This week Honda unveiled the test prototype of the next generation Honda Civic Type R. The model that has most divided opinions here at Ledger Automobile.
Honda continues the journey of preparation of its new Honda Civic Type R. Which is to say, it continues to test the model in one of its several properties, in this case at the Tochigi circuit. The revelation was made this week, a few days from the Tokyo Motor Show, an event that will take place between November 23 and December 1, and which was the stage chosen by the Japanese brand for the official presentation of the new model.
A model that, by the way, has greatly divided the opinions of our editors – mine mainly. If at the beginning I questioned the success of this future generation, with time and of course, with the disclosure of some specifications, they were dissipated.
For now, there is still little information regarding the new Honda Civic Type R, but the little that is known is encouraging. It is known that the new sports car from the Japanese brand will come equipped with the new generation of the brand's 2.0 VTEC engine, which has already been developed to accommodate a turbo – an unprecedented difference in the range that made history for its atmospheric engines… – with at least 280hp. Yes, 280hp… it seems that it is «only» this power that Honda needs for the new Type R to achieve a goal they set for themselves: to make this model the fastest front-wheel drive on the Nürburgring circuit. The current record holder is the Renault Mégane RS 265 Trophy, with 8m07.97s.
“We spent a week at the Nürburgring carrying out exhaustive tests. We are on the right path and we are already very close to the record” for the Renaul Mégane 265 Trophy, said Manabu Nishimae, one of the responsible for Honda Europe.
Gabriele Tarquini, Honda WTCC driver and colleague of Portuguese driver Tiago Monteiro, has also been helping with the «setup» and smoothing out of the new Civic Type R's edges, praising the team responsible for this aggressive version: “this car it's very similar to my racing car and you can feel the real DNA of a Type R very well.” “The car and its features are fantastic. I was impressed by the power and torque of the engine, but in general by the whole set”, he stressed. Words that, however, without questioning Tarquini's suitability, are worth what they are worth as he is the brand's official pilot.
With an estimated weight below 1,200 kg, we can't wait for the launch of this "mid-rocket" Japanese. Although at first -as I mentioned, I expected the worst. It will be good to be wrong… I hope!
