Honda unveils 165mph Type R Pickup 24 | 05 | 2018

    NOPE, IT’S NOT APRIL 1 … Honda UK has indeed unveiled a  Civic Type R Pickup Truck concept. Shown for the first time at today’s annual SMMT Test Day, it comes almost a year after the launch of the standard road car. (Related: New 316bhp Honda Civic Type R)

    Built by a specialist team from the Product Engineering department at the Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) factory in Swindon and codenamed ‘Project P’, the Civic Type R Pickup Truck has been modified and developed from the standard road car to create potentially one of the fastest pickup trucks on UK roads.

    To create the Project P concept, the team used a pre-production version and adapted the design rearwards from the B-pillars of the car, with sweeping lines from the roofline to the back hiding a flatbed loading area in the centre of the car where the rear seats and boot space would normally be. (Related: New 2018 Honda Civic diesel)

    Civic-Type-R-Pickup-Truck-1.jpg

    Finished in Rallye Red, the concept retains the iconic rear wing associated with both the FK2 and FK8 Civic Type R, which, in a clever piece of engineering, is movable to allow direct and unfettered access to the rear of the truck.

    Using the same powertrain, suspension and gearbox as the standard road car, it is estimated Project P will complete the 0-62mph sprint in under 6.0secs and reach a top speed of more than 165mph. It also possesses the same driving modes of comfort, Sport and +R, Project P offering both ride comfort as well as a unique racing capability on track.

    Civic-Type-R-Pickup-Truck-2.jpg

    “We have a special projects division at the factory in Swindon and this project was a fantastic opportunity for the team to show just what their creative minds could do,” Alyn James, project lead, explained.

    “The passion that our engineers have for Honda is shown in our latest creation and we are even considering taking it to the Nurburgring to see if we can take the record for the fastest front wheel drive pickup truck.”

    The concept was also praised by Phil Webb, head of car at Honda UK.

    Civic-Type-R-Pickup-Truck-3.jpg

    “This Civic Type R Pickup Truck concept by the special team at our Swindon-based plant demonstrates the passion and commitment of the team there – going above and beyond outside working hours to deliver the final product,” he said.

    “There are no plans to put this in to production, but we will be using it to transport our lawn and garden products as and when required.”

    Related: New Honda Urban EV on-sale 2019

    Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/Scotcars

    Jim McGill

     

User Comments

Login or register to post comments.