Honda Civic R Concept revealed

This is the new Honda R concept, debuted ahead of its official reveal at the 2014 Geneva motor show. Which means we'll definitely be getting a new Civic Type-R.

Several clues lead us to this assertion.

Firstly, this drawing. Dubbed by the manufacturer's design team as a ‘racing car for the road', it's been created ahead of a real-life version that'll land in Switzerland next month to test public reaction.

Secondly, Honda's already built a Type-R mule. And it has a 2.0-litre single-turbo four-pot engine that makes 280bhp, which has been given to Gabriele Tarquini and driven very quickly around the Nurburgring. Then given to Top Gear's own Jason Barlow, who drove it less quickly around Honda's Tochigi test track.

Thirdly, it's about bloody time. Since most people were fist-fighting for a can of dog food in the post-crisis mire, the carmaker decided not to plough its resources into anything remotely fun, instead concentrating on the constrained-means end of the market. Stuff like the Civic Tourer, CRV, and Jazz.

Fourthly, Honda told us. The 2015 Civic Type-R lands next year.