Honda Civic Type-R

All that could be set to change with the Civic's first major facelift, which has brought in 500 subtle changes to keep small hatchback buyers interested. These include suspension modifications, upgraded trim and subtle styling tweaks to update the front and rear lights and reshape the bumpers.

With production of the revised version already underway, we grabbed the keys to the first car off the line - a flagship Type R - to see if Honda has added even more pizzazz.

Despite a dedicated band of followers, Honda's hot hatch hasn't had it all its own way. Compared to Ford's Focus ST170, the steering didn't offer enough feedback. Next to the Peugeot 206 GTi 180, the chassis lacked sparkle.

As a result, Honda's dragged the Type R back to the drawing board ready for launch next year, stiffening the suspension, revising the steering and up-dating the engine. The finishing touch is a 15mm drop in ride height to complete the car's more aggressive look.

There's no doubt that the facelift adds a fresher, more modern appearance, although the jury is still out on the delicately styled front lights.

The deeper front spoiler does add road presence, as do the twin exhausts and prominent rear wing. Inside, the sculpted bucket seats look smarter, but offer just as much support, while new silver trim adds an air of quality.

But the Type R has always been about driving, so is there a marked improvement on the open road? With a lighter flywheel and clutch, the 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine gains 3bhp and seems even keener to rev than before. Straight-line performance is improved and it's now possible to sprint from 0-62mph in just 6.6 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than before. The top speed is unchanged at 146mph.

The way that the engine revs to its 8,000rpm red line remains simply sensational. Now, however, it feels smoother and even more responsive.

On the road, drivers will instantly notice improvements to the steering. The sporty Civic feels more responsive than before, and though the electric power assistance masks much of what is going on at the front wheels, it's more involving to drive.

Stiffer suspension helps to generate huge amounts of grip. At speeds where the old model would start to understeer, the new version chews at the tarmac, refusing to budge from the chosen line. Thankfully, the hot hatch's brakes remain extremely effective. Backed by ABS, the system stays potent, even when worked hard.

It's not all good news - the stiffer suspension has had an effect on ride quality. Even on motorways the set-up makes the Type R feel hard-edged. However, we can't help but feel that's all part of the Civic's character, and a small price to pay for better handling.

Traditionally, performance cars get softer each time they evolve. Marketing and product development departments favour refinement over outright performance in the pursuit of sales.

However, Honda's engineers have clearly decided the Type R needed greater focus if it was to challenge for the class crown. With its revised suspension, steering and engine, it's certainly taken a step in the right direction - and the price is the same as the old model's, at ΂£16,000. We can't wait to introduce the car to its rivals to see just how good it really is.