Recently, the Honda Civic Type R has been making the rounds. It should be. Honda is wrapping up testing on what is arguably the brand's most hotly-anticipated model since the debut of the new Civic last year. Honestly, with how much Honda has been showing off the Civic Type R, and how close we are to the car's debut this summer, we expect this is essentially a pre-production model with a livery over top of it.

Still, it's worth pointing out that the car is now officially on American soil. Up until now, the Type R hasn't touched US soil. With how often the US loses out on special Japanese cars, we were admittedly a bit nervous Honda was going to pull out the rug and tell us all the Type R won't be coming here after all.

Thankfully, we do know that isn't the case. A prototype version of the Type R, seen here, completed a few hot laps around the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course this holiday weekend. Honda is closely intertwined with its Indy Car efforts, and as such, the hatch will lead the field at the start of the Honda Indy 200.

Honda says that one of its vehicle dynamics engineers, Chad Gilsinger, was behind the wheel during the hot laps. Let's hope he was able to take some of those learnings and use them to make the Type R a bit better. Regardless, this little tour of race tracks and teasers proves where Honda's intent lies with the latest Type R.

Recently, the Type R took the front-wheel drive car lap record at the legendary Suzuka Circuit in Japan, and Honda has shown off numerous pieces of media and video footage showing the hatch on track.

While we're far from having very many specifics on the car, the marketing speaks volumes here. Honda is pitching the new Type R to us as a hard-edged, super-quick track-ready hatch. Thus far, not much has been made of this car's usability or hatchback shape. Instead, Honda's efforts focus on what the Type R is capable of on track.

We expect that to extend to the production vehicle when it is finally launched here in the US. For now, we know the Type R will use much the same engine as the last while making more than 300 hp, and bringing new styling and an updated interior to the table.