2015 Honda Civic Type R - A race car for the road

This year sees the arrival of the world’s most keenly anticipated hot hatch, the Honda Civic Type R. Billed as a ‘race car for the road’, the all-new Honda Civic Type R is powered by the most extreme and high-performing Type R engine ever built, and will set new standards in the high-performance front-wheel drive hatchback segment. Taking their direction from the Japanese word ‘Buttigiri’, meaning ‘to break on through and leave the rest behind’, Honda’s engineers sought to develop a Type R that would more than live up to this high expectation of the red badge. The new Civic Type R has been engineered to deliver a dynamic, class-leading performance whether on fast roads, winding roads or the circuit. At the same time it delivers the ease of use and practical packaging expected of a Civic.

OneShift Editorial Team

04 Jun 2015

A world-first application of Honda’s new VTEC TURBO engine, a sensuous sporting sound, aggressive function-led styling, and pioneering new chassis technologies combine to deliver one of the most immersive and rewarding driving experiences available in any sector. Civic Type R is equally at home delivering this experience on the road as it is on the track, at the push of a button.

At the heart is an all-new, direct-injected turbocharged 2.0 litre VTEC TURBO petrol engine, which delivers power, torque and performance figures unmatched in the front-wheel drive hot hatch segment. Peak power output is 310 PS at 6,500 rpm, and peak torque is 400 Nm at 2,500 rpm – both higher than for any previous Honda Type R model.

Red-lining at 7,000 rpm, the engine – part of Honda’s next-generation Earth Dreams Technology series – features an advanced new turbocharging system which incorporates Honda’s legendary Variable Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) technology to boost low-end torque while delivering sustained acceleration.

The new Civic Type R’s performance is unmatched in the front-wheel drive hot hatch segment: the 0-to-62 mph sprint takes just 5.7 seconds and top speed, where permitted, is a class-leading 167 mph. Despite this, the Civic Type R achieves low CO2 emissions of just 170 g/km, high speed fuel consumption and compliance with Euro 6 emissions regulations.

The styling changes uniquely applied give the car an aggressive, purposeful stance, yet almost all have a functional purpose. The size of the holes in the front bumper grille, which serve air to the intercooler, are specifically shaped to minimise aerodynamic losses. The sleek and aerodynamically-efficient design reflects a car developed first and foremost to perform at speed. The focus on aerodynamics has ensured a zero lift coefficient and a minimum of drag which provides a class-leading overall aerodynamic performance.

New lightweight, high rigidity 19-inch alloy wheels, unique to the new Civic Type R, complement the visual changes. They fill the enlarged wheel arches with 235/35 R19 tyres that were developed specially for the Type R in conjunction with Continental.

The new Civic Type R is available in five distinctive colours that give the purposeful new styling added impact. As well as Championship White – shared with successive generations of iconic Type R vehicles – buyers can choose from Crystal Black (pearlescent), Polished Metal (metallic), Brilliant Sporty Blue (metallic) and Milano Red.

Inside, a range of exclusively designed aesthetic and functional upgrades, provide a cockpit that is not only suited to driving on a circuit, but also makes day-to-day driving feel sporty. The seats, steering wheel and gear stick are all unique to the Type R model and take into account driving position, visibility of key information and driver control requirements.

Exclusively designed high-backed sports seats, trimmed in suede-effect black fabric with red double stitching, provide driver and front-seat passenger with ample lateral support during harder cornering. An important factor in providing a suitable driving position for the new Civic Type R is the seat height.

Red double stitching on the black leather-clad steering wheel and black gear-lever gaiter matches those on the seats and the roof-lining is trimmed in black fabric, augmenting the focused ambience. As with previous Type R models, the gear stick is made from machined aluminium alloy.

The intelligent Multi Information Display (i-MID) includes display information specific to the Civic Type R. Additional information screens unique to Type R can be individually selected by the driver and include:

• G-meter and brake pressure / accelerator pedal position

• Boost pressure, water temperature, oil pressure and oil temperature

• Lap time

• Acceleration time (0-62 mph)

• Acceleration time (0-100 m or 0-1/4 mile)

A rev indicator above the main tachometer provides the driver with visual information to aid optimum performance gear shifting. When engine revs increase, lights from both edges of the indicator converge to give the driver a visual reference on the optimum timing of the next gear shift without distracting any attention from the road. A gear shift display shows the currently selected gear and responds within 0.2 seconds of a gear change.

Credits: Oneshift News Team