Honda Civic Type R

Honda Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to the currently UK-sourced Civic Type R, despite its global parent announcing the factory that makes it will shut its doors in 2021. The Swindon plant is the only Honda facility that makes the Civic Type R (pictured) currently, though the company's local director, Stephen Collins, says the current model will see out its lifecycle and confirmed plans for a next-generation model after that.

The latest Honda Civic Type R has already established itself as one of the meanest, quickest hatchbacks going around – then again, it would want to be, given its storied lineage. Along with a history of quick, front-drive hatchbacks, Honda has the S2000 in its back catalogue. Sure, it's a rear-wheel drive convertible, but the idea of putting one head-to-head with the latest Type R is still tasty.

Disguised versions of the Honda Civic Type R have been captured by our spy photography agency on roads near the Nurburgring in Germany. Given the latest Civic Type R only went on sale globally in 2017, it might be a little too early for mid-life facelift. Taking that into account, it's likely these prototypes are for new Civic Type R variants. That said, the tenth-generation Civic sedan went on sale in the US in 2015, and should be due for a date with the plastic surgeon soon.

Honda UK has taken the wraps off the Civic Type R Pickup Truck concept as part of the annual Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Test Day. Dubbed as "potentially one of the fastest pickup trucks on UK roads", the wild utility concept is the product of a specialist team from the Product Engineering department at the company's Swindon factory.