Honda Civic Type R: Small Car, Big Thrills

Motoring Channel Staff - 30/Mar/2007

Tokyo, Japan — The new Honda Civic Type R has just been launched in Japan, on sale from today, giving the home crowd their first chance to test the latest generation 'sports' model. Based on the Civic sedan that is also sold in Australia, the performance Type R will differ from the model offered in Australia (see breakout box on the right). So while Most of Asia will get the Civic Type R sedan, Australian customers will get the new148kW hatchback version, previously only sold in Europe.

Getting back to the new Honda Civic sedan Type R model, and it appears that Japanese customers will get the most powerful Type R Civic yet (most likely due to their higher quality fuels). Powered by a naturally aspirated 2.0-litre engine, the new car produces 165kW (225hp) of power @ 8000rpm, and while Honda has not divulged the car's claimed zero to 100km/h sprint, it is expected to be around 6.0 seconds.

The engine is a real work of art, able to output the kind of peak power of many turbocharged 2.0-litre engines. It has a higher compression ratio than the standard 2.0-litre engine found in the Civic sedan, and with improved breathing efficiency this helps the i-VTEC engine (codenamed K20A) engine output a maximum of 165kW @ 8000rpm and a maximum torque of 215Nm @ 6100rpm.

Honda has also revealed that NSX production methods contribute to smoother port surfacing, improving the intake/exhaust airflow of the engine, while features such as an electronic throttle system and the fine tuning of intake/exhaust manifolds give the engine its incredible top end response, while also improving torque characteristics somewhat.

Putting its power to the ground, the Japanese Civic Type R uses a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission with gear ratios tailored to the high-revving nature of the K20A engine. This improves the cars acceleration, and Honda explains that a highly rigid aluminium transmission case (with a baffle plate) helps mitigate oil starvation at high cornering speeds - perfect for track work.

Other performance upgrades for the 2007 Japanese Honda Civic Type R model mirror those of the European hatchback that will be coming to Australia in mid 2007. It gets a more rigid body shell (50% more rigid than in the Integra Type R production model sold between 2001 and 2006, according to Honda), stiffer sports suspension and thicker anti-roll bars, 18-inch alloy rims shod with 225/40 R18 tyres (Bridgestone Potenza RE070s), and a torque-sensitive helical limited slip differential.

To match the car's improved cornering and accelerating potential, the Japanese Civic Type R also gets larger disc brakes for improved fade resistance and improved stopping power, matched with Brembo 4-piston brake callipers for the front wheels.

As the images reveal, the new look is typical Type R - large rear wing, deep front apron with larger air intakes, 18-inch wheels, sports side skirts, and a low rear apron with an air diffuser that completes the aero body work. It has a race car look that the standard Civic cannot replicate in its factory form, and Honda insists that the newly developed aerodynamic devices further enhance high-speed performance.

There's also a new Type R grille with a sporty red 'H' emblem.

In addition the car's racy new look and it's severely tuned up 2.0-litre powerplant, the Japanese model 2007 Civic Type R benefits from a range of motor sports-inspired interior features, so that drivers can see and feel the sportiness from inside the cabin. The new features are as follows:

• Front bucket seats - specially designed for Type R with high side bolsters

• Black interior color scheme

• Multiplex i-VTEC engine revolution indicator - alerts driver of max. engine speed approaching

• Red back lights for instrument cluster

• Small-diameter oval steering wheel (leather)

• Aluminium ball-type gear shift knob with short stroke shift linkage

• Metal sports-type pedals and footrest

• Button-type engine starter

Honda has improved the Type R's safety features, with incorporated G-CON (G-force Control) technology to create a body with a crash safety performance that is among the best in the world, and the vehicle is also designed to help mitigate pedestrian injury in the event of a collision thanks to the use of impact-absorbing structures, says the company.

The front seats are equipped with 3-point, load-limiting ELR (Emergency Locking Retractor) seatbelts with E-pretensioners and front-seat occupants are further protected by standard driver/front passenger i-SRS air bags.

The new Japanese spec Civic Type R models go on sale today in Japan, and according to Honda they are specially tuned to take full advantage of the potential of the base model and provide a racing car-like driving feel. First offered on the NSX in 1992, the Type R range was extended to the Integra in 1995, and the Civic in 1997, and now this latest all-new Civic Type R is the distillation of 15 years of technological progress and the latest expression of Honda’s "Challenging Spirit".

Though this new Japanese model will not be offered in Australia, the European-built Honda Civic Type R will be coming mid-year. The hatch-back model is expected to be a slightly better performer because of its smaller size, and we'll bring you a full road test later in 2007.

Related articles:
- Honda CR-V (2007)
- Honda Legend (Road Test)
- Honda Civic Hybrid (Road Test)
- Honda Accord Euro (Road Test)
- Honda Accord Coupe Concept (2008)
- Honda REMIX (concept)