► Honda Civic Type R scooped

► It's the new 2017 hot hatch

► Fulsome 300bhp+ turbo punch

The outgoing Honda Civic Type R didn't last long, did it? Our spies have been busy capturing the new 2017 model which will banish 2015's bewinged wonder to the history books.

With a typically short lifecycle, the Japanese are replacing the Civic range lock, stock and barrel with the new tenth generation at the 2016 Paris motor show.

And we hear that they might surprise us with a near-production-ready R hot hatch in the French capital - with none of the waiting around that we endured last time.

2017 Honda Civic Type R: what to expect

Our new spy photos capture the five-door performance derivative on test in Spain, following on from earlier scoop pictures at the punishing Nurburgring high-speed circuit in Germany (seen earlier in our gallery).

Word is the new Type R will repeat the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine from 2015's model, and our sources suggest that power output will spiral as high as 340bhp to put upstarts such as the Ford Focus RS and Mercedes-AMG A45 back in their boxes.

Note the triple-exit central exhaust pipes, rear diffuser and front air dam peppered with breathing ducts to cool the high-output engine and brakes.

To four-wheel drive or not to four-wheel drive...

Word is they'll stick with front-wheel drive for 2017's new Civic back-road blaster. Expect a clever differential to stop the front axle going into meltdown at every T-junction and we're told the snickety tactility of a slick Honda gearchange is a high priority for engineers.

And the big wing? It's back with a vengeance, sprouting from the hatchback with a twin spoiler to develop meaningful downforce to keep the Civic planted during high-speed manoeuvres.

The UK sells around 1500 Honda CTR models a year - and the new model will again be built in the Swindon plant in Wiltshire. Production cars should be in UK showrooms by late summer 2017.

Be sure to comment on the new fast Honda in our comments below!

Click here to see the new Honda Civic in production form

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