Honda unveils 2017 Civic Type R

Honda has finally unveiled its Civic Type R performance car.

The latest version of Honda’s hot hatch made its official debut at the 2017 Geneva motor show alongside supercars from the world’s most exclusive marques.

Powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, the Civic offers 235kw of power and 400Nm of torque - well more than rival models such as the Volkswagen Golf R.

The Japanese giant promises that its revised model will be "the most rewarding" hot hatch for drivers, thanks to a variety of improvements to an existing model already offered in Europe.

The 2017 car features a stiffer chassis, a new rev-match system for its six-speed manual transmission and new multimode suspension with comfort, sport and track driving modes to help it take on the world’s top hatchbacks.

The front-wheel-drive performance hero also benefits from revised aerodynamics including supercar-spec flat underbody elements and oversized spoilers designed to deliver increased downforce at speed.

Honda also confirmed in Geneva that it will take the upgraded model back to the Nurburgring to reclaim the front-wheel drive lap record broken by Volkswagen’s Europeonly GTI Concept S.

The car forms an important part of Honda’s product-led resurgence, joining the reborn NSX supercar as a genuine option for enthusiast drivers.