Honda Civic Type R Our favourite hot hatch gets a raft of upgrades and additional variants
Class-leading hot hatchback gains a wider model line-up and mechanical upgrades On sale Summer Price from £33,000 (est)
THE HONDA CIVIC Type R is as good as hot hatchbacks get. It’s thrilling yet practical, involving yet comfortable; little wonder, then, that it’s been our Hot Hatch of the Year for three years running, with not even much more powerful and expensive rivals such as the Mercedes-amg A35 and BMW M135i being able to depose it.to strengthen its grip on this market, though, Honda is giving the Type R updates to not only improve its performance but also make it appeal to a wider audience.
Key to the latter objective is the addition of new Limited Edition and Sport Line variants. The Limited Edition – described as the most extreme Type R yet – features lightweight components, a stripped-out interior (with the air-con and infotainment systems removed to save weight) and exclusive Sunlight Yellow paint with dark-coloured trim. Just 100 will
RIVALS
be built for Europe, so expect it to become something of a collector’s item.
The Sport Line variant, meanwhile, is designed to look more subtle than the standard Type R, while retaining its grininducing performance. Sport Line versions get a smaller rear wing, a new 19in wheel design, softer tyres (designed to increase comfort) and additional sound-deadening material.
All versions have a new front bumper with larger air intakes, while the headlights have been redesigned.the suspension has been tweaked with the aim of making the handling sharper and more responsive.the brakes have also been upgraded, improving stopping performance while reducing weight.
Inside, Honda has addressed one of our main criticisms of the existing Type R by tting physical shortcut buttons and dials to control its infotainment system; this should make it easier to use on the move than the purely touch-sensitive setup of the existing car.the steering wheel is now wrapped in Alcantara and there’s a new retro-look gearknob.
The car’s engine sound – which we’ve said could do with a little more volume previously – is now enhanced through the stereo, becoming louder when you’re driving in either Sport or +R driving mode and quieter in the Comfort setting.
Buyers who want to delve into the detail of their driving performance can now do so via a new Logr smartphone app, which shows data collected through the car’s on-board systems and can even offer tips to make driving smoother. It also includes an on-board lap timer – a service that might be especially useful for track day enthusiasts.
No changes have been made to the Type R’s engine, which means the 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine produces the same 316bhp that it does today – well up on the outputs of rivals such as the Ford Focus ST and Renault Mégane RS.
Prices won’t be announced until closer to the on-sale date this summer, but expect the new Type R to start at around £33,000 – a mild increase on today’s car.