Enough teasing, it’s time for the real deal. This is the all-new Honda Civic Type R at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show and it is every bit the street fighter we expect it to be. New VTEC turbo engine, loads of horsepower and handling to match, that five year wait has been far too long.
The Civic Type R receives a brand new 2.0-litre VTEC turbo petrol engine which benefits from direct injection as well. Power output peaks at 310 hp when the engine is revved at 6,500 rpm whereas peak torque is 400 Nm at 2,500 rpm. Taking things beyond, the engine red-lines at 7,000 rpm!
You will have to row your own gears here with a six-speed manual transmission mated to the engine but we’re not complaining. Get it right and you’ll be able to make the 0-100 km/h sprint in 5.7 seconds. Read Honda’s words: “Fastest accelerating performance front-wheel drive hatchback.” Keep at it and you’ll hit a 270 km/ top speed. A Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG maxes out at 250 km/h (270 km/h with the AMG Driver’s Package) in comparison.
From the outside, the styling is similar to that seen in all the previous concepts. Through aerodynamic analysis, the Civic Type R receives an almost completely flat underside leading to a rear diffuser to optimise downforce and aid airflow. The pronounced rear wing also serves to optimise downforce as well.
At the front, wide splitter and deep side skirts manage airflow and reduce lift. The front bumper also exhibits larger upper and lower grilles to allow better cooling of the turbo VTEC engine. The unique tail lights found on the concept at Paris last year are gone in favour of conventional ones. Finally, 19-inch alloys wrapped in 235/35R19 tyres stopped by 350 mm drilled discs and Brembo brake package complete the sporty exterior look.
The cabin exhibits what the ‘race car for the road’ exterior promises as well with sports bucket seats covered in suede-effect black fabric with red stitching. That red stitching is also found on the black leather-wrapped steering wheel and blackgear-level gaiter. The finishing touch is the gear lever knob made from machined aluminium alloy.
It’s not all power and sporty looks that the Civic Type R is capable of. With a four-point adaptive damper system, dual axis strut suspension at the front, H-shaped torsion beam suspension at the rear, and dual pinion electric power steering, the car promises a stable ride whether in everyday driving or during high-speed corners.
Like most cars of today, different driving modes are available to the driver and the new Type R is no exception. A ‘+R’ button when activated, does a number of things from increasing engine responsiveness, reducing power assistance to the steering, to adjusting the dampers for more agile handling.
As an additional option, you can specify the Civic Type R with a GT Pack that adds red highlights to various parts of bodywork, convenience features like automatic wipers and enhanced infotainment unit, and also tags on Honda’s Advanced Driver Assist Systems that are sensor-based safety technologies including City-Brake Active system.Watch the car in action here:
Keyword: 2015 Honda Civic Type R Unleashed With VTEC Turbo, 400Nm Of Torque