sol = 2 passenger. But course, that was a roadster.
The dinner roll styling's going to only attract the "Fast and the Furious" crowd. I'm their target demographic, and I find it fugly.
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Christian J 10:11AM (2/24/2006)
Garbagio. Civics/RSX are weak and heavy. Yes HEAVY. Depsite what everybody says they have not the appropriate power to weight ratio to be considered even as performance car. I'd say sporty, i.e. all show and no go. Perfect for autocross and coffeshop shine 'n' show. Can't wait for the Type-RR. I guess it means "really, really" slow.
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s 10:32AM (2/24/2006)
I love it. This is the best looking Civic hatch ever. I wish they would bring it to the states.
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JZeke 10:47AM (2/24/2006)
Another unfortunate aspect of the new Si, prolly this hatch and the last couple Gen's of hot Civics is a weight balance ratio of 60/40% f/r.
Sports Car International magazine gave a not so great review of the new Si saying that weight balance kills it where Civics used to shine: on tight short courses or the autocross.
So if the Civic is now a replacement for the Prelude, when we gonna see an old-school Honda again, ie one thats balanced, nimble and quick?
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pedantic 10:54AM (2/24/2006)
Looks exactly like the UK Civic.
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J T 11:28AM (2/24/2006)
Gee, wow, that's really... UGLY.
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Sid 12:05PM (2/24/2006)
"old-school Honda again, ie one thats balanced, nimble and quick?"
Visit the Mazda dealership.
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RossL 12:26PM (2/24/2006)
Thanks, #10 - I hadn't realized that. And to answer my earlier question, the Euro Civic is actually a touch wider than the North American version:
http://www.honda.co.uk/civic/
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kowell 1:03PM (2/24/2006)
wow... I've never been a fan of the civic...thank you Honda for strenghtening my belief of it...
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Travis 1:07PM (2/24/2006)
have said it before, and will say it again. these new "civics" are 500lbs more than my 88 Prelude was. people started racing civics b/c they were lightweight, and could get decent power out of them. however, as the cars have gotten bigger and bigger (and heavier and heavier), the "fast small honda" went from the Prelude to the Civic b/c the Prelude got too big. now that the Civic is even heavier than the Prelude was, we need a Fit Type-R or something similar. Shove that 200hp powerplant into something that weighs in about 2400lbs, and you'll have your balance and power-weight ratio back.
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Finished.Law.School 1:15PM (2/24/2006)
Yellow makes any car go faster.
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chop 3:12PM (2/24/2006)
what alot of you seem to not notice is that this car is NOT intended for north americans...its based off the european civic and thats where it will be sold...where hatchbacks are everywhere
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Jeffrey 3:15PM (2/24/2006)
Sort of a stretched & pimped Subaru R1e.
http://www.electrifyingtimes.com/subaru_concepts.html
Except the R1e looks better.
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ZoomZoomin' 3:23PM (2/24/2006)
I don't understand why we don't get the Euro hatchback. It's like Honda is pulling a Ford (Euro Focus). The euro grill and tail-lights need a little help, but it's pretty cool. Still, it makes me lament the fact that Toyota is the Japanese sales leader in the U.S. rather than Honda. At least Honda tries to be sporty.
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