The all new superhot Honda Civic Type R has been sold out within a month of its launch in England. Honda UK dealers took 800 orders at launch and the next batch of cars might only come in February 2016. Meanwhile there is still no word of its debut in Malaysia and many are speculating on parallel importers having the car ready for Malaysia before the year ends. Prices in England are from £29,995 for the entry level Type R and rise to £32,995 for GT versions. Taking current exchange rates tou will be looking at between RM290,000 to RM310,000 for the Type R and RM330,000 to RM350,000 for the GT if the car comes here with a parallel importer.
The Type R is the world’s most powerful front-wheel drive hot hatch, covering 0-62mph in just 5.7sec and going on to a top speed of 167mph and is only offered with a six-speed manual transmission: there’s no automatic. Power is transferred to the road via a “number of innovative new suspension systems” developed at the Nürburging and Suzuka circuits. Along with adaptive dampers, the Type R is equipped with a Dual Axis Strut front suspension reminiscent of the well-regarded RevoKnuckle setup from Ford. With this, an additional steering knuckle ensures that the wheel rotates around a point closer to the centre line. Honda claims that this reduces torque steer by up to half, compared with a standard Civic.
To the rear, the torsion beam configuration has been adapted to optimise stability in rapid corners and boost roll rigidity by 180%. The electric steering has been modified to improve feedback. 19in wheels with custom-made compound tyres feature big drilled discs (front: 350mm) and four-piston calipers.
Extensive development work in the company’s motorsport wind tunnel in Japan has produced an advanced aerodynamics package. At the rear, a large fixed wing generates the required downforce without too much drag at high speeds, while a diffuser partners with a flat floor panel to ‘suck’ the car to the road. A front splitter and bumpers are fashioned to make the most of the aerodynamic and the cooling possibilities.
Drivers looking to push the performance boundaries can make use of the ‘+R’ driving mode. This limits steering assistance, firms up the dampers by 30%, plots a considerably more dynamic torque map and sharpens engine response. In the cabin, there is a machined aluminium gearknob as well as sports seats clad in suede-effect fabric.
Only the Renault Megane R265 and Ford Focus ST comes close.
