The arrival of a new Honda Civic Type R always grabs our attention, let alone three different versions offering varying levels of insanity.
As part of the hot hatchback’s mid-life facelift, the Japanese car giant has decided to release a stripped-out Limited Edition (centre) variant, of which only 100 will be made, as well as a more subtle Sport Line (left) model that features a smaller rear wing. We also get a revamped version of the Type R GT (right), which comes with new bumpers, better brakes and a tweaked suspension setup.
Naturally, we were quite keen to have a look at the new models in the skin, so we flew to Milan, Italy, to see what Honda’s Type R division has been up to.
Joining us at the launch was Hideki Kakinuma, the Civic Type R’s project leader and somewhat of a celebrity in the world of performance cars. He’s been working on fast Hondas since the S2000, so knows a thing or two about making everyday vehicles give supercars a run for their money.
We spoke with Kakinuma-san to get his take on the updated super hatch and what the future holds for hot Hondas.
Q [YesAuto]: Can you explain the thought process behind the updated Civic Type R?
A: Usually, at minor model change timings and if it comes to Type R models, the usual content of the update was just cosmetics. Just some facelift items. But when I became involved in Civic Type R development, I wanted to have a step forward by improving the performance.
My philosophy, especially in terms of sports cars, you may never stop evolving and developing performance. If you stop that, the sports car will die. It was my motivation to implement performance upgrades like we see today and to create more variants.
Since the Type R is a global model, we have customers worldwide who all have different perceptions on sports cars, some like it very extreme and aggressive looking, while some like it a bit more understated – especially in Germany. They often take off the badge, they try to fly under the radar, but when they step on the gas they’re away.
To cope with that, I wanted a maximum range of customers to enjoy the performance, and that was the motivation to offer different derivatives that could cover different tastes.
Q: Will the Civic Type R now be a three-model range?
A: There’s a high probability that we will continue with these three variations. To have one extreme, one that represents the core Civic Type R and then have one with a more stealthy appearance. The idea existed when we developed the current Civic Type R, where we incorporated the three drive modes.
We got a lot of positive feedback from the media that the Civic Type R is capable for daily use but also usage on track. Whether in the future we can cover all those demands with a mode switch, or we might need to change the look of the car, is something we still need to consider.
Q: Was the Limited Edition always part of the plan?
A: The Limited Edition was not part of a concrete plan. However, in some part of my unconscious area, there was always the effort to think about a radical Type R. Extremely light weight, getting rid of all components that are not relevant for dynamic performance and to really sharpen the quickness of that car. Now, at a minor model change, we were able to realise it.
Q: Will you take the Limited Edition to the Nurburgring?
A: A Nurburgring lap time is one of our development criteria in order to verify the result of the modifications. In the end, it all comes down to how much quicker is it in seconds under real conditions. So this is something we are going to perform, regardless of whether it’s a record or not.
Q: Does the smaller spoiler on the Sport Line have an impact on performance?
A: The purpose of the big wing is on the one hand aerodynamics and downforce, but it also creates stability. The current car probably has the highest level of stability ever for a Civic Type R, which comes from the layout of the platform and also the suspension specification. So it already has a very high potential.
On top of that, there’s a certain amount of functionality given by the rear wing. That part of the rear wing has now been replaced by a different shape and design, but it still provides stability. We are not talking about real racing cars, where you have tonnes of downforce but also create a lot of drag. If you compare the top speed of both cars, they are more or less on the same level.
Both wings also have vortex generators, that you can feel underneath the wing on the left and right side, which are also creating that certain characteristic of performance in order to stabilise the car. So from that perspective, the functionality has been maintained for both wing designs but maybe in a different way.
Q: Have we reached the peak of front-wheel-drive performance with the Civic Type R? Could it go all-wheel-drive?
A: I believe there is still performance to be achieved with a front-wheel driven concept. Regarding all-wheel-drive, that does not match Honda’s development principals. We always follow the ‘MM principle’, which means ‘man maximum, machine minimum’. This is a grand concept, you could say the DNA of Honda, which applies to all our models. We do not want to increase the engine power, nor the weight of the car, by applying all-wheel-drive technology.
Q [YesAuto]: Could we see the Civic Type R go hybrid? And does the Type R brand fit with electric power?
A: There are no restrictions in technology to apply to a Type R. It has to provide the excitement, the dynamic performance and all the core attributes which is worth calling it a Type R. If that can be realised with either an electric motor or a hybrid powertrain, that’s fine.
But we must not forget the initial idea and the fundamental concept of the Type R, which is an affordable price. A sports car with extremely high driving performance for an affordable price. If that can be achieved, there are no restrictions in applying technology.
Q: Could the Type R badge spread to other models in the future?
A: It is an attribute that can still be applied to other models. It doesn’t have to be limited to Civic.
Keyword: Honda Civic Type R 2020: Q&A with project leader Hideki Kakinuma