The upcoming 2015 Civic Type R was a no show at the Frankfurt Motor Show today, at least physically, because Honda used the press conference to share a fresh batch of details, new photos of the engineering prototype as well as a video of the hot hatch running some laps on the Nürburgring (see Carscoops’ rendering of the production car here).

But first things first: Honda confirmed that for the first time ever, the new Civic Type R will be powered by a direct injection turbocharged 2.0-liter engine producing “at least 280 PS [276bhp]”.

The Japanese carmaker also boldly claimed that its ambitions for the Civic Type R is “to become the fastest front wheel drive car around the infamous Nürburgring circuit in Germany”.

In the Nürburgring video, we see Gabriele Tarquini, Honda’s WTCC driver, sitting behind the wheel of the Type R prototype, which the company says, faces a further 2 years of development before going on sale in 2015.

“We have recently spent a week at the Nürburgring, carrying out extensive testing and we are on target, and have already set a time approaching the lap record”, said Manabu Nishimae, President of Honda Motor Europe.

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