Honda Civic Type-R

New Civic Type R is here

In this week's mag we've got the first pictures of the Honda Civic every performance car fan has been waiting for: the sensational new Type R.

Auto Express Car Reviews

Test cars have been spotted on roads near Honda's German HQ

By Sam Hardy

23rd May 2006

Undoubtedly this year's hottest hatch, the Type R will deliver plenty of thrills, aggressive looks, a more powerful 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine and track-tuned handling in a bid to outdo rivals such as the Ford Focus ST, Vauxhall Astra VXR and Volkswagen Golf GTI.

As you'll can see from the pictures, the newcomer is virtually identical to the concept Honda revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in March. The dark headlights and grille dominate the nose, which also features a deep lower air intake and a ground-hugging front spoiler. Blistered arches, low side skirts and bold alloys mark out the car in profile, while at the rear smoked tail-lights, a large spoiler and triangular exhaust pipes complete the look.

Even though there's a dummy shut line on the test mule, which indicates a rear door, the production Type R will only be available as a three-door. It will be built at the Honda plant in Swindon, Wiltshire.

Inside, sports seats and white-backed dials will brighten the cabin. Using an enhanced version of the outgoing flagship's i-VTEC powerplant, the 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit will produce around 20bhp more than its predecessor, taking output to 220bhp. Torque will also rise to around 220Nm. The improvements will result in even better responses at high revs, as well as improved in-gear flexibility. The car will use the same six-speed manual transmission as before, and the Type R is set to complete the sprint from 0-60mph in around six seconds, accelerating to a maximum speed of 150mph.

Involving handling will complement the straight-line pace, thanks to uprated suspension tuned by Honda engineers on roads near the company's European headquarters in Germany and at the Nürburgring circuit. Bigger brakes will complete the package.

As with its predecessor, the new Type R will continue with a front-wheel- drive layout, rather than the SH-AWD four-wheel-drive system used by the forthcoming Legend. As is the case with the Vauxhall Corsa VXR, bosses see keeping costs down as key, and when the newcomer goes on sale early next year, it will undercut rivals with a price tag of £18,000.

Meanwhile, Auto Express has learned that the new NSX supercar won't be using SH-AWD, either. According to sources, the system - which apportions power to individual wheels, rather than axles - can only cope with outputs of up to 350bhp. The next NSX, which is thought to have a 500bhp V10, will therefore be rear-wheel drive with its sights set on Aston Martin's Vantage.

Honda has also revealed plans for more performance diesels, including a 3.5-litre V6. Development will continue alongside the firm's next hybrids.