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The new Honda Civic Type R, due in UK showrooms next year, is now open for booking. Lucky Brits can now place an order with a £3,000 (RM16,214) deposit at their local Honda dealer.

Touted to be the most extreme and high-performing Type R in the 22 year history of the red 'H' badge, the CTR will be powered by a new 280 PS 2.0 litre i-VTEC direct-injected turbocharged engine with a 7,000 rpm limit, paired to a six-speed manual gearbox.

The hot hatch will mark the debut of the new '+R' button. Pressing it will bring heightened engine response, 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".

Honda says that the new Civic Type R has been developed and engineered for European drivers. The car will be built at Honda's plant in Swindon, UK, and will go up against the Renault Megane RS, Volkswagen Golf R and Ford Focus ST in the senior hot hatch class. Honda also wants to break the Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R's front-wheel drive Nurburgring record of 7 min 54.36 seconds.

Honda has teased and tormented enthusiasts twice this year, via a red concept at Geneva in March and with a blue showcar at Paris in October. Not long now!