Honda Civic Type R is back

Hot hatch Honda legend is set to return – and the new Civic Type R will have a turbo engine
The next Honda Civic Type R will not only be the fastest version yet – it’s tipped to be Honda’s first-ever turbo road car. And our sources in Japan say tuning expert Mugen is already well underway with development.

The Type R has already achieved cult status in the UK – Europe’s biggest hot hatch market – thanks to its combination of a high-revving naturally aspirated engine and aggressive styling. But in order to meet emissions regulations, this latest model will tweak the formula slightly.

Instead of the previous 2.0-litre naturally aspirated engine, it will use a 2.0-litre turbo designed to comply with Euro V emissions regulations. A similar engine will feature in Honda’s 2012 British Touring Car Championship challenger.

Adding a turbo will give more torque lower in the rev range, so a higher gear can be used more often to boost efficiency. Stop-start is also likely to be fitted.

Just as VW hiked power with its latest Golf GTI, so Honda will increase the Type R’s output – but not by much. A figure of 210bhp would allow a 0-62mph time of less than 6.5 seconds and a top speed approaching 150mph.

Based on the new Civic seen at last month’s Frankfurt Motor Show, the Type R gets the standard car’s front grille, slim headlights and LED daytime running lights, although most of the bodywork will be uprated.

A front end with large mesh air intakes, a lower chin spoiler and chunky side skirts will boost the visual impact, while a rear diffuser and extended spoiler aim to increase stability at high speeds. Also helping the car’s balance in corners is the standard Civic’s longer, wider chassis; this should also improve ride comfort and grip.

Don’t expect refinement to match a Mercedes S-Class, however. The Type R has always been an extreme proposition and that’s the way it will stay.

The steering is set to be pin sharp, while the six-speed manual box will use a stubby gearlever for snappy changes. Plus, the suspension will be firm, to cope with track work as well as blasting down B-roads.

In a break from tradition that matches the turbocharged Ford Focus ST – a key competitor for the Type R – Honda will offer the car as a five-door only. Prices are expected to start from around £23,000 when it arrives in 2013.

Source;
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/273562/honda_civic_type_r_is_back.html#ixzz1a0cqzBM9

Japanese Civic Type R Updated for 2009

FD2 Civic Type R Updated
Honda has given the JDM-only Civic Type R a mild refresh for 2009, with a few subtle revisions being made to take the most hardcore small sedan ever created into the new year.

Don't get too excited though: the changes are only cosmetic and the power output, suspension setup and trim levels are exactly the same as the outgoing model. Not a bad thing, that's for sure, but a few more horses would've been nice...

Still, it's easy to forgive Honda for leaving the mechanical package unchanged when you feast your eyes on the 2009 FD2 CTR in its new-for-09 Premium Purple Pearl paint scheme. If that doesn't tickle your fancy though, there's a very sophisticated Crystal Black Pearl and a classy Premium White Pearl hue to choose from too, in addition to the five other standard CTR colours.

The rear lamp clusters have also been revised, with the circular lenses of the old model being flicked in favour of a more angular semi-octagonal design. Recommended retail price for the 2009 Civic Type R is ¥2,835,000, for those of you lucky enough to be Japanese residents.

Oh yes, Honda also said something about power retractable mirrors now being standard-issue and apparently something in the interior has been changed, but whatever it is, it's virtually imperceptible from Honda's press shots.

Like we said, the changes are pretty low-key.

Source;
http://jpcnews.blogspot.com/2008/09/fd2-civic-type-r-updated-for-2009.html