Honda: More fun with a Type R 🎥
NEXT STAGE Honda is expanding the Civic Type R range with the Limited Edition and Sports Line variants. Based on the Type R GT, the brand developed two models with more performance and optimized design. Only 100 vehicles of the Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition are coming exclusively to Europe in yellow. The heart of Honda [...]
Only 100 vehicles of the Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition are coming exclusively to Europe in yellow.
Honda's heart is hungry. In customer sports, the manufacturer is also way out in front. In popular sports, the once so staid Civic provides the basis for fast laps at the limit; today, even its civilian road version is hard to beat for aggression potential.
Conversion for professionals and private drivers
The basis is the Type R (from 44,800 Swiss francs) with a brute 320 turbo horsepower generated from a four-cylinder gasoline engine measuring just two liters. And that, in turn, is produced by the motorsport partner J.A.S. in Arluno near Milan.
The Italians are converting them into racing touring cars with which private and professional drivers can compete in the TCR racing series and, in future, also in the GT circuit.
Faster than others in curves
The Sport Line and Limited Edition variants, both road-legal, with sweeping aprons, rear wing and flared wheel housing and wide rubber rollers, signal only one thing: The concern to get around the corners faster than everyone else and, even better, to the finish line, is taken seriously here.
Radiator grille is now more permeable
The larger air intake and narrower struts make the radiator grille 13 percent more permeable, which in conjunction with the optimized radiator block lowers the coolant temperature by up to ten degrees. However, since this reduces aerodynamic downforce, the front spoiler had to move even further down.
A voluminous roof spoiler sits at the rear of the Type R, while an exalted wing replaces it on the weight-reduced Limited Edition.
Improved handling and agility
In the future, the adaptive damper system will respond more quickly to road conditions, which should increase handling and agility. Elastic bearing bushings on the front axle improve the precision of the steering and allow easier course setting.
The rear bearing bushes have been stiffened, resulting in eight percent more lateral load capacity. The brake system was not left untouched either, reducing pedal play by 15 millimeters and unsprung mass by 2.5 kilograms.
Stronger engines from the States
Honda's collaboration with J.A.S. dates back to 1998. The motorsport hotbed does not source complete vehicles for conversion to TCR race cars. The 55-man operation buys the bodyshell and the four-cylinder engine, which is manufactured in the United States and boosted to 340 hp.
Mads Fischer, Business Development Manager J.A.S Motorsport; "Everything else is superfluous during the rebuild and would just have to be sold again or even disposed of. During the racing season, we support the teams around the clock."
