Compact sports car fans, the time is finally here for you to go nuts over the brand new Honda Civic Type R, which will finally be making its way to North America with 306 horsepower.
Based on the new 10th-generation Civic, Honda is calling this the most powerful, quickest, fastest and most agile version of its compact car ever, and the production model has just debuted at the Geneva Motor Show looking just like the prototype.
Under the hood, you’ll find a turbocharged and direct injection 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That power is sent to the front wheels thanks to a short-throw six-speed manual transmission that also features automatic rev matching for quick and smooth downshifting. Compared to the last-generation European Type R, the new model also features a lower final drive ratio for better throttle response and a new single-mass flywheel that will reduce reduces clutch inertia.
There’s also a completely redone suspension setup that’s designed to reduce torque steer and improve at-the-limit handling. That’s done with a new four-wheel adaptive suspension system that is sure to be awesome on the road. The car also features an adaptive and variable ratio electric power steering system as well as a helical limited-slip front differential.
At each corner, high-performance Continental ContiSportContact 6 tires are mounted on sexy 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels, and behind those are four-piston Brembo brakes and big cross-drilled rotors up front.
The chassis has also undergone several enhancements, becoming more rigid and responsive thanks to the application of structural adhesive throughout the body. The car also features an aluminum hood, helping this compact weigh less than the normal Honda Civic Hatchback.
Drivers will love the three different drive modes — with the default setting being Sport, an additional track-focused +R setting is also available alongside a tamer comfort mode. These modes adjust the steering response, throttle response, transmission rev-matching, stability control and adjust those fancy adaptive dampers.
Inside the cabin, you’ll find aggressively bolstered seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift boot, aluminum shift knob and pedals, as well as a red Type R meter and serialized Type R plate on the center console. The car comes in a single trim and features a seven-inch touchscreen with navigation as well as both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support. The sound system also sounds pretty powerful with 540-watts of output through 12 speakers.
Honda reassures that the Civic Type R will have a mid-$30,000 price range and reminds us that the engine is made in Anna, Ohio, engine plant, while the car is manufactured in Swindon, England. We just can’t wait any longer to see this thing on the roads in the North America, so it’s a good thing that it goes on sale over here in late Spring.
