Secret hot hatches of 2006 - Honda Civic Type-R

On sale: Early 2007
Price: £18,000 (est)

It may not go on sale until early 2007, but a concept version of the hot Type-R will makes its debut at the Geneva Motor Show next spring.

Judging by the striking styling of the standard five-door Civic, the new Type-R is certain to turn some heads and turn on the heat.

The old car was What Car?'s favourite Hot Hatch in the Car of the Year awards for three straight years. It was only eventually dethroned by the Volkswagen Golf GTI in 2005, but was still one of our runners-up.

Although it remained competitively agile car to the last, the new model will hopefully take a step forward in driving ability, and could see power rise above the 197bhp output of the last car.


See the February 2006 issue of What Car? magazine for a free 100 Secret Cars of 2006 and Beyond supplement.