CAR REVIEW (LAUNCH REPORT): HONDA CIVIC TYPE R
This is billed as the ‘race car of the road’ and like most hot hatches the Honda Civic Type R is an absolute blast to drive. We attended the local launch last week to take this little beast on to the track and then on to some of Cape Town’s windy roads.
Since it’s first launch back in 1972, the Honda Civic has sold 20 million units worldwide. We only saw the Honda Civic Type R come to South Africa in 2007 and it’s the only one we have seen on our roads. So you can just imagine the excitement of this new generation’s arrival. Bearing in mind the Civic Type R is a niche model and so only 849 (or 15 per month) were sold in South Africa between 2007 and 2011.
But the new Type R promises to be better than ever, “The all-new Honda Civic Type R is the most extreme and highest performing Type R ever built, and sets new standards in the fiercely contested high-performance front-wheel drive hatchback segment,” says Graham Eagle, director of operations at Honda Motor Southern Africa.
To say this car competes with the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and GOLF R as well as the Ford Focus ST is a bit of a useless statement. The reason being is that most buyers in this segment are exceptionally loyal to their brand. It’s not often you will see a GTI fan switch to a Type R or vice versa. But nonetheless, the new Civic Type R is coming in to this ring, guns blazing!
The “R” in Type R stands for “Racing” and the engine powering this new generation Civic Type R is Honda’s first high-revving direct injection 2,0 VTEC Turbo engine. All 228 kW and 400 N.m is sent to the front wheels and as Eagle claims, this new Civic Type R “sets a new benchmark for power delivery, handling dynamics and overall driving thrills.”
Like I mentioned, we got to experience this first hand at Killarney racetrack and after a few laps it becomes evident that this car is certainly made for the track. The word that comes to mind is sprightly and when you hit the +R button the dashboard and instrument cluster comes to life in red and the driving experience is intensified. The engine response is increased, the steering feels tighter and heavier, the vehicle stability assist is retuned and the Adaptive damper system is stiffened by 30%.
On the road, the Type R’s ride was not as firm as I was expecting although there were certainly a few moments where a sports bra would have come in handy. The sporty bucket seats are comfortable enough and the standard spec is impressive. But for R586 499 you would expect nothing less than dual-zone climate control, front and rear parking sensors, hill start assist, brake assist, a rear view camera, cruise control, LED headlights, and a touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, USB, AUX and HDMI inputs.
The Civic Type R, which will be available in limited numbers, is the first of Honda’s fleet to gain the new five-year/200 000 km warranty which will be standard on all new Hondas. Current owners can upgrade to this warranty at a cost.
I love a hot hatch, who doesn’t? But I don’t think I could justify spending this kind of money on what essentially should be a weekend plaything. They aren’t designed for practicality, and so they shouldn’t be, but it is something to consider if your heart is set on buying one.
It was announced today that the Honda Civic Type R has just been voted as a finalist in the “World Performance Car of the Year” awards. The winner will be announced in New York on March 24.