The number of years that American hot hatch enthusiasts have foaming at the mouth for the Euro-only Type R often made many of us wonder if it was all for naught. But now, after promising a U.S.-spec Honda Civic Type R in 2015, it’s finally, finally here. Unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show, this new hot hatch won’t just round out the Civic range, but get your pulse racing.
When reviewers drove the Civic sedan for the first time, many remarked that they could easily see the direction Honda was going with its performance. Soon, those same reviewers will get to see if they’re right. Of course, the Civic Type R is going to be over 100 horsepower more potent than the mainstream models. According to Autoblog, the output of the 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four is 306 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque.
More excitingly is how low that torque is available in the rev range—at 2,500 RPM to be exact. With that amount of get-up-and-go, its no surprise to us that Honda has also fitted its new hot hatch with some gnarly performance gear. From Dual-Axis struts to adaptive ones, 20-inch wheels and Brembo four-pot front rotors and 12-inch rear rotors, this Civic is armed to the teeth for fun.
Want to get a primer on the new Civic family? We currently offer it in sedan, coupe, and hatchback at our Honda dealership in San Diego, CA, although the Si and Type R will be joining the fold in the spring. Contact us to schedule a test drive.
