The time for highly rotating atmospheric mechanics is long gone. For better or for worse, today it is the sports cars animated by evolved turbo mechanics that make lovers of full attack driving sigh. The new Honda Civic Type R, presented today in Geneva, is certainly one of those sports cars that calls for a sigh.
The design, as we've already advanced, isn't exactly a surprise. The lines we already knew from the concept version were traced to the production version, and the result is what you can see in the images. The message "this-is-not-a-Civic-whatever-is-a-type-R" message is quite explicit. And those in doubt can always look for the three tailpipes at the rear.
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more powerful than ever
Knowing that the design was not going to be a surprise, the big question was around the engine power and the performances achieved by this new Honda Civic Type-R.Once again we find the 2.0 Turbo VTEC engine (coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox), now with 320 horsepower – 10 hp more than the previous generation, a difference that should be reflected in performance. Lovers of preparations (aka tuning) are certainly already thinking, “you can stretch the power a little more”. It's a Honda, it's always...
Eyes set on the Nürburgring?
Considering the declared power and superior dynamic competence of the new chassis (with multilink suspension on the rear axle) that we already had the opportunity to try out in Barcelona, it is very likely that Honda will want to reclaim the FWD (front wheel drive) title faster on the Nürburgring.
Dynamically, it is expected a model tailored for the times on track – part of the development of this sports car was done at the Nürburgring – and that can surpass the record for the fastest front-wheel drive model in the mythical “Inferno Verde”, established by the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S.
The new Honda Civic Type R will be produced in Swindon, Wiltshire (UK), and should reach the domestic market this year. The JDM cult undoubtedly has a new member.
