Is the 2018 Honda Civic Type R Headed to SEMA This Year?
By Kelly G.
Rumors of the 2018 Honda Civic Type R Prototype debuting at the SEMA Show next month has US enthusiasts scrambling to get a peek at the Type R that Honda will be offering for the first time in the US.
The 2016 Paris Auto Show is now in full swing and if you are in the market for the newest “hot hatch”, then you probably have already heard the big announcement that Honda plans on releasing the new Honda Civic Type R for the first time to the US market.
Pictures of the 2018 Civic Type R Prototype from this year’s event are flooding the internet, and from the looks of it, the car is ready to battle for the “hot hatch” title.
Keep in mind, Honda claims that this is only a Prototype, but if the car they have brought out to the Paris Auto Show is anything close to what they plan on releasing, I could see a number of US Honda enthusiasts lining up to get on the Type R pre-order list.
Now we are starting to hear rumors that new Type R will be making its US debut at the 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas in November. This is big news for Honda fanboys that want to get an up close and personal look at this R-spec Civic.
Honda has been pretty tight-lipped about the performance specs, but it looks like the Civic Type R will remain front-wheel drive, and will feature a modified version of the current turbocharged 2.0 engine, which right now puts out about 305hp. The car will be available with a 6-speed manual gearbox.
The Type R Prototype also featured a unique three tip exhaust design, carbon fiber side skirts, and 20-inch piano black wheels with red Brembo brake calipers. And did we mention the massive rear wing on this thing!
YouTube video courtesy of AutoGuide.com
So my question is, will this car be making it’s debut at the upcoming 2016 SEMA Show in Las Vegas next month? We will be attending this year’s event and as a hot hatch fan, I am excited to take a closer look at this vehicle.
I also really want to find out if all the “flair” that has been added to the Type R is actually functional, or if it’s just for show. While I have no doubt that there will be a solid market for this vehicle here in the US, I am just not quite sure the front-wheel-drive Type R will be able to stay competitive in terms of overall performance with its all-wheel-drive rivals like the Subaru WRX STI, and the Focus RS.
SEMA Show: A Closer Look
Information Courtesy of SEMA:
"The SEMA Show is the premier automotive specialty products trade event in the world. It draws the industry’s brightest minds and hottest products to one place, the Las Vegas Convention Center. In addition, the SEMA Show provides attendees with educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, networking opportunities and more."
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So what are your thoughts on the new 2018 Honda Civic Type R Prototype? Let us know what you think @ArtofGears. We will be attending this year’s SEMA Show and if the Type R ends up making it’s US debut, we will be sure to bring you all the details.
This year’s SEMA Show takes place November 1 – November 4, 2016, at the Las Vegas Convention Center. For more information on the upcoming SEMA Show, click on the official website here.