HONDA CIVIC TYPE-R

THE R STANDS FOR RACING

Soichiro Honda started out making piston rings before moving on to bicycles with motors. He bought some war-surplus generator motors and fitted them to bicycles and — fast forward a bit — he was the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer, a position the company still holds.

In 1963, he made his first four-wheel product; not a car but a small truck. His first cars followed shortly after that. Honda himself loved racing, and he used competition to promote his company’s products internationally. A huge list of motorcycle and car racing titles has been gathered by Hondapowered vehicles. Today, Honda is the world’s largest manufacturer of internal-combustion engines, producing 14 million of them each year.

The Civic model that first saw the light of day in 1972 is now into its 10th generation. What began life almost 50 years ago as an 1160cc two-door car is now available as a two-litre, R-spec; that is, ‘R’ as in mid-sized racing car.

This turbo-charged VTEC engine powers what has become an almost mid-sized, but by no means overweight, car. The combination of the motor and six-speed manual box (all that is available at the moment) makes for a remarkable car.

The Nürburgring — so loved by manufacturers — was used extensively in the development of this model, and the car holds the front-wheel-drive production car record for this circuit. Adjustable suspension holds it to the road, and the top speed is posted at a whopping 270kph. Massive Brembo brakes pull it up from these incredible speeds. Not yet a classic, it is bound to become one in time.