With the Paris Motor Show just days away, Honda has released further details of the eagerly anticipated new Civic Type R. The all new hot hatch - due in U.K. showrooms next year - is expected to be the most extreme and high-performing Type R in the 22-year history of the red 'H' badge, signalling the start of a new performance era for the brand.

The car will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine from Honda's next generation Earth Dreams Technology series, to produce more than 276bhp and married to a traditional six-speed manual transmission.

Suehiro Hasshi, Large Project Leader for the Civic Type R at Honda R&D, emphasises that the car's appeal will be far greater than just the new high-performance engine under the bonnet as a number of engineering innovations and enhancements have been made to make the new Type R a true driver's car.

The new Type R will mark the debut of the new '+R' button. Located to the side of the steering wheel, the '+R' mode enables a more exiting driving experience. Engine responsiveness is heightened, with torque-mapping changed to a more aggressive and performance-focused setting. Steering becomes more responsive which, together with the new four-point Adaptive Damper System, delivers the ultimate handling experience.

The Civic Typer R also includes 'steer axis', where the car's front suspension system includes an additional mechanical system involving two supporting 'kingpins', to minimise torque steer. Furthermore, a new four-point Adaptive Damper System has been developed specifically for the new Type R, which automatically adjusts front and rear suspension damping to suit driving conditions. This allows the new Type R to provide a comfortable ride during cruising, yet become firm and agile for high-performance handling.

The new Civic Type R has been developed and engineered for European drivers, and will be built at Honda's U.K. plant in Swindon.