By: Jason Woosey
Looking as angry as a Samurai dragon with toothache, the new Honda Civic Type R Prototype is, as the name implies, our first taste of the next-generation of Honda's hot hatch contender.
The technical details are still under wraps ahead of the production car's 2017 reveal. However, given how many years Honda spent perfecting the current-generation Type R, and how recently it was introduced as a result, we don't see the carmaker making any radical changes to its mechanical makeup.
Expect the Type R to stick to its current front-wheel drive set-up, powered by a modified, and possibly more powerful, version of the 228kW/400Nm 2-litre turbopetrol that powers the current car.
Yet it remains to be seen whether the showroom car will make as much as a style statement as the Prototype we see here, with its huge rear spoiler, giant diffuser and tail-pipes, flared wheel arches and undeniably aggressive front bumper design. If the previous-generation's concept was anything to go by then you can expect it to be toned down somewhat.
All will be revealed next year.