What's the news?
On the eve of its world debut at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, we have all the details and undisguised images of the new Honda Civic Type R. It's the most powerful model from the Japanese car maker yet, with 310hp, and its technical make-up should ensure it's as good around corners as it is in a straight line.
Exterior
One word comes to mind when clapping eyes on the exterior of the Type R for the first time: aggressive. It's certainly not for the shy and retiring type with its comprehensive body kit including a massive rear spoiler. While it could hardly be called pretty, Honda says it's all functional. In terms of enhancing high-speed stability by reducing lift and adding downforce, there's that wing on the rear hatch (working with a diffuser underneath), a wide front bumper/splitter design, new side sills and an almost completely flat underside. The air intakes up front are enlarged to help cool the engine while the hot air exits via new vents above the front wheels and others behind them.
Those 19-inch alloys are unique to the Civic Type R too, and they're shod in 235/35 R19 tyres. Buyers can choose from five colours - Championship White (pictured), Crystal Black (pearlescent), Polished Metal (metallic), Brilliant Sporty Blue (metallic) and Milano Red.
The car pictured also features the optional GT Pack, which adds the red detailing to the front splitter and rear diffuser, auto wipers and lights and electric folding door mirrors, plus front and rear parking sensors.
Interior
Although bright red upholstery for the seats appear in our images here, black suede-effect fabric with red double stitching comes as standard - presumably on the same high-backed seat frame with deep bolstering. Black leather with red stitching is found on the thick three-spoke steering wheel and gear lever gaiter too. Fans of the previous Civic Type R will approve of the inclusion of a machined aluminium alloy gear lever (cold as it is to touch at this time of the year). Upgrade to the GT Pack and the interior receives a lot more equipment, including dual-zone climate control, integrated Garmin satnav and an audio system upgrade.
Mechanicals
At the heart of the new Civic Type R is Honda's latest 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine. It's a four-cylinder unit producing 310hp at 6,500rpm, 400Nm of torque at just 2,500rpm and it redlines at 7,000rpm. Honda hasn't yet disclosed all of its secrets, but claims to use an advanced new turbocharger with its well-known VTEC variable valve timing system. The results are 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 270km/h.
All that power and torque is fed to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox. To reduce torque steer (by a quoted 50 per cent in comparison to the regular Civic's suspension), Honda has developed what it calls Dual Axis Strut Suspension. At the rear, a torsion beam is retained, but uniquely to the Type R it features a 'crushed pipe' design, which is claimed to significantly enhance stability at high speed. As important as all of that is a new adaptive damping system, with four discrete settings.
Steering is by a dual-pinion electric power system, while the Brembo brakes include 350mm drilled discs up front and four-piston calipers.
Anything else?
The Civic will be the first Type R to come with a '+R' mode. Presumably that stands for 'really sporty' given the rather purposeful demeanour of the car as standard. Press that button and the power steering assistance reduces, the throttle response is quickened up further and the adaptive damping goes into its firmest mode.
All we're missing now is the price of the Civic Type R in Ireland. Given the talented competition available, it needs to be no more than €40,000. It goes on sale in the summer.