The build-up and anticipation for the all new Honda Civic Type R has been a long one. Many Honda fans felt disappointed with the last variant of the Civic Type R when its vitals were stacked up against the previous EP3.
Honda seem to have taken this feedback on board and kicked things up a notch with their latest take on the Type R. The Japanese car makers have announced the Civic Type R will make its world premiere at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show in a striking Championship White colour scheme – a colour shared with successive generations of iconic Type R vehicles.
The new hot hatch will feature a host of design enhancements that have been heavily influenced by extensive aerodynamic development and testing, both on computer and in the wind tunnel. According to Honda the result is a car with exceptional high speed stability and high levels of downforce.
The Civic Type R is powered by a 2.0 litre direct injection VTEC TURBO engine, enabling the car to achieve a top speed of 167mph, a fact that is bound to be resonating with competitors right now.
A new, almost completely flat underside aids airflow under the vehicle and combines with a rear diffuser to optimise downforce – effectively ‘sucking’ the car onto the road. A bespoke rear wing gives the car enhanced visual presence and delivers powerful additional downforce, thanks notably to the structure of its airfoil section.
A wide front splitter and deep side skirts also manage airflow and reduce lift, while the front bumper has been shaped specifically to inhibit air turbulence around the front wheels, cutting drag and enhancing high-speed stability.
To help the driver manage the Type R’s prodigious power, the car is equipped with a high performance Brembo brake package, developed specifically for the car. At the front, four-piston calipers apply braking force to 350 mm drilled discs. New 19-inch alloy wheels, unique to the Type R, complement the visual changes, filling the wheel arches and accommodating the larger brakes.
Heat management was another major focus for the design team, influencing several prominent external design modifications. Enlarged upper and lower grilles in the front bumper, vents above the wheels on the front quarter panels and vents at the trailing edges of the front wheel arches combine to provide greater cooling and ventilation for the high-output engine.
Leon Brannan, Head of Car, Honda (UK) said “We’ve already seen huge customer interest for this much anticipated and unique car with over 100 orders already in the bank. With the release of these new technical details I think we can expect many more.”
In December dealerships in the UK started taking pre-orders for the new turbocharged Type-R, official prices have yet to be released but the car is expected to hit showrooms in September 2015.
Stay tuned for our coverage from Geneva 2015.