Autosport: Celebrating 25 years of Honda's Type R badge

GTI, STi, AMG, Renault Sport and RS - each comes with its own reputation for high-performance machinery. In 1992 Honda gave birth to Type R, a badge that has come to rank among the most notorious.

by Tyler Heatley of www.autosport.com

Here is everything you need to know about Type R.

The first Type R

The Honda NSX had already established itself as something of a Ferrari slayer in its first three years of life, but Honda wanted to boost performance further, and labeled this very special 1992 model the NSX Type R. The R was for 'racing'.
Produced in limited numbers for Japan, the original Type R was a hardcore supercar. Extensive weight reduction saved 120kg by ditching the electric windows, air conditioning, stereo and all of the sound deadening.
A follow-up NSX-R was produced in 2002 with more extensive aerodynamic bodywork, as the first-generation car came to the end of its life.

A VTEC heart

Many Type R fans will proclaim the virtues of VTEC. Standing for Variable Valve and Lift Electronic Control, the innovative system changes the profile of the engine to boost performance.
The result is a notable kick as the car's full potential is released.

The red H

Every Honda Type R model wears a red H instead of the standard Honda logo in homage to the very first Honda Formula 1 car.
The RA272 led the 1965 Mexican Grand Prix from start to finish and delivered Honda its first F1 victory.
Many Type Rs are also finished in the same iconic 'Championship White' as the racing car.

Type R on track

The NSX went on to compete in various Japanese GT racing series, but it is in touring car championships where the sub-brand has made a name for itself.
The Integra and Civic Type R models have secured four British Touring Car Championships between them and a fifth is looking likely this year.
Entries into the World Touring Car Championship have resulted in multiple race wins and fastest laps. Entry to the newly formed TCR series promises similar success.

It has returned to America

In 1997 Type R made its US debut under the Acura brand with the Integra Type R.
Built to meet FIA race homologation rules, 3,823 of them found a home in the States. Due to the engineering involved with each example and the low sales volume, Honda made a loss on every car sold.
Production of the Integra ended in 2001 and it was the last Type R officially available - until the new 2018 Honda Civic Type R arrived.

The latest Type R, based on the 10th generation Civic, is a 316bhp hot hatch. Now available stateside, the Type R is no longer America's forbidden fruit.
Taking on rivals such as the Ford Focus RS, Honda knew that this car had to be one of its best efforts.

25 years of Type R

Those of you who are good at maths might already have worked out that 2017 marks 25 years since the first Type R.
In that time we have seen unicorn supercars, potent saloons and many a hot hatch proudly join the Type R family. Over the past quarter of a century it has become a true enthusiasts' favourite.
Honda's legendary reliability (away from its current F1 programme!), teamed with class-leading performance, makes the badge a popular choice for those who take their cars to the track.

What's next?

A number of interviews with engineers have hinted that Honda is keen to grow the Type R brand further.
Hotter versions of the Civic Type R, potentially with all-wheel drive, are a possibility. The current generation will have a longer lifespan than its predecessors and Honda will need to continue competing with the very best.
The latest NSX hybrid supercar is also a prime candidate that would see the Type R treatment return to the model where it all began.
If the latest offering is anything to go by, Type R fans should be very excited for what is to come - but don't hold your breath for a Jazz Type R. Some things remain sacred.

Source;
https://www.autosport.com/m1/news/131903/celebrating-25-years-of-honda-type-r

Dynamically Styled, More Powerful and Fuel-Efficient 2016 Honda Civic Coupe Makes First Public Appearance at Los Angeles Auto Show

Nov 17, 2015 - TORRANCE, Calif.

• 2016 Civic Coupe set to launch in March as the latest addition to Honda's expansive and sporty new 10th-generation Civic lineup
• Lower roofline, more compact form and signature taillight differentiate the more personal and sporty Coupe design
• Two powerful and fuel-efficient powerplants, including first ever Honda turbo engine for Civic Coupe
• State-of-the-art connectivity with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay™ and new Honda embedded navigation system by Garmin
• Sporty and spacious, interior space grows by 8.4 cubic feet and rear-seat legroom is up more than 5 inches.

The newest member of the completely reengineered and reimagined 10th-generation Civic lineup – the 2016 Civic Coupe – will make its first public appearance at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show. Launching in March, the 2016 Civic Coupe delivers an even sportier and emotional take on the new Civic design while benefitting from the multitude of upgrades to the 10th-generation Civic lineup, including a sophisticated and sporty new chassis, a more spacious and quieter cabin, class-leading fuel-economy ratings and targeted top-in-class crash safety ratings.

The new 2016 Civic Coupe, like its sedan counterpart, will feature two advanced new engines, including the first-ever turbo engine for the Coupe, delivering more power, performance and fuel efficiency. All new Civic Coupes, from the well-equipped LX to the new, line-topping Touring trim, also receive significant upgrades to interior style, with soft-touch materials and high-grade finishes, along with a bevy of new standard and available features, including the Honda Sensing™ suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies as well as both Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™.

“We continue on our epic 10th-generation Civic journey with the sportiest, most sophisticated and tech-savvy Civic Coupe yet,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and general manager of the Honda Division. “I think our customers are going to be utterly surprised by what this new Coupe delivers in terms of refinement, safety, efficiency and fun-to-drive performance.”

The 2016 Civic Coupe is the second in a series of new 10th-generation Civic models that Honda is launching over the course of the next 18 months, including the Civic Sedan, Civic Coupe, the first-ever Civic 5-door hatchback for the U.S. market, Civic Si performance variants and for the first time in the U.S., the radical new Civic Type-R.

Civic Coupe Styling
The 2016 Civic Coupe carries forward the sporty and premium character of the 10th-generation Civic design, including the bold front fascia, fast-back profile and sharp-edged detailing, as well as its more athletic wheels out proportions – its longer wheelbase (+2.9 inches), wider body (+1.9 inches), shortened front overhang (-1.4 inches) and wider stance. The new Coupe also benefits from the lower seating position, or hip point, of the new Civic platform, which amplifies the Coupe's low, wide and planted dynamic driving character.

From the A-pillars rearward, the Coupe features unique exterior styling with a lower and more steeply raked roofline, nearly 1 inch lower than the Sedan, and more compact proportions, with the rear overhang and overall length shortened by 5.5 inches.  The new Coupe also features an exclusive rear taillight design that carries the arch of the distinctive C-shaped LED taillights across the full length of the rear deck lid.

Sporty and Spacious Coupe Interior
The 2016 Civic Coupe's sportier design does not come at the expense of passenger comfort, as interior space grows by 8.4 cubic feet and rear seat legroom is increased by more than 5 inches, compared to the outgoing Coupe model. The new Civic Coupe interior strikes a more premium tone with high-quality materials and high-contrast finishes. These include a new one-piece, soft-touch instrument panel with molded stitching; more premium seat fabrics; a new full-color TFT center meter (EX and above trims); door inserts with real stitching; an LED shift indicator and LED overhead lighting; and for EX and higher trims, a leather shift lever boot.

Civic Coupe Feature Upgrades
All new Civic Coupes, from the well-equipped LX to the new line-topping Touring, feature upgraded interiors and an expanded list of standard and available technologies and features. New standard equipment includes auto on/off headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED taillights, acoustic glass windshield, automatic climate control (dual-zone in upper trims), Electric Parking Brake with Brake Hold and Walk-Away auto door locks. New available features include Honda LED headlights, Remote engine start, heated front seats and side mirrors, rain-sensing wipers, full-color TFT center meter and seven-inch Display Audio touchscreen.

Civic Coupe Audio and Connectivity
The new Civic Coupe delivers the latest in audio and connected-car technology, including more powerful audio systems; an available new Android OS-based, 7-inch Display Audio touch screen interface; a bevy of streaming audio options such as Pandora®, SiriusXM® and HD Radio™; and for trims with Display Audio, full compatibility with both Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay® platforms. The Civic Coupe highest trims will also feature a new Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ developed in cooperation with the experts at Garmin.

Advanced New Powertrains
The 2016 Civic Coupe will launch with two more powerful and fuel-efficient powertrains, Lower trims receive a new 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC™ engine turning out 158 horsepower and 138 lb.-ft. of torque¹ (+15 HP and +9 lb.-ft. vs. 2015 Civic 1.8L) with anticipated EPA fuel-economy ratings of 31/41/35 mpg² (city/highway/combined) for models equipped with CVT. This engine can also be equipped with a 6-speed manual transmission on the lowest trim. Civic Coupe mid to highest trims are powered by a new 1.5-liter DOHC direct-injected TURBO – the first-ever turbocharged engine for Civic Coupe – putting out a peak 174 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft. of torque³ (+31 HP and +33 lb.-ft. vs. 2015 Civic 1.8L) with anticipated EPA ratings of 31/42/35 mpg².

Advanced Safety Performance
The 2016 Civic Coupe utilizes Honda's next generation Advanced Compatibility Body Structure™ (ACE™) working in conjunction with advanced airbags and seatbelts to provide a high degree of safety performance. Utilizing these systems in conjunction with the available new Honda Sensing™ suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies, the 2016 Civic Coupe with Honda Sensing™ targets the highest available U.S. safety ratings – an NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a TOP SAFETY PICK+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

About Honda
Honda offers a complete lineup of Honda cars, trucks and service with a network of more than 1,000 Honda dealerships within the United States. Eight Honda auto plants in North America, including four in the U.S., have the capacity to produce 1.92 million automobiles each year. In 2014, more than 97 percent of the Honda and Acura automobiles sold in the U.S. were produced in North America using domestic and globally sourced parts.

¹Peak power: 158 HP @ 6000 rpm (SAE net), peak torque: 138 ft-lb @ 4200 rpm (SAE net).
²Based on internal testing; 2016 EPA mileage ratings not available at time of publishing. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.
³Peak power: 174 HP @ 5500 (SAE net); peak torque; 164 ft-lb from 1800 to 5500 rpm (SAE net)

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/releases/dynamically-styled-more-powerful-and-fuel-efficient-2016-honda-civic-coupe-makes-first-public-appearance-at-los-angeles-auto-show

XTOMI Design Renders the Honda Civic Type R Sedan

Very nice, click on the picture for a bigger view.  Rumour has it that the Type R is going to come out in a Coupe and Sedan form on top of the Hot-Hatch.

Source (via CarScoops!)
http://xtomi.blogspot.ro/2015/10/honda-civic-type-r-sedan.html

WorldCarFans: Next-gen Honda Civic Type R hatchback test mule spied with triple exhaust pipes

Exhaust looks similar to 458 Italia

Our spies have sent us a new batch of images with the next generation Honda Civic Type R likely coming out in 2017.

The current Civic Type R went on sale just a few months ago, but these spy images show work is already well underway on its successor as this test mule has been spotted stretching out on the Nordschleife. We are not entirely certain the car has all the production bits and pieces, but we do notice this is a hatchback with a triple exhaust pipe setup featuring two bigger outer pipes and a smaller central pipe, just like on the Ferrari 458 Italia.

It's too early to talk about what will power the new model, but it could be an evolution of the turbocharged 2.0-liter engine inside the current Civic Type R where it churns 310 PS (228 kW) and 400 Nm (295 lb-ft). A recent report indicates Honda has plans to launch a warm Type S version which will likely utilize the newly developed 1.5-liter turbo which will likely have a little over 200 PS taking into account the standard configuration of the engine is estimated to deliver 175 PS. If we were to make a logical assumption, the Civic Type S will be out before the full-blown Type R.

For the first time ever, the Honda Civic Type R will be sold in United States and chances are the sedan and/or coupe will also receive this range-topping version.

Source;

http://www.worldcarfans.com/1151013100036/next-gen-honda-civic-type-r-hatchback-test-mule-spied

AutoCar: Everyday handling heroes - Honda Civic Type R versus Ford Focus ST-2

by Vicky Parrot of www.autocar.co.uk

Is the new Civic Type R packed with enough fun to ward off Ford's staple hot hatch?

There’s a corner at the far end of the straight at Bedford Autodrome’s East Circuit: a fast right-hander that tightens into a double apex. To add to the fun, you have to get the car balanced early as you exit to dive straight into a tighter-still left-hander.

Here, our fast front-drive duo were like pigs in the proverbial. Nothing but the Caterham jinked with such precision through that complex. Yet it was also here that the differences between the Honda Civic Type R and the Ford Focus ST were most telling.

Let’s start with the Civic. As the all-new contender to the Focus’s mild refresh, the Type R waded into this class with the meek humility of a bull charging a matador. With trick suspension, adaptive dampers and mechanical diff to make the most of the raging 306bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged motor, it dispatched our circuit using brute force tempered with fierce traction.

Stick it in R mode, to perk up the suspension, diff and throttle response, and it turns in to the complex with just the right amount of keenness, keeping body roll to a minimum before settling into a face-warpingly grippy steady state.

The steering builds nicely in weight as the tyres load, and when you do push it hard enough to trouble the grip limits, a subtle lift-off snaps it out of understeer and back into line with no lairy oversteer pending.

The flipside is that there’s little of the playfulness that the Focus serves up. You can trail the Ford’s brakes to keep the nose pinned as you enter the right-hander, then jump on the throttle to modulate your angle of attack and keep the playful rear end where you want. Its chassis feels so much more adjustable than the Civic’s.

But the Focus has its flaws. Sure, the revised front spring and damper set-up and stiffened body structure of this 2015 update result in keener turn-in, but the steering still feels more scrappy than you might hope. It’s overly keen to self-centre and has little of the natural building of weight that the Honda delivers. It’s just a bit harder to place the Focus precisely at that key moment as a result.

The Ford’s reliance on electric systems to rein in the 247bhp of its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine denies you the traction levels of the Civic, with its proper diff. This is as obvious on the road as it is on a circuit. Exit a tight junction with any gusto and it becomes an exercise in moderate throttle application to avoid spinning the inside front wheel, resulting in more weaving than actual progress.

The Civic isn’t faultlessly grippy, either. It has torrents of power going through its front wheels, so you do get torque steer on occasion, but it is remarkably manageable, given the power. You can be more heavy-handed with getting on the power in the Civic, and it just sucks up the punishment, gathers itself together and fires you up the road, with the engine spinning through a broad torque band and on to 7000rpm.

Although the shorter-lived, heavy boost of the Ford has its own mid-range merits, the Honda’s
motor has the sort of rev-hungry attitude that has echoes of the VTECs of yore.

Yes, it’s a bit lacklustre at low revs, but keep it on the boil above 3000rpm and it delivers the frenetic character that you expect, given its caricature looks. That snappy gearshift, with a throw supposedly identical to the NSX’s, is an absolute joy, too, and more so than the Focus’s precise but slightly softer-feeling shift.

In fact, the whole car feels like a caricature – from how it claws its way through corners, to the supportive yet comfortable bucket seats, the bonkers rear wing and chin-heavy fascia. Even the damping is over the top. Or perhaps ‘under’ would be more accurate, given that in firmer mode it tends to amplify rather than cushion small ruts and bumps. Certainly, this is not the most comfortable car, although the softer setting is more palatable and ticks the ‘everyday usable’ box adequately for such a focused car.

The Focus is the more forgiving in terms of ride comfort and the more playful but, ultimately, it comes second here. It falls short of the Civic’s ferocious performance and handling machismo, making the latter feel somehow closer genetically to Gordon Shedden’s weekend wheels than your average cooking Civic. For that hilarity alone, it gets the nod.

Junior handling test 2015 - how much fun for £30,000?
Ford Focus ST-2
Price £23,995; Engine 4 cyls, 1997cc, turbocharged, petrol; Power 247bhp at 5500rpm; Torque 266lb ft at 2000-4500rpm; Gearbox 6-spd manual; Kerb weight 1437kg; Top speed 154mph; 0-62mph 6.5sec; Economy 41.5mpg; CO2/tax band 159g/km/26%

Honda Civic Type R
Price £29,995; Engine 4 cyls 1996cc, turbocharged, petrol; Power 306bhp at 6500rpm; Torque 295lb ft at 2500rpm; Gearbox 6-spd manual; Kerb weight 1382kg; Top speed 168mph; 0-62mph 5.7sec; Economy 38.7mpg; CO2/tax band 170g/km/29%
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Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/everyday-handling-heroes-honda-civic-type-r-versus-ford-focus-st-2