Honda Civic Type R

Can the latest Type R back up its outlandish looks with exhilarating performance and handling?

R627 900 228 kw/400 N.m 272 km/h

MOOTH mountain pass? Tick. +Rmode selected? Tick. Foot at? Tick! The Type R responds instantly by sending 228 kw through a limited-slip differential to the front wheels, where special Continental Sport Contact 6 rubber tears at the asphalt. There is little sign of torque steer or wheel spin as a set of corners is reeled in at a serious rate of knots. However, the fun truly starts with the rst steering input, which highlights Honda’s newest hot hatch’s startling response and its leech-like grip on the front axle. This is undoubtedly helped by the negative camber on the front wheels (which causes noticeable wear on the inner edge of the tyres). It’s obvious why the Type R holds the Nürburgring Nord-

S6,30 sec 10,08 L/100 km 200 g/km schleife lap record for FWD vehicles.

True hot hatches, in contrast to lukewarm pretenders, are bought rst and foremost for the driving experience. Styling and practicality play a role, of course, as they’re often used for family transport duties … but their drivers live for that occasional moment when an empty stretch of blacktop presents itself and it is time to blow away the cobwebs. The Type R is brilliant in doing just that.

Much has been written about the history of the legendary red-badged Type R range, but in latter years the focus has been on a move from high-revving, naturally aspirated engines to the rst, short-lived, turbocharged 2,0-litre FK2 Civic model (tested by CAR in October 2015). Some loved its abundance of torque and hard-edged character; others lamented the loss of a stratospheric redline and more useable day-to-day manners.

This new FK8 model aims to bridge the gap. It employs the engine from the FK2 (there have been some minor changes to improve response, including a single-mass ywheel), but rides