In the automotive world we sometimes talk about a Unicorn. Now my daughter might think that a Unicorn is a fabled horse with a horn on its head, sometimes it has wings and sometimes it's pink with rainbow hair. You and I however know it to be a car that is not seen regularly, a car that lurks in the shadows, only making an appearance when you least expect it. The
Honda Civic Type R is one such vehicle and I;m going to tell you why that is.
Unlike the mainstream German compact performance offerings that can be seen on a regular basis, the likes of the
Honda Civic Type R and
Megane RS are not as common. If it is out-right speed that you want then best opt for the Germans. If you want a car that handles like no other front-wheel drive car on offer, a car that has been crafted by the racetrack for the road. A car that offers a driving experience that harks back to the roots of performance motoring then please do read on.
I’ve never been a big fan of the
Honda Civic Type R. However, I have always respected it. In my younger years I wanted speed, Vrrrpah and I wanted people to know who I am. I wanted German and the Golf R was the king and in some respect it still is. However with the current push towards a more digital driving experience the
Honda Civic Type R takes a completely different direction.
For starters the car is only available with a 6-speed manual gearbox and what a gearbox it is! Short, precise and intuitive shifts provide a sensation that has been lost these days. While it might be missing pops and bangs, it does provide induction noise, turbo shwishes and tttsss which in a way sounds more authentic in my opinion.
But before we dive into the impeccable driving experience, let me tell you about the exterior. The previous
Honda Civic Type R was a bit wild in terms of its design. It had vents, wings, flairs and more and come to think of it this new one has all of that as well.
Honda designers have however smoothed out the edges, refined the design and I think it looks fantastic. The body seems to have been stretched over the wheels, flared wheel arches add a menacing appeal when viewed from the front. The rear features a large wing which can create over 500Nm in downforce. At the lower centre of the rear bumper you will find three tailpipes. The new
Type R sits on 19’inch rims which are an inch smaller than before but the tyres are now wider.
Everything on this car has been designed to improve aerodynamics, improve cooling as well as ensure that you are stuck to the road. The road in this case was located in the Western Cape, the ideal playground for a car of this nature.
So the exterior design is appealing but what of the interior? Well, open the door and you are greeted by red suede bucket seats, red carpets and red stitching. This contrasts beautifully against the black elements. The fascia is clutter free as most functions are controlled via the new 9-inch colour touchscreen that supports smartphone connectivity. There is also a new 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster which is clear and easy to read.
The suede cover steering wheel is also a bonus and it provides ample grip when you find yourself carving the corners on twisty coastal roads. Now I did mention that this car handles like nothing else with a front wheel drive configuration. Proof of this can be found in the fact that this
Type R has just set the infamous Nurburgring lap record for front wheel drive cars.
This
Type R makes use of the renowned K20C1 engine. Output, torque and response have all been improved by a redesigned turbocharger, increased air intake flow rate, and a new more efficient exhaust system. The turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine now produces 235kW and 420Nm. A lighter flywheel and a revised rev-match system ensure perfectly paired rev-matching when shifting down through the gears, helping to maintain stability on corner entry. The gearbox has also gained a high-rigidity lever and optimised shift gate pattern, while a standard helical-type limited-slip differential puts the engine's power to the road effectively.
From the get-go I had complete trust in this car, it begged me to push even harder as we meandered our way through the Western Cape. However, no matter how much of a driving hero I may think I am, in the nads of a true legend this car truly comes alive.
Local racing extraordinaire Deon Joubert took me for a crazy lap at Johan Rupert's personal racetrack. Deon was able to push this car to its limit and when it was time to slow down he made full use of the potent Brembo brakes. A legendary racing driver in a legendary performance car - what an experience.
At the end of the day the
Honda Civic Type R is not for everyone. You want to be a traffic light king, get a Golf R or Audi S3. If you want something that requires you to participate to get the best out of it. Something that has been designed for cornering, late braking and that gives you an unrivalled racecar-like sensation then the
Type R should be on your list.
Now at a little under a million Rand some might consider this car to be expensive. Show me a car that delivers this performance that isn't expensive. This car will only be available in limited numbers, in fact just 60 are headed to S.A and 25 have been spoken for already. The person that buys this car is buying it because they respect the pedigree and they know, as well as I do that this is most likely the last of its kind.
Credit: Justin Jacobs
