Honda have announced a new Civic Type R will be going on sale this year. The hot hatch is based on the 10th generation Civic, built in Swindon, UK, with sales to begin this summer.
This new generation of the Civic Type R will build upon the heritage Honda have developed in high performance hatchbacks and the previous version of the car, released almost two years ago. Whilst it shares the same fundamentals that make the new Civic hatchback, the Type R has been engineered from the ground up to deliver a hot-hatch driving experience for both on the road and on the race track.
2017 Honda Civic Type R – Race Dynamics
Supplying the Type R with some if its sporty spark is the 2.0-litre VTEC TURBO engine, taking the essentials from the previous engine in the last Type R and refining them even further than before. This new iteration of the engine will produce 316bhp and peak at 295ft lb of torque.
Through optimising the engine control settings Honda have improved the throttle response in the Type R. This combined with the precise six-speed manual transmission, with a rev match control system, makes for a far more intuitive driving experience for the driver.
The Type R takes the lighter, more rigid body shell of the new Civic and with use of adhesive in key areas improves on the torsional rigidity of the last Type R by 38%.The front Macpherson strut suspension of the standard hatchback is revised with new geometry to minimise torque steer and maximise sporty handling. At the rear, the new independent multi-link system of the standard car is improved with the use of unique high rigidity suspension arms to top off the car’s track ready spec.
An ever more popular addition to the sporty hatchback is the option for different drive modes, which once again features on the new Type R but with an enhanced selection of options. A new ‘Comfort’ setting features alongside the familiar agile ‘Sport’ and track-focused ‘+R’ modes. Each selection tailors the adaptive dampers, steering force, gear shift feeling and throttle response of the car on demand.
Aggressive Aerodynamics
At a first glance, the new Type R simply looks dynamic and aggressive. It is a more comprehensive aerodynamic package than the previous model, including a smoother underbody, front air curtain, a lightweight rear wing and vortex generators at the trailing edge of the roof line. The body shape is muscular and aggressive, creating a balance between lift and drag, contributing to greater high speed stability.
The new Civic Type R is expected to begin production in the summer this year ready to make its way across Europe and other markets the world across. This will include Japan and the U.S with its arrival in North America marking the first time that any Honda-badged Type R has been officially sold there. How does this car differ from the previous generation EP3 Honda Civic Type R take a look or even the FN2.