Honda Civic Type R with 228kW turbo engine
During the international launch of the Honda Civic Type R, a few more revealing details came to light which confirm everything except the Nurburgriing time. Remember, its provisional time, although the fastest of any front-wheel drive hatch, was done in a prototype version with a rollcage. Honda is confident the full production version will match its time – we’re waiting for proof.
In the interim what we can tell you is the Honda Civic Type R is fitted with dual-axis strut front suspension designed to quell torque steer in much the same way as Ford’s RevoKnuckle and Opel’s HiPer strut system. Steering is electronically assisted and it differs from most of its classmates with the fitment of a mechanical limited slip diff. No dual clutch option either – just one of the best six-speed manuals around.
Power from that 2.0-litre is rated at 228kW and 400Nm, making it around 20kW up on the all-wheel drive Golf R but limited by traction the 0-100km/h sprint takes 5.7 seconds. The Golf R manages it at around 5.2 seconds. Redline doesn’t quite match the old normally aspirated VTEC but 6500rpm is still pretty good these days. And the turbo… not a fancy twin scroll unit but one using fixed vane technology. The linear boost delivery is controlled via the VTEC mapping.
Torsion beam rear suspension doesn’t sound terrific (Hyundai’s Veloster Turbo uses a similar system) but the Honda Civic Type R is equipped with magnetorheological adaptive dampers which have two settings; stiff and race mode.
The 2015 Honda Civic Type R is expected to arrive in South Africa later this year. When we last spoke to Honda South Africa, they estimated pricing to be R509 000.
