Hooked on Honda’s new trio

However the fifth- generation CR- V had been developed globally, with more muscular styling and improved performance and comfort.

The new models would be available in seven colours — passion red, white, silver, black, olive, blue and modern steel.

Honda New Zealand was targeting 1500 sales in the remaining eight months of the financial year, and aimed to sell around 2000 units during the next 12 months. A 80KM DRIVE THROUGH PART OF THE WAIKATO THIS WEEK REVEALED AN AGILE CR- V

The Type R builds on Honda’s motorsport heritage, and is described by the company as “the perfect sports machine for the road and the track”.

It is the sixth generation of the Type R, and the first to be offered by Honda New Zealand.

Previous models have been specially imported.

The new model is wider, longer and lower than its predecessors, has short overhangs and a muscular appearance.

Honda says a new single mass flywheel coupled with a six- speed manual gearbox reduces clutch inertia weight by 25 per cent, and combines with a 7 per cent lower final gear ratio to improve response under acceleration.

The gearbox’s rev- matching function smooths shifts, eliminating undesirable transmission ‘ shock’ associated with excessive or insufficient revving.

Inside the car are red sports seats and an aluminium gearshift. Three driving modes, comfort, sport and + R, set the car up to perform on the race track.

Peak power output from the Type R’s 2- litre VTEC turbo engine is 228kW at 6,500rpm, and peak torque is 400Nm.

Honda says the Type R will race from zero to 100km/ h in 5.7 seconds, and has a top speed of 272km/ h, making it the fastest accelerating and the quickest car in its class.

Many of the technological advances available on the Type R have been incorporated into the new Civic Hatch models, which start with the Civic SX Hatch, the Civic SX Sport and the top of the line RS Sport Turbo.