The ultimate Honda is coming to the UK - and the first customer is likely to be one of Britain's best known racing drivers. The flagship NSX Type R, seen here on British soil for the first time, has been shipped over for homologation testing so that Honda's F1 star Jenson Button can drive it on UK roads.

Although the car's 276bhp output is unchanged, carbon fibre bodywork, a revised engine and hardened suspension make the Type R a genuine rival to Ferrari's 360 Challenge Stradale. No official announcement has been made, but the green light for the six UK dealers authorised to sell NSXs is expected soon.

Several salesmen are rumoured to be taking deposits for the Type R already, even though there will be no deliveries before next spring. A price premium of around £5,000 is expected over the standard NSX, lifting the cost to £65,000. But despite the early interest, Honda does not expect to sell many more than 10 models a year here.

Meanwhile, sources in Japan have revealed that the next-generation NSX, which is due for launch in late 2005, will be powered by a mighty 3.6-litre 450bhp version of the current model's V6 powerplant.