Honda Civic Type R : Geneva-bound concept previews upcoming hot-hatch styling

Referred to by the Honda design team as a "racing car for the road", the Civic Type R concept is said to express the bold styling and strong performance characteristics  "for which Type-R is renowned" and features a menacing bodykit, heavily flared and ventilated guards and an oversized rear wing with infused tail-lights.

A quad exhaust system with large-diameter pipes flank a purposeful rear diffuser while red-highlighted black alloy wheels complete the look.

All but confirmed for our market, the new fourth-generation Honda Civic Type R will feature a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with at least 206kW of power and 400Nm of torque.

Teamed with a six-speed manual transmission, the front-wheel-drive Type R – which CarAdvice drove in prototype form last year – is also likely to have a 7000rpm redline.

Priced from $39,990, the previous-generation Honda Civic Type R was axed in 2010.

Expected to reach local shores in late 2015, the new Civic Type R is tipped to be followed in 2016 by the all-new second-generation Honda NSX, confirmed at last year's Tokyo motor show to team a twin-turbocharged V6 petrol engine with three electric motors, a lithium ion battery and a dual-clutch transmission.

Joining the Honda Civic Type R concept at Geneva will be the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) Civic racer, the NSX's hybrid drivetrain and the FCEV concept – the latter first seen at November's Los Angeles auto show.