Honda’s New Civic Type R Wows At Geneva

The Honda Civic may be known to most people as a rather prosaic, even boring, automobile. That, however, is without reckoning or acknowledging that the Civic actually has been a long-time contender in the “hot hatch” and sporty coupe markets for decades.

In many parts of the world, the Civic Si (in both coupe and sedan forms in the USA, and as a hatchback in Europe and Asia as well) is known as a fun drive. However, in many parts of the world (but alas, not North America), the Type R is the hotter, sexier Civic.

For a year, Honda has been teasing the automotive world with a flash of metal here, a peek at a surface there, of what was rumored to be the new Type R. The time for surreptitious hint-dropping has ended, for Honda has formally introduced the new Civic Type R at the Geneva Auto Show.

This new Type R is a bit revolutionary, for it is the first turbocharged Type R ever offered by Honda. The engine is a 2.0 liter inline four equipped with Honda’s signature VTEC (Variable Timing and lift Electronic Control) valve/camshaft control system. With turbocharging, this engine punches out a whopping 306 bhp (!) and an even more impressive 295 lb/ft of torque. Redline is at 7000 RPM.

Honda says that the only transmission option available will be a six-speed full-manual. As an aside, this is the only way to go. If you don’t know how to work a stick shift and yet you want to drive a car with sporting aspirations, you go learn. (Yeah, I’m an intolerable snob about some things.)

The new Civic Type R should be able to do 0-62 MPH in 5.7 secs. Not only that, but Honda also says that it can hit all of 168 MPH!

Its looks, I’ll fully admit, take a bit of getting used to. I’m not too fond of the tail, even if it is reminiscent of the much-missed CRX (and the modern-day CR-Z). But I’m willing to live with the distinctive styling, if I get to enjoy the car as a superb driving experience.

Alas, it looks like North America will continue to get deprived of the joys of Type R motoring. One reason is that the Type R’s chassis is based on the European Civic, which isn’t quite the same as the North American version. Honda hasn’t said anything about adapting the NA Civic to take the Type R’s juicy mechanical bits, but I won’t hold my breath. If Honda does decide to finally let its Type R Civic loose in the Americas, it will be the first time.

Guess I should start saving up, just in case.