Finally! It's not a concept, it's not a pre-production car, this is the real Civic Type R that will be on sale from the summer. And though 'it could be worth the wait' is one of the most overused motoring cliches, there's no denying the Civic has the potential to be a great hot hatch.
No lights in the spoiler, sadly
It's probably best to begin with the powertrain given this is the first turbocharged Type R. Honda says it's the "most extreme" engine in the 22 years of Type Rs, with "greater power, torque and response than any previous Honda production engine." That headline power figure is made at 6,500rpm with the limiter at 7K; disappointingly low for those of us who fell in love with Type Rs that shrieked their way past 8,000 but there we are.
Clever turbo technology is promised to allow plentiful low-end torque (295lb ft is delivered at 2,500rpm) as well as sustained acceleration throughout the rev range. We'll have to wait and see how Honda has integrated turbo technology into a Type R but thank goodness the manual has stayed. If there's one thing that's guaranteed to be good in a fast Honda, it's the gearbox, right? Expect an "intimate, rewarding connection" says Honda. But before you get too excited, that's an aluminium alloy gearknob and not titanium...
Now it's out in the metal at last, the Civic's styling is bound to be a huge discussion point. Apparently function dictated form in the car's design with a strong emphasis on aero efficiency and high-speed downforce. And you thought that eff-off rear wing was just for old time's sake... So the underbody is nearly flat, the diffuser is fully functional and the front bumper/splitter combo works to reduce turbulence and lift.
Search out the '+R' button...
As a thing to look at, and having just seen it at Honda's pre-show evening, the Type R is a mixed bag. Of course this is all personal opinion but while the front and back are fantastic, just as aggressive and wild as you would want, it sometimes looks a little dumpy from the side. There's a lot of metal above the rear wheelarch (blame the five-door shell) that lacks the tension found elsewhere in the design. Overall it's very exciting though, and the perfect tonic to some fairly staid hatches released recently. See also the brakes behind the new 19-inch wheels: a Brembo system unique to the Type R, the fronts are 350mm with four-pot calipers. Just finally on the outside, colours other than Championship White are available. The palette includes Crystal Black, Polished Metal, Milano Red and Brilliant Sporty Blue. But it's gotta be white, hasn't it?
Of course there are some big bucket seats inside but the most notable part of the Type R's interior is the '+R' button. See it as Honda's equivalent of a Megane's 'R.S.' button, the one that must be pressed for the full experience. It switches the car to a more aggressive torque map, lessens the assistance of the electric power steering and the basic damping force of the new 'Adaptive Damping System' is up by 30 per cent. No mention of any 'just kicked in, yo' shift light though. Shame.
More info coming soon!
The adaptive damping system is just part of the Civic's arsenal to go chasing that 'ring record. Honda claims the continuous independent control of each wheel delivers "exceptional road holding", minimises wheel load transfer and also contributes to a comfortable ride. The latter will surely be welcome to owners of the last Civic Type R. There's also a dual axis front suspension system to reduce torque steer and a 'crushed pipe' on the rear torsion beam which increases rear roll rigidity by 180 per cent. And don't get all snooty about a torsion beam either; remember what's slung out the back of a Megane Trophy-R...
That's it for now on the Type R. See the potential? Honda has said two more important pieces of info will be released tomorrow, one definitely relating to UK prices and the other possibly confirming a Nurburgring lap time. Stay tuned!
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