2018 Honda Civic Type R Geneva Debut

Debuted last week at the 2017 Geneva auto show, Honda’s newest Civic Type R is ready to take on the hot hatch world and compete against the likes of the Subaru WRX STI, Volkswagen Golf R and Focus RS.

Set to finally arrive in U.S. showrooms this spring, the latest iteration of the Civic Type R will be powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Sending all that power to the front wheels is a six-speed manual transmission with a rev-matching feature for smooth downshifting, a first for Honda.

Compared to the last generation Type R, this one also has a lower final drive ratio for improved throttle response and a new flywheel that will reduce clutch inertia.

While the hot hatch may not offered in an all-wheel-drive configuration like its rivals, the Civic Type R makes up for it by coming in just one very well equipped trim. For a starting price around the mid-$30,000 range, new owners will be getting a limited-slip front differential, four-wheel adaptive suspension, Brembo brakes, 20-inch wheels with Continental ContiSpoortContact 6 tires, and three drive modes consisting of Sport, Comfort and a track focused Plus R setting.

Honda has not released any more of the Type R’s specs, but we should hear more soon with the sale date approaching.