The performance car segment in South Africa has been bolstered with the introduction of the latest Honda Civic Type R. We headed to the Cape to drive the newcomer!
Honda’s Type R nomenclature dates back to the 60s when the brand claimed its first F1 victory in 1965. Fast forward to the early 90s and the Type R name reemerged, this time on a road car in the form of the NSX-R, followed by the Integra Type-R and then in 1997, the Civic Type-R. Some six Civic Type R models later and we’re at the FL-5 generation of the Civic Type R, which has to live to icons such as the EK9, EP3, FN2 and FK8. We travelled down to the Western Cape to have a brief encounter with the limited newcomer. There are just 60 units coming to local shores, and 25 are already spoken for! That means you’ll need to hurry if you want to secure an allocation. If you need to sell your current car first, AutoTrader can get you an Instant Offer!
Toned-down looks
The latest Type R’s predecessor, the FK8, was criticized by some for its over-the-top styling, something which the FL5 attempts to address with what appears to be a slightly toned-down aesthetic. In addition to being wider, lower and longer than the previous model while featuring smaller 19-inch wheels, albeit with wider Michelin rubber fitted, the overall design language is cleaner, and more simple, as far as Type R products go anyway. There is still a large rear wing, three exhaust exits at the rear, blistered wheel arches, a variety of ducts and vents and a general emphasis on improved downforce and aerodynamics, for those interested in that sort of stuff in their road cars. Overall, in this writer’s opinion, the latest model is a massive improvement over its predecessor.
Type R interior
In typical Type R fashion, the interior gets supportive bucket seats finished in red, an Alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, an aluminium gear shift knob and a plaque on the dashboard with each model’s specific build number. Other parts of the interior are a welcome change, with simple ergonomics, a 9.0-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality and a 10.2-inch digitised instrument cluster. The model comes with a built-in performance app called LogR Performance Datalogger that allows the driver to store lap times and key driving information during track days and dynamic driving scenarios.
Other niceties inside include a Bose sound system, a wireless smartphone charger along with a range of semi-autonomous driver aids such as adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, auto high-beam, and pre-collision braking among others. As with the exterior, the improvements made to the interior of the latest Honda ensure that it is still unmistakably a Type R, only more user-friendly and contemporary.
Engine and performance
The oily bits are what have made the Type R as revered as is it throughout the generations, and, on paper, this is the fastest and most powerful Civic production car ever made. The engine is the same K20C1 as before but now features a new turbocharger, revised intake and exhaust for outputs of 235kW and 420Nm, with a kerb weight of 1 430kg. This power is sent through the front wheels via a revised 6-speed manual gearbox with a helical limited-slip differential. While this is not made for straight-line performance, it is no slouch, getting to 100km/h in 5.5 seconds and heading to a top speed of 272km/h. Honda has also gone to town with the body, suspension and braking system, with the former receiving a rigidity upgrade, while the suspension has been tuned, with new damper rates and revised geometry while the Brembo braking system now has two-piece rotors, an updated brake booster and improved cooling for better performance. All the changes have resulted in Honda re-claiming the front-wheel drive Nurburgring lap record with a time of 7min44.88, making it faster around the ‘Green Hell’ than the previous-generation BMW M4!
Driving Type R
The driving experience is what counts in a Type R Honda, and the newcomer does not disappoint! We had a chance to drive across mountain passes, on the freeway, through an urban area and even experienced hot laps on a racetrack. The latest model gets four driving modes, namely ‘Normal’, ‘Sport’, ‘R’ and ‘Individual’, which we made full use of during our launch drive. What impressed us was how different the car felt in the various modes, managing to feel complaint and refined on the road in ‘Normal’ mode, taught and responsive on the mountain pass in ‘Sport’ and razor sharp and precise on the track in ‘R’. The Individual mode then allows you to configure the throttle response, steering and suspension characteristics into a bespoke setting that suits you. When looking back at the event and contemplating all of the front-wheel drive performance cars we have driven in our decade-or-so testing cars, this FL5 stands out as one of the best, and is sadly, one of the very last manual, internal combustion-powered performance cars available in our market. It’s a unique offering within the market that is bolstered by near-telepathic steering (for an EPAS system), a wonderfully-tuned suspension across a variety of driving conditions and an engine and gearbox combination that goads you, as a driver, to push on and explore both your limits and the rather lofty limits of the car itself.
Pricing
Honda Civic Type R: R979 00
All Type R models come with a 5-year/90 000km service plan and a 5-year /200 000km warranty.
Verdict
The remaining 35 of the 60 units coming into the country may appear expensive at the asking price. Still, after driving the product and experiencing its breadth of abilities and accepting that this is one of the very last of its breed, the price appears fair. If you’re after the ultimate front-wheel drive performance hatchback experience, the latest Type R is undoubtedly the car for you.
Keyword: Latest Honda Civic Type R driven in SA!