Honda Civic Type R teased ahead of Geneva debut

Honda has released fresh new teaser images of the highly anticipated Civic Type R, ahead of its world premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show next month.

The brand’s much needed brand-revival model is said to be aerodynamic intensive, featuring a host of design elements influenced by extensive aerodynamic development and testing in the wind tunnel.

A new, almost completely flat underside aids airflow under the vehicle and combines with a rear diffuser to optimise downforce – effectively ‘sucking’ the car onto the road. A bespoke rear wing gives the car enhanced visual presence and delivers additional downforce, thanks notably to the structure of its airfoil section.

A wide front splitter and deep side skirts also manage airflow and reduce lift, while the front bumper has been shaped specifically to inhibit air turbulence around the front wheels, cutting drag and enhancing high-speed stability.

Honda says the car’s aerodynamic performance helps make the most of the Civic Type R’s 2.0 litre direct injection VTEC TURBO engine, enabling the car to achieve a top speed of 270km/h, unrivalled amongst its front wheel-drive competitors.

The 2016 Civic Type R is also gunning for the crown as the fastest front-wheel-drive production to lap the famous Nurburgring circuit, a record currently held by the Renault Megane RS265 Trophy.

The Civic Type R features a high performance Brembo brake package for the front wheels, developed specifically for the car. At the front, four-piston calipers act on 350 mm drilled discs. New 19-inch alloy wheels, unique to the Type R, complement the visual changes, filling the wheel arches and accommodating the larger brakes.

Heat management was another major focus for the design team, influencing several prominent external design modifications. Enlarged upper and lower grilles in the front bumper, vents above the wheels on the front quarter panels and vents at the trailing edges of the front wheel arches combine to provide greater cooling and ventilation for the high-output engine.

The Civic Type R will be unveiled at Geneva Motor Show in Championship White – a colour shared with successive generations of iconic Type R vehicles.