ARTA launches Civic Type R racer for the road

Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya races a Super GT Civic; the ARTA GT is his vision for the public highway...

For many years now, the appearance of the Honda Civic Type R has probably best been described as ‘unapologetic’. It hasn’t followed trends or tradition, and there’s certainly never been any danger of mistaking them for standard Civics. Even the old FK8 Sportline retained three exhaust pipes. Bad news for shrinking violets, but great news for those hoping to make a more extreme Civic Type R - because it already starts at wonderfully OTT.

This particular FL5 is the GT, and it's the work of Autobacs Racing Team Aguri, also known as ARTA. It races a Civic Type R in Super GT (which looks absolutely wild, of course), and this limited edition car is designed to take that aesthetic to the street. It consulted the racers, too, which include Aguri Suzuki and Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya, with circuit sign-off from former ARTA driver Tomoki Nojiri.

While there is more power than standard - somewhere around 400hp thanks to a new turbo, exhaust and intercooler - the focus must surely be on the extraordinary appearance. It would take quite a bit for a standard Civic Type R to look tame, but that’s exactly what’s been achieved. Trying to get the touring car aesthetic for the road usually ends up a bit of a muddle; seemingly the solution is a front end that gapes this much, flics that could double up as kitchen shelves, and track widths bulked up by an obscene degree. How this remains legal on a road isn’t exactly clear, given how long and low that front splitter is. And good luck seeing anything out of the back with that new spoiler in place.

But that’s missing the point. ARTA’s work makes for an even more dramatic Civic Type R, one that should be even more capable on a track as well. See, it doesn’t just look like a race car: there are proper motorsport bits underneath as well. They include two-way adjustable KW dampers, huge AP Racing front calipers, uprated pads and lines, plus giant 295-section Bridgestones at each corner, wrapped around 18-inch forged wheels. The GT certainly isn’t a case of all show and no go. New Recaros and a wheel seemingly straight from a GT500 spec machine complete the motorsport makeover.

ARTA suggests that the GT channels ‘the pure essence of driving’; certainly it’s hard to imagine this much going into a car as good as the Type R and the end result being anything but spectacular. Just 20 are going to be made, with the GT kit costing 13,500,000 - or £63,000, at current rates. That much carbon on a Civic was never going to come cheap, particularly with actual race team expertise as well.

Add that to the current cost of a used FL5 (they can’t be too different in Japan) and this is at least a £100,000 Civic. With ARTA Orange at extra cost. Yet apparently they were so swamped by enquiries at Tokyo that build slots are now having to be allocated via a lottery. The fortunate 20 will surely receive a car that will attract as much attention as anything else costing £100k - and be just as fast around a track.

(Pic credit: Autobacs Seven)

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fantheman80

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