RE: Honda - Geneva 2015

[Dave Hedgehog]

i like it a lot

its not as mental as the concept but its pretty close, vastly close than subaru got with the WRX

[hornetrider]

allergictocheese said:

Oh dear, what a mess! It's like they kept just adding bits.

Exactly this! Was going to use those very words. It's just horrendous.



The arches are just a disaster, and the whole rear end is ridiculous.

[Bradley1500]

sinbad666 said:

Bradley1500 said:

If this version is delivering loads of low end grunt surely it won't feel or drive any different to the current crop of hot hatches from the VAG stable.

All those VAGs are selling too.
I think its pretty standard for hot hatches to have a large power band. It would still however be nice for the engine to have some character.

Unfortunately this is what it comes down to, but it will be alienating a lot of their current consumers who will be looking for the high revving VTEC engines of previous generations.

I guess it will come down to how the car has been mapped.

[MustardCutter]

I actually like the look of the basic civic, and I think most of the type r add-ons are successful. I am excited about this car except for the disparity of the front and rear arches; if you're gonna beef up the front like that the rear has to be bulked up with it, which it isn't. I would rather have had a more tame front arch to suit the compromised rear (due to the door) arch they have gone with. The side on view is really jarring. They had to go "full concept" on the arches or leave them alone...

[andrewparker]

Nurburgring lap time released - 7:50!!!

[muppet42]

I think a lot of the design cues shown in the various concepts made it a more cohesive shape. I also prefer it in the blue...







...but I do wonder how it'll drive and not just via a Top Gear review of course(!)

[Calza]

Don't understand why people are saying it'll only appeal to the Honda fanboys. That's the people it no longer appeals to surely?

All this talk about guaranteeing low down grunt is not what I want from my Type-R. Vtec has not kicked in it seems

[Guvernator]

Being somewhat of a fast Honda fan I was quite looking forward to seeing what they would do with this car, however having now seen the production pics I can't help but be a bit disappointed. The concept was pretty wild but at least it was cohesive but this is a bit of a mess.

Large stuck on front arches and rather apologetic rear arches, 19" wheels which still don't manage to look like they are big enough of fill the arches properly, "3d rear lights", a spoiler which has wings on top of wings (you know, coz you can never have enough) and 4 exhausts that are absolutely HUGE because having that many wasn't deemed lairy enough so they've made them the size of dustbins.

It just looks awkward from most angles, I am really hoping it doesn't picture well and may look a little better in the flesh.

The second thing that worries me are the comments that it's been tuned for low down torque. I can appreciate that they had to do something in this area to make it easier to live with day to day but let's hope they've managed to retain some of that Honda rev magic. If this car drives like every other VAG product, it won't be a Type R and I'll be very disappointed.

[Schnellmann]

Each iteration of the Civic Type R gets less and less appealing to me. No doubt partly because I'm getting older but that looks a mess to me. The high-revving V-Tec engines were also what set Honda appart. Pity that Honda has been forced down the turbo route by the competition.

[Thunder18]

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1lXGmjt1FtQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&amp...

http://hondanews.eu/gb/en/cars/media/pressreleases...

NEW HONDA CIVIC TYPE R THROWS DOWN NÜRBURGRING GAUNTLET
•Honda announces Nürburgring lap time for Civic Type R development car
•7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time is unmatched in the front-wheel drive hot hatch class
•Lap time achieved in development car with technical specifications representative of the final production car



At the world premiere of its all-new Civic Type R at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show (5 - 15 March; Stand 4250, Hall 4), Honda announced that a development car had achieved a 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time of the legendary 20.8 km/12.9 mile Nürburgring Nordschleife in Germany.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&amp...

This time is unmatched by any other front-wheel drive performance hatchback.



The lap time was achieved during the final phase of pre-production testing in May 2014 by a Civic Type R development car. The development car was in a standard state of engine tune, with suspension, drivetrain, exhaust, brakes and the aerodynamic package identical to those of the production Civic Type R.



The removal of equipment such as air conditioning, the front passenger seat and audio equipment offset the additional weight of a full roll cage (installed specifically for safety reasons and not to add rigidity).



During the test cycle, the development car used production-specification high-rigidity 19-inch alloy wheels. These were fitted with 235/35R19 road tyres being developed in conjunction with a major European tyre manufacturer especially for the new Civic Type R. The test cycle during which the 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time was achieved was part of the tyre’s development and testing process.



Honda has now vowed to follow up this achievement by sending a production Civic Type R around the Nürburgring Nordschleife later this year with the aim of setting a new lap record for a front-wheel drive production car.



Highlights of the latest generation in Honda’s cult car dynasty is a world-first application of Honda’s new 2.0 litre VTEC TURBO engine, aggressive function-led styling, and advanced new chassis technologies, combining to deliver one of the most immersive and rewarding driving experiences available in any sector.

[zeDuffMan]

Calza said:

Don't understand why people are saying it'll only appeal to the Honda fanboys. That's the people it no longer appeals to surely?

All this talk about guaranteeing low down grunt is not what I want from my Type-R. Vtec has not kicked in it seems

To be fair, peak torque at 2500rpm in a turbocharged hatch is quite high. Most start 1500-1700rpm.

[Thunder18]

Schnellmann said:

Each iteration of the Civic Type R gets less and less appealing to me. No doubt partly because I'm getting older but that looks a mess to me. The high-revving V-Tec engines were also what set Honda appart. Pity that Honda has been forced down the turbo route by the competition.

It's not the competition that's forcing them down the turbo route, hence we got the fn2, it's emissions standards that's been set globally, but firstly the EU......

Supposedly though the 7k redline is not the top, but I wouldn't imagine it getting to 8k either, this is the future, I can imagine that the next generation of high revvers will be hybrid led, it's the only way, or buy motorbike!!

[Axionknight]

7 minutes fifty seconds? fkin' hell - eight seconds faster than the SEAT.

[Soupie69uk]

Looks really quick. Did anyone else notice the editing in the last 10 seconds at the last corner. The guy looks like he is going off and then it jumps around the corner.

Its at 7:58.

Edited by Soupie69uk on Tuesday 3rd March 11:51

[hookedonboost]

Using standard tires as well not very expensive optional extra tires!!

[Lunar Tick]

Bradley1500 said:

I know it goes on to say "as well as sustained acceleration throughout the rev range" but this worries me. The joy of driving the previous generations of type Rs was their fantastic ability to rev and build power high up the rev range. If this version is delivering loads of low end grunt surely it won't feel or drive any different to the current crop of hot hatches from the VAG stable

This - 100%
I think I'll hang onto my FD2 thank you very much

[urquattroGus]

Needs to look and feel more like the limited edition Mugen version of the previous model.....

[Thunder18]

Soupie69uk said:

Looks really quick. Did anyone else notice the editing in the last 10 seconds at the last corner. The guy looks like he is going off and then it jumps around the corner.

Its at 7:58.

Edited by Soupie69uk on Tuesday 3rd March 11:51

Just seen that alright, strange.... but it doesn't matter as yet because it's not a full production car.... more waiting with Honda ensues.....

[Daston]

macky17 said:

Lol - don't worry - I don't think you were part of the demographic Honda were aiming at. May not happen but potentially, in a few weeks, Chris Harris (or similar) may drive this car and pronounce it the best FWD/hot hatch they have ever driven in their lives and you still won't be interested because of the rear lights? I don't like them much either but jeez...

The thing is I am! I am looking for a car to replace the MG with and could afford something like this on finance if I wanted. I have a history of performance Japanese cars and when I saw the concept I was very interested.

OK so the lights arn't the only thing that let it down but it is a big factor, the rear arches are terrible as well.

Roll on Focus RS

[Mark Wibble]

So they've done the hard work here, once they've recouped their development cash they can derive a new Integra with softened lines and lower the rear half...