LOS ANGELES: Honda has announced that it had been testing its new Civic Type R at Germany's Nürburgring Nordschleife, releasing a teaser video that showed the car being driven at full tilt.
The prototype will make its US public debut during the July 1-3 Honda Indy 200 NTT Indycar Series weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.
The all-new 2023 Civic Type R is already showcasing its trackworthy credentials, having recently set a new track record for a front-wheel drive car at the legendary Suzuka Circuit, home to the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix.
In the latest revelation on Thursday, the Civic Type R remains in camouflage, but one can see the car is fitted with Brembo brake calipers and retain the 3-exhaust system and huge rear wing.
The front-wheel drive hot hatch will also be more aerodynamic and will have improved cooling to cope with a more powerful engine to make for "the most powerful, best performing Civic Type R ever."
Honda is expected to tweak the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine to squeeze out over 306hp/316hp (dependent on region-specific emissions rules) that was present in the outgoing FK8 model.
Also the fact the new Civic Type R is running around on the Nurburgring suggest it wants to set a record that would be another selling point to crow about once the car goes into series production.
For that, it would have to beat the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R Nürburgring Pack, which scored 7 minutes and 40.1 seconds in a lap in 2019.
