By Ian Strachan.
Some sports coupes are wolves in sheep’s clothing, with hot performance concealed under a conservative exterior. Far more are sheep in wolf’s clothing – all looks and little grunt.
But the Honda Civic Type R GT is a wolf in wolf’s clothing. Recently engineered from the ground up, it has the looks – from its sharp, aggressive nose to its huge rear spoiler, and it has the performance from its storming 320 bhp two litre turbo-charged engine.
The Type R has dramatically good looks, performs brilliantly and is great to drive with a 0-60 mph time of around 5.5 seconds and a top speed (where permitted) of 169 miles per hour..
Designed to add a sharklike edge to the Civic’s distinctive wedge shape, the car’s side-on view is enhanced with meaty 20 inch black alloy wheels with red brake calipers. The profile slopes smoothly towards the high and distinctive rear end, with a huge rear spoiler. Big enough to shelter from a storm beneath, the spoiler is positioned high enough to avoid compromising rear vision.
My test car came in an aggressive Rallye Red with black side skirts, front and rear black body trim and black trim around the big lower air intakes and front fog lights, giving it a powerful look. There’s no doubt this car means business.
Beneath the rear spoiler is a deep and practical loadspace. Honda has done well to maintain the basics of practicality despite the Type R’s sporty credentials.
Looking at it from the rear, its wide wheels sit flush with strongly flared arches giving it a stable, muscular stance which emphasises its limpet like grip. The triple chromed exhausts tell you what to expect when you start the engine.
The inside of the Type R further emphasises its sporty credentials, with all effort concentrated on driver comfort and convenience. Huge red-trimmed sports seats hug you in a cockpit which is designed primarily for the driver, with a big digital speedometer in the driver’s eyeline immediately beneath the front screen. The leather trimmed steering wheel and weighted ergonomic gear-stick knob are pleasant to use.
The front passenger seat is equally comfortable, but long-legged rear seat passengers may find themselves a little cramped for room.
But most people will buy the Type R for its handling and its excellent VTEC turbo-charged engines. It won’t disappoint in this respect. The engine has sparkling performance, but is quiet and effortless. Fuel consumption is nothing to write home about at 36.7 mpg in mixed driving, but there’s always a penalty for sparkling performance.
The Type R is a real pleasure to drive. Linked to a slick, short-travel six speed manual gearbox the engine is unruffled throughout. It never sounds or feels under pressure and delivers power exactly when you want it.
Ride and handling are exceptional, with crisp and positive steering response and nicely damped suspension to give a smooth ride despite its ultra-low profile tyres. The Honda’s grip on the road is never uncertain, even when cornering at speed, thanks to an adaptive damper system allowing continuous independent control of each wheel.
Equipment levels on the GT spec which I tested are good, with all-round airbags, satellite navigation via a seven-inch touchscreen, dual-zone climate control, electric windows and mirrors, cruise control, automatic headlights, front and rear parking sensors with rear camera, a wireless phone-charging plate and an excellent DAB radio and infotainment system with eight speakers.
You also get steering wheel mounted controls, blind spot information and cross traffic monitor, digital fuel consumption display, rain sensing window wipers and remote keyless entry with push button start. The key fob can also be used to control windows and mirrors.
This is an easy car to like and will turn heads – particularly with its striking good looks – and I was sorry to see it go. The whole thing comes at a not unreasonable £36,415 on the road.
