We’ll admit it … we checked our calendar when this press release hit our inbox. Yes, Honda in the UK has revealed a Civic Type R bakkie concept, but it’s no belated April Fools joke.
Built by a specialist team from the product engineering department at Honda’s factory in Swindon and codenamed “Project P”, the bakkie has been modified and developed from the standard road car to create what the Japanese automaker calls “potentially one of the fastest pickup trucks” around.
To create the Project P concept, the team used a pre-production version of the hot hatchback and adapted the design rearwards from the C-pillars, with sweeping lines from the roofline to the back hiding a flatbed loading area in the centre of the car where the rear seats and luggage compartment would normally be.
Finished in Rallye Red paint, the concept retains the Civic Type R’s trademark rear wing, which is movable to allow direct and unfettered access to the rear of the bakkie.
Using the same powertrain, suspension and gearbox as the standard road car, Honda estimates that Project P will complete the obligatory 0-100 km/h sprint in less than six seconds and reach a top speed of more than 265 km/h.
“We have a special projects division at the factory in Swindon and this project was a fantastic opportunity for the team to show just what their creative minds could do,” said Alyn James, project lead.
“The passion that our engineers have for Honda is shown in our latest creation and we are even considering taking it to the Nürburgring to see if we can take the record for the fastest front-wheel-drive pickup truck,” he added.
Phil Webb, head of the car division at Honda UK, added the concept demonstrates the “commitment of the team”, adding that they went “above and beyond outside working hours to deliver the final product”.
“There are no plans to put this in to production, but we will be using it to transport our lawn and garden products as and when required,” Webb added.
