New 316bhp Honda Civic Type R 07 | 03 | 2017

HONDA HAS LIFTED the wraps from its all-new 2017 316bhp Civic Type R at the Geneva Motor Show. Based on the new 10th-generation Civic hatchback, and will be built exclusively at the company’s facility in Swindon. It will go on-sale at Scottish dealerships in July with prices staring around £32,000.

Defending champ, Auchterarder's Gordon Shedden will drive a 2017 Civic in this year’s British Touring Car Championship.

Powered by a 316bhp turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder VTEC engine, it enjoys an increase of 10bhp over the outgoing model. It also boasts 400Nm of torque. Power is transmitted to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

And Honda’s feeling rather bullish about the new Type R: the Japanese manufacturer will attempt to reclaim the Nürburgring lap record for a front-wheel-drive production car. It’s currently held by the VW Golf Clubsport S with a time of 7mins 49 secs, which is 1.4s quicker than the previous Civic Type R.

Honda has yet to confirm performance figures for the new car, but we can expect an improvement over the outgoing Type R’s 0-62mph time of 5.7s.

The new model benefits from new adaptive dampers and a range of driving modes for the first time. ‘Comfort’, ‘Sport’ and track-focused ‘R+’ modes alter the steering, throttle, damper and gearshift response.

The 2017 model also gets a rev-matching function, which automatically blips the throttle on downshifts to help smooth gearchanges and maintain momentum.

The new Type R is also distinguished by its three-piece exhaust set-up, plus there’s vortex generators on the roof, a smoother underbody and front air curtain. Buyers can also copy for alloys as large as 20in.

Inside the cabin, the basic dashboard architecture has been carried over from the regular Civic. Significantly though, the driving position has been lower by 50mm to give a sportier and more involving feel behind the wheel.

Related: Gordon Shedden unveils 2017 BTCC Honda

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Jim McGill