By Samuel Ee - June 2, 2007
The Business Times
THE most appealing proposition of the three-door Honda Civic Type R has to be its unique combination of design, performance and utility.
As a hot hatch, the new Civic Type R is surprisingly affordable for something built in the UK. The three-door hatchback is the first official Type R in Singapore to be offered by Kah Motor and is based on the chassis of the familiar eighth-generation Honda Civic sedan.
It is also very different from the parallel imported Type R saloon which is only offered as a domestic model for the Japanese market.
Compared with the sedan, the three-door Civic has a much more acceptable level of ride comfort. It also has a different rear suspension (torsion beam instead of double wishbones) and revised interior packaging. But it is the styling differences which are the most glaring. Triangular fog lights and exhaust openings meld with trapezoidal door handles and plastic mesh inside and outside for a very busy design.
Amid the distracting details, though, there are some nice touches, like the in-house bucket seats and 3D instrument display. Honda has ditched the Recaro version for its own R-spec seat which is wider and has better thigh support and cushion density, while the Civic's ergonomic two-tiered dashboard is given a new twist with a multi-info floating display and luscious vermillion red pointers.
Other quirky features to be found in the cabin include the 'Engine Start' button (which still requires a turn of the ignition key first); the Duplo-sized bonnet and fuel filler release catches; the dual-zone climate control's thermostat on the passenger door armrest; and the button to switch the digital speedometer from kmh to mph.
But, perhaps, the very essence of this new Honda Civic Type R is its refinement. From the lined storage compartments, airconditioned glovebox and big adjustable cupholders, this car now offers its occupants a more inviting environment. Yet when it comes to driving it, there is still an appealing rawness because of the two-stage VTEC engine.
The old Type R had a constricted power band which delivered the goods abruptly between 5,800 and 7,400 rpm. The new Type R's re-tuned 2.0-litre engine with balancer shaft and drive-by-wire accelerator has a wider power band, starting from 5,200 rpm and all the way up to 8,000. This changes the torque characteristics, with 90 per cent of the maximum torque available from 2,500 rpm.
On the road, the Type R feels light on its feet, with good low-end torque. The controls are well-weighted and it is smooth, quiet and easy to live with in city traffic because of the revised gear ratios of the six-speed manual transmission.
Yet, when the revs rise and the higher cam profile is engaged at 5,200 rpm, the Type R goes into maximum power mode and turns feral, with a more pronounced growl of the engine. With its quick and accurate electric power steering, and confident handling, it is easy to drive fast.
At the same time, noise and vibration levels have been reduced in the new car, and along with increased body rigidity, there are no vibrations or unnecessary mechanical noises to cause driver fatigue.
The new Civic Type R is still raw where it matters but a lot easier to live with because of its enhanced passenger comfort. It is a premium hot hatch with many all-round capabilities, and that probably makes it one of the best packages available on the market.
Honda reinvents Civic Type R with youth in mind
THE reinvention of the Honda Civic Type R into a funky, visually exciting model is not only about cosmetics - it reflects a new philosophy behind the car, beginning from its chief engineer.
Toshiya Sakai, 41, breaks the mould as far as Japanese chief engineers go. The youthful motorcycle-riding research and development (R&D) engineer speaks English fluently and has a youthful outlook. In other words, he really knows what young people want of a hot hatch. He's not just an older person trying to interpret their needs.
This is important because the Type R has to appeal to a younger set of buyers in the UK and Europe. The Continental version of the Civic is available only as a three or five-door hatchback. As a three-door model, the Type R is better suited to nimble driving in city traffic. Its engine power, gear ratios and quick steering mean it can dart in and out easily.
Mr Sakai took pains to make sure the Type R was a customer-driven, European-centric car with the first example of 'localisation' to be found in a Honda model. Feedback was obtained from those who owned the previous-generation Type R - also built in Swindon, UK - and they said they didn't like its utilitarian design, poor space efficiency and noisy interior.
So these issues were addressed and the cabin is more spacious and refined, the glovebox is now air-conditioned and the boot is larger and more practical. The body is also made more rigid. And when you are driving fast and too busy to keep an eye on the tachometer, the rev indicator lights up closer to redline so you know when to change gears.
The new Civic Type R is also more impressive in terms of passive and active safety. For example, there are six airbags, with the curtain bags alone consisting of five individual pillows each covering the entire side of the car. All this so that Honda can say the Type R is raw and emotive but still safe and functional.
Engine: 1,998cc
Gearbox: 6-speed manual transmission
Max power: 201 hp @ 7,800 rpm
Max torque: 193 Nm @ 5,600 rpm
0-100 kmh: 7.0 secs
Top speed: 231 kmh
Price: $106,000 (with COE)
Distributor: Kah Motor. Tel: 6841-3333 Source: The Business Times