There's nothing wrong with an automaker showcasing two different concepts before rolling out a production car, which is why I'm not at all surprised Honda->ke34 is bringing the Type R Concept II to the Paris Motor Show->ke227 before unveiling its next high-performance Civic->ke236 hatch. However, I suspect the Concept II is as production-ready as it gets, and the latest batch of spy shots that arrived in our inbox come to confirm just that. While we're all busy gazing at the striking Concept II and its flashy paint job, Honda is testing the real deal close to the Nurburgring->ke999. And guess what? The production Type R appears to be identical to the Concept II that's slated to debut on October 2nd, 2014.

In an almost hilarious attempt to hide what we already know, the test car is wrapped in black-and-white camouflage, and there's no actual sheet metal for us to look at, but certain details reveal the Concept II will hit the production line with very few changes. That's far from shocking, as Honda is known for displaying near-production cars while calling them concepts.

Click past the jump to read more about the upcoming Honda Civic Type R.

Spy Shots

We don't need to see through the camouflage to understand why this test car is nearly identical to the Type R Concept II. The front grille and the bumper are similar in shape and size, while the splitter is almost entirely transferred from the concept car, except for the side fins. On the production car, these are a tad smaller. We also notice two additional differences up front. The headlamps come in a different, toned-down configuration, while the LED strips in the air dams have been replaced by regular, round units.

Around back, the fascia is yet again similar to that of the Concept II's. The bumper, the quad-exhaust arrangement, the diffuser, and the large wing are as seen on the study vehicle. Of course, there are slight modifications, especially in the lower apron and taillight area. Firstly, the lower light units now flank the diffuser and exhaust assembly, whereas the Concept II has them right above the pipes. Secondly, the taillight configuration is obviously different, and I have a hunch the production car won't have them extended onto the fixed wing. Nevertheless, most of the important bits are there, and that's a good thing.

Moving onto the side, we can see the same flared arches and a similar wheel design, with red calipers behind them. Although the test car features the type of sporty side skirts you'd expect on a hot hatch, the pieces are less complex than the Concept II's, which is a bit of a letdown. Unfortunately, our paparazzi didn't manage to capture some of the interior, but we'll be able to see the real thing in a few days at the Paris Motor Show. Stay tuned to TopSpeed for the full details.

Why It Matters

If you needed confirmation that Honda is once again building on the Type R hype by showing us production-ready concepts, then this is it. The high-performance Civic is as hot as it gets, with most of the Concept II's exterior bits and pieces set to find their way to the production line. Sure, it would've been nice to get those fancy taillights and deep-cut side skirts as well, but I'm not complaining. At least not with more than 270 horsepower under the hood.