Honda’s Civic hatchback sold overseas is set to spawn a new Type R variant complete with a turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine spitting out more than 276 horsepower (we hear the final figure may be closer to 320 hp). Sadly, this model isn’t headed to the U.S. anytime soon but some of its mechanicals may be on their way.

A source close to Honda has revealed to MotoryRacing that a major update is coming for the U.S.-spec Civic, and among the changes will be the availability of the Type R’s engine. Importantly, the source also revealed that engine won’t be dropped into the lame-duck Civic Si, suggesting that a new high-performance variant may be in the offing, perhaps even with Type R badging.

The reveal of the updated is Civic is said to be taking place in the spring, which means we could see it introduced for the 2016 model year.

Note, we’ve also heard that the Type R’s mechanicals may be destined for Honda’s next-generation CR-Z, so perhaps that's where we’ll see the engine first. The CR-Z first hit the scene for the 2011 model year and is starting to get a bit long in the tooth.

Honda has neglected its performance fans in the U.S. for the past several years, allowing rival brands such as Ford and Volkswagen to grow dominant in the affordable performance scene. Some fans even took to launching a petition to get the Civic Type R into U.S. showrooms, which currently has close to 20,000 signatures.

We’ll update the story as soon as more details surface.

Thanks for the tip, Sergio Cabrera!

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