Hot, Hotter, Honda Civic Type R

The long-awaited Civic Type R is finally available in South Africa, and was formally introduced to media members at Killarney Racetrack today. The red R stands for Racing,  and with the latest Civic Type R, Honda wanted to create “the ultimate driving machine”.
Apart from all the outrageous body kit and new technology, the big difference between the previous Civic Type R and this one, is Honda’s first ever high-revving 2.0 litre direct injection VTEC turbo engine. It’s lighter, has higher output, and frankly, will blow you away.

The almost over-the-top Type R may look like designers were on strong hallucinogens, but every bit of body kit has a function: A wide front splitter and deep side skirts promote downforce and reduce lift. The front bumper inhibits turbulence around the front wheels. Heat is managed by some “external modifications”, as Honda calls it, to harness airflow to cool the engine, transmission and big, bad Brembo brakes. The Type R’s underside is almost completely flat, so it can cut through the air like the sword of a ninja. Around the back, there’s the dramatic rear wing aerofoil, specifically designed to optimise downforce, without increasing drag at higher speeds. English please? This helps you power through corners firmly planted. And whether they’re functional or not (and they are indeed), those black air outlets behind the front wheel arches look mighty fine.

So, do you believe that the Honda Type R is the fastest, most powerful front-wheel driven hatchback on the face of the earth? Well, with a top speed of 270 km per hour and the ability to sprint to a 100 km in 5.7 seconds, the Type R has managed to kick some serious hot hatch hindquarters on Germany’s legendary Nürburgring, by smashing previous records to smithereens with a lap time of 7.50:63. Technically, it wasn’t a production model, but let’s put things into perspective: a 997 generation Porsche 911 Turbo managed a time of 7:54. Until now the fastest lap time for a front-wheel drive hatch at the ‘Green Hell’ (aka the ‘Ring) was a 7:54.36 achieved by the Renault Mégane RS 275 Trophy-R. The Civic Type R has all of 228 kW and 400 Nm under its bonnet. So when Honda invited AutoTrader for a track day at Killarney, we were extremely chuffed.

Deon Joubert, South African ex-racing champion, is in the passenger seat to give me some advice. Normally I wouldn’t be this much of a hooligan, but I know I’m in safe hands, even though I’m at the helm of this beast. “Floor it, Floor it!! Keep revving it! You can rev it even higher! Push it to the limit!” Oh, what a pleasure. The Type R is everything you’d ever want from a hot hatch. It’s lithe, it’s nimble, it bites into corners, it’s sharp, it’s crisp, and it corrects you if it suspects you may be ‘losing the plot’ a little. A limited slip differential aids traction during cornering, which helped the Type R shave 5 seconds off its lap time at the above mentioned Nürburgring. The Type R’s close ratio    6-speed manual ‘box has the shortest shift stroke in its class, and gears can be changed with the flick of a finger.

And then there is the +R button that intensifies the experience even more. Press it, and some magic happens. The engine is more receptive to your right foot’s whims, and more torque is available at lower speeds. The electronic power steering becomes tauter and stiffer, giving you more feedback. Then the Adaptive Damper System reacts by making the Type R feel firmer and more agile, and driver assistance systems will take longer to intervene. Basically, it turns the Type R into Mr Hyde, who loves playing around on the track. The Type R’s close ratio 6-speed manual ‘box has the shortest  shift stroke in its class, and gears can be changed with a finger. As for torque steer - it hasn’t been completely eliminated, but according to Honda it has been reduced by 55 percent.

After a quick bite we took the Type R on our designated  +/-160 km launch route through the back roads of Durbanville, Malmesbury and Stellenbosch. My colleague took the wheel first, and I had hardly buckled up properly when I was pushed me back into my heavily bolstered seat as we were catapulted forward. Looks like someone had already pressed the +R button! As we were tearing around the corners I remembered the last time my colleague drove with this much relish and fervour: it was when he picked me up in an Audi R8 a few years ago.

When my turn came, we’d already passed most of the fast corners and long, sweeping bends on the route. Still, I had fun, and it gave me a chance to get more of a feel for the Type R’s ‘everyday functionality’, such as fuel economy. My colleague’s average was 12.5 litres  per 100 km, while I managed to use only 9. It’s pretty good for a 2.0 litre engine, considering that half of my section of the route mostly consisted of city driving. But apart from being quite economical, the Type R is surprisingly practical. There is ample space on the rear seats for both kids and adults, and the boot is rather large. Hence, you can drive a sports car that can double as a mom’s taxi when needed.
Being a track-inspired car, the seats aren’t leather, but racing- friendly material. It would have been nice if leather seats were available as an option.

Honda calls the new Civic Type R “a race car for the road”, which it is. The Adaptive Damper System does its best to control roll and pitch for a flat and stable ride, but it’s still firm and bumpy on our battered South African road surfaces. There’s also plenty road noise, so if you like to drive fast while you’re conversing, prepare to talk loudly. I struggled to hear what my colleague was saying when we were pushing on.

Honda says they have no intention of selling Honda Civic Type R’ s by the hundreds every month. Initially, they’re looking to sell about 30 - 40 in the first few months, and then they’ll be harder to get one’s hands on. The Type R is a brand leader for Honda, and it has to be exclusive. As an inspirational car, the Civic Type R has a targeted appeal, and is aimed at successful, thirtysomething males (who we're hoping are responsible drivers).

The Civic Type R is exceptional, and Honda should be proud. They’ve created a practical supercar in the shape of a hatchback.

The Honda Civic Type R will set you back R 586 400. It is the first Honda to benefit from their new 5 year / 200 000 km warranty. Its service plan is 5 years / 90 000 km.