What a Car - UK - (2020-04)

FIRST LOOK

THEHONDACIVICTypeR is asgoodashot

hatchbacksget.It’sthrillingyetpractical,

involvingyetcomfortable;littlewonder,then,

thatit’sbeenourHotHatchoftheYearfor

threeyearsrunning,withnotevenmuchmore

powerfulandexpensiverivalssuchasthe

Mercedes-AMGA35andBMWM135ibeing

abletodeposeit.Tostrengthenitsgriponthis

market,though,Hondais givingtheTypeR

updatestonotonlyimproveitsperformance

butalsomakeit appealtoa wideraudience.

Keytothelatterobjectiveis theadditionof

newLimitedEditionandSportLinevariants.

TheLimitedEdition– describedasthemost

extremeTypeR yet– featureslightweight

components,a stripped-outinterior(withthe

air-conandinfotainmentsystemsremoved

tosaveweight)andexclusiveSunlightYellow

paintwithdark-colouredtrim.Just 100 will

RIVALS

DarrenMoss

[email protected]

BMWM135i

Hasa classier

interiorthanthe

CivicTypeR but

can’tmatchit for

drivingthrills.

FordFocusST

Impresseswith

a strongengine,

a greatdriving

positionand

balancedhandling.

24 April 2020 whatcar.com

The car’s engine sound – which we’ve

said could do with a little more volume

previously – is now enhanced through the

stereo, becoming louder when you’re driving

in either Sport or +R driving mode and quieter

in the Comfort setting.

Buyers who want to delve into the detail

of their driving performance can now do so

via a new LogR smartphone app, which shows

data collected through the car’s on-board

systems and can even offer tips to make

driving smoother. It also includes an on-board

lap timer – a service that might be especially

useful for track day enthusiasts.

No changes have been made to the

Type R’s engine, which means the 2.0-litre

turbocharged petrol engine produces the

same 316bhp that it does today – well up on

the outputs of rivals such as the Ford Focus ST

and Renault Mégane RS.

Prices won’t be announced until closer to

the on-sale date this summer, but expect the

new Type R to start at around £33,000 – a mild

increase on today’s car.

be built for Europe, so expect it to become

something of a collector’s item.

The Sport Line variant, meanwhile, is

designed to look more subtle than the

standard Type R, while retaining its grin-

inducing performance. Sport Line versions get

a smaller rear wing, a new 19in wheel design,

softer tyres (designed to increase comfort)

and additional sound-deadening material.

All versions have a new front bumper with

larger air intakes, while the headlights have

been redesigned. The suspension has been

tweaked with the aim of making the handling

sharper and more responsive. The brakes have

also been upgraded, improving stopping

performance while reducing weight.

Inside, Honda has addressed one of our

main criticisms of the existing Type R by tting

physical shortcut buttons and dials to control

its infotainment system; this should make it

easier to use on the move than the purely

touch-sensitive setup of the existing car. The

steering wheel is now wrapped in Alcantara

and there’s a new retro-look gearknob.

Honda Civic Type R

Class-leading hot hatchback gains a wider model line-up and

mechanical upgrades On sale Summer Price from £33,000 (est)

Toned-down Sport Line promises greater renement Revised infotainment system aims to be easier to use