Honda Civic Type-R Concept Teased w/ New Performance Specs

Honda has just revealed the next iteration of their Civic Type-R Concept. This is reportedly the concept that will most closely match the actual production car, so you’ll definitely want to pay attention when it debuts in a couple days at the 2014 Paris Motor Show.

In the meantime, Honda has given us a little preview for what the new Honda Civic Type-R Concept will look like. More importantly, they’ve given us some new technical specs, but let’s cover the design first.

If you saw Honda’s first Civic Type-R Concept from the 2014 Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, you’ll notice that this new blue version looks largely the same. In fact, the only noticeable aesthetic difference is the luminous blue paintjob… The aerodynamic body kit, complete with its under spoiler, side skirts, rear spoiler, aggressive front grille and the sweet twin-spoke alloys, looks exactly the same. And of course, you’ll find that trademark red H badge at the center of the hatchback’s design.

What really has us excited about this and new Civic Type-R Concept, though, are those new technical specs we mentioned earlier. Honda claims that this concept will “set new standards on power, torque and engine response,” and, “signals the start of a new performance era for the brand.”

That’s a bold claim to make. So, what’s under the hood?

The Type-R will apparently run on a new turbocharged 2.0L i-VTEC engine that red-lines at 7,000 rpm and produces 276 hp. Honda claims that the hot hatch’s performance will outmatch every other car in their lineup, including the Acura NSX. However, the engine isn’t the only reason for this car’s exceptional agility.

In addition to a new engine, the Honda’s Civic Type-R Concept will showcase a new front suspension system that allows the engine to more efficiently deliver power to the wheels by minimizing torque steer. The suspension uses a new four-point Adaptive Damper System that automatically adjusts damping stiffness at split-second intervals, allowing for extremely high-performance handling.

Honda will top off the Type-R’s pristine mechanics with a six-speed manual transmission to maximize driving enjoyment.

With all of that being said, the coolest new feature to make its debut in this Type-R Concept is a +R driving mode. There will apparently be a ‘+R’ button next to the steering wheel. When pressed, it’ll automatically heighten engine response and adjust the car’s highly adaptive torque-mapping systems to a more aggressive, performance-focused setting.

As you can see, there’s a whole boatload of new technology to be showcased in the upcoming Honda Civic Type-R Concept. So, even if the sporty exterior isn’t your style, you’ll want to stay tuned for this concept’s debut to see exactly where Honda is heading.