现行版思域Type R上市刚一年多一点，本田已经开始销售全新思域，同时还准备推出其顶级款。上次谍照记者在纽伯格林赛道拍到了这款车，而这次是在西班牙开放路面进行测试。与先前的谍照相比，新照片透露了更多新车细节，包括带散热孔引擎盖和新的前保险杠两侧硕大进气口和垂直散热孔。而在车尾可以看到与现行版思域Type R不同的硕大尾翼。目前还不清楚该车将搭载何种引擎，但有报道称，新车将搭载现行版2.0升四缸涡轮引擎的改进版。目前该引擎的功率为228千瓦/305马力，扭矩400牛米，但预计本田工程师将“压榨”出更多马力。不过，如果新车仍采用前轮驱动，预计功率不会有大幅提升。如果新车提供全轮驱动，其功率将有大幅提升以便能与全新福特福克斯RS竞争，而后者将于明年增加一款400马力RS500限量版。本田已经宣布思域Type R将作为2018款车型于明年在美国上市。而另一款Type S版本将搭载升级版1.5升涡轮引擎。届时，量产版思域掀背车将于今年秋季率先在美国上市，随后将于明年在欧洲上市。

 

2018 Honda Civic Type R prototype has hood scoop

The current Type R has been around for a little over a year now, but with Honda already selling an all-new Civic, it also must prepare the next iteration of the range-topping model. Last time we saw a prototype of the next-gen Civic Type R it was going hard on the Nürburgring, while this time around the camouflaged test vehicle was spotted on the public roads of Spain.

 

Compared to the previous batch of spy images, the new set is a bit more revealing as it’s showing the prototype with a hood scoop and a new front bumper hosting a pair of massive air vents and vertical louvres. At the back, there’s a massive wing which is different than the one Honda has developed for the current Civic Type R.

 

It’s unclear at this point what sort of engine the new hot-hatch will use, although reports are indicating the new model will be motivated by an evolution of the current turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder unit. It has 305 horsepower (228 kilowatts) and 295 pound-feet (400 Newton-meters) of torque right now, but Honda’s engineers will likely massage the motor to squeeze more power. That being said, we are not expecting a major bump in output if the next Civic Type R will continue to be a front-wheel-drive car.

 

If the next installment of the Civic Type R will make the switch to an AWD setup, it might gain substantially more power to battle the all-paw Ford Focus RS which is expected to spawn a 400-hp RS500 limited edition in 2017.

 

Honda has already announced the Civic Type R will be introduced in U.S. next year, likely as a 2018MY. A warm Type S version with an upgraded 1.5-liter turbo is expected to join the family at some point in the future. Until then, the production-ready Civic hatchback will go on sale this fall in North America ahead of an European market launch pinned for early next year.