Alongside production versions of the all-new Civic hatch and sedan (saloon), Honda sprung a surprise at the Paris Motor Show by unveiling a prototype of the new Civic Type R.

The prototype previews the design direction for the mass production version of the Type R which is set for launch next year.

At the front, the prominent bumper is accentuated with a winged carbon fibre splitter and red accent line. Additional slatted ducts add width to the bumper while diamond-mesh inserts fill the sculpted air intakes.

Honda’s red ‘H’ badge – which adorns all Type R models – sits above a new air vent and there’s also a new intake on the bonnet, with an air scoop sited centrally in a trapezoidal recess. All the lenses for the LED headlights, indicators and side repeaters are smoked.

Carbon fibre side skirts run between enlarged wheel arches which house 20-inch piano black alloy wheels with red accents and 245-section high-performance tyres.

A carbon fibre diffuser runs below the wider rear bumper which frames three  tailpipes with a pair of directional strakes at each side. The central exhaust is of a smaller diameter and highlighted in bright metallic red. Unique peaks at the roof flanks point backwards towards a huge rear wing.

During the unveil of the Type R Prototype, Senior Vice President Philip Ross said, “Type R epitomises Honda’s racing DNA, our challenging spirit and the highest levels of performance engineering. Coming to Europe during the second half of 2017, we’re now set to embark on the next chapter of the ‘race car for the road’.”

The production version of the Honda Civic Type R is set for a European launch in the second half of 2017.