2020 Honda Civic Type R spied at the Nürburgring

YouTube Nürburgring ‘car spy’ CvdZijden has uploaded footage of a yellow 2020 Honda Civic Type R development prototype pounding around the famed German circuit.

Wrapped in minimal camouflage, the prototype appears to be sporting a restyled front end and rear end, though from the shapely impressions in the sun it seems that the styling tweaks won’t be doing much to change the Civic Type R’s already polarising looks.

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That being said, it seems that there might be more to the yellow car than what the camouflage is hiding, as it shares the track with a white Honda Civic Type R prototype with a lower rear wing.

While the white prototype has the flared front arches, roof top aero vanes, triple tailpipe arrangement, and front grille logo of the Civic Type R, the hatchback’s broad, flat rear wing is a strange addition to the package as Honda maintains that the aerodynamic bits of the Civic Type R serve a functional purpose of generating downforce and stability at speed.

The white prototype’s rear wing runs contrary to that narrative, unless Honda has plans to develop it as a new option – for the more discerning customer – or are in the midst of preparing a lower-spec variant, a Honda Civic Type-S perhaps?

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That being said, the yellow prototype might not even be a mere nip-and-tuck facelift of MOTOR’s 2018 double PCOTY and Bang for Your Bucks champ.

With the camouflage being applied sparingly to cover up key changes, it seems weird that the yellow prototype’s roof and bonnet vent is completely covered up, while the roof and vent of the white mule goes uncovered.

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While both cars seem to sport the same roof vanes, this might hint at Honda developing a new roof, perhaps a lightweight item to add to their “carbon accessories” range or even a hardcore Civic Type-R. If it is a case of the latter, it might also explain the Nürburgring logo on the rear wing.

Either way, it will be interesting to see what the facelifted Honda Civic Type R is packing, and MOTOR will bring updates as they come.