This is nearly Honda’s much-anticipated new Civic Type-R. This Type R Concept, to be unveiled at Geneva today by Jenson Button and the head of Honda cars, will see very few changes before it reaches production.

On sale in early 2007 for around £18,000, the Type-R has stuck with the same 197bhp power unit output. But it comes from a new four-cylinder engine. The Civic will be the least powerful car in its class – the Ford Focus ST has 222bhp, the Vauxhall Astra VXR 237bhp – but the Honda will claw back some ground through a lower kerbweight.

Such sophistication does not seem to have extended to the rear suspension, which is torsion beam – as opposed to the independent set-ups of the old Civic and the new Focus ST.

The aggressive bodykit clads the first official viewing of a three-door Civic. More of these bodyshells will apparently be at the London Motor Show in July, around which rumours circulate of a stripped-out Type-RR with more power.