Following countless concept cars, teasers, and rumors, the new Honda Civic Type R finally made its official debut in production from at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Set to go on sale this summer, the new Type R shares the same features as the new Civic hatchback, but brings enhanced everything to the table compared to the previous Type R model. The really big news about the upcoming hot-hatch is that it will be finally offered in the United States.

Design-wise, while still recognizable as a Civic hatch, the Type R is decidedly more aggressive. Up front it has massive air intakes, a big splitter, a vented hood and the traditional red badges, while the profile is enhanced by means of beefed-up side skirts and fenders. Around back, the Type R is downright menacing thanks to its center-mounted, three-pipe exhaust, race-inspired diffuser with red accents, and the large wing atop the tailgate.

Needless to say, it makes the Ford Focus RS look like a regular grocery getter.

Styling aside, the Type R hides a lot of performance-oriented upgrades. For starters, torsional rigidity has been improved by 38 percent compared to the previous models, while the new suspension geometry reduces torque steer and enhances the sporty handling. The smoother underbody and the lightweight rear wing deliver "best-in-class balance between lift and drag" according to Honda. I have no idea how the Japanese measured lift and drag for competing models in order to make such a statement, but I guess this should be visible at the race track and a Nurburgring lap would be nice to begin with.

Under the hood of the new Type R lurks a revised turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 320 PS and 400 Nm. This converts to 316 horsepower and 295 pound-feet here in the U.S. That's only ten horses more than the previous model, but the lighter architecture and the stiffer chassis should bring significant improvements in the performance department. For instance, it should be the first Civic Type R to need less than five seconds to hit 60 mph and run the quarter-mile in less than 14 clicks. Routing all that power to the wheels is a six-speed manual transmission improved with a rev match control system.

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Why it Matters

While it doesn't have the output of the Focus RS and lacks an all-wheel-drive system, the new Civic Type R should be as exciting as its Ford-badged rival in terms of on-track performance. The fact that it will finally become available in North America only makes it that much more exciting.

Read our full review on the upcoming Honda Civic Type R here.