Sep 18 2007, 08:27 AM, updated 19y ago
Secondly, it looks much more handsome and sporty, thanks to a more balanced proportion and a large rear spoiler. For those who dislike the look of the European Type R like me, we have plenty of reasons to choose the Japanese car. For the fans of the now defunct Integra Type R, they have a good reason to stay at Honda.
Thirdly, the chassis tuning is even more aggressive than the European car. It has harder springs and dampers, larger brakes (front: 320mm ventilated discs with Brembo 4-pot calipers; rear: 282mm solid discs), lower ride height and, note this, a Torsen LSD as standard. To compensate the weight increment, it deleted the sound deadening materials, the spare tire, the power door mirrors... It also converted the front bumper beam to aluminum, and the folding rear seat to a fixed one. As a result, the Japanese Type R weighs much the same as the shorter European car. Well done.
Of course, the K20A engine is also higher tuned. From outside, it might look the same. Underneath, however, it gets higher compression (11.7:1 vs 11.0:1), larger diameter throttle body, larger and straighter intake manifolds (even with resin coating on the inner surface to reduce air resistance, like the late NSX) and rerouted exhaust manifolds to reduce back-pressure. The result is 225 horsepower by JIS standard at 8000 rpm, 159 pound-foot of torque at 6100 rpm, maximum rev is 8400 rpm. That's 24 hp, 17 lbft and 400 rpm more than the European car.
On the Road
The Japanese Civic Type R is clearly designed for hardcore drivers. Its engine output is focused at high rev, from 6000 rpm upward, with a pronounced power kick once the VTEC system switched to the fast cams. The loud exhaust note fills the uninsulated cabin. The rev-happiness, the slick gearchange and the aural rewards encourage you to squeeze every drop of horsepower from your right foot. The higher the rev, the more excitement you get. In the Type R, everybody could become a street racer.
Not only the powertrain, the chassis also performs like a race car. The shocks from the road transmit to your bum directly. In return, you get rock-steady body control. The steering - hydraulic assisted here rather than electrical assisted - delivers direct feel to the driver's hand. This car steers with precision and response surpassing the European Type R. The front wheels grip hard on the road (thanks to LSD) without any torque steer. When you come to stop, the Brembo brakes provide powerful and confidence inspiring braking.
Provided you can live with its harsh ride and less tractable engine, the Japanese Civic Type R is unquestionably the better car. More important, it shows that Honda hasn't really gone soft, at least at its home market.
In the recent Best Motoring July 2007 they pitted the Honda Civic Type-R against Honda NSX Type-S, Honda S2000, Honda Integra Type-R and the Nissan 350Z and it did not bad. It held against the bigger engine cars for a few laps before losing to the Honda NSX Type-S. Of course if it is the Honda NSX Type-R the Civic Type-R will be eating dust. Something for me to consider.
http://www.italiaauto.net/viewtopic.php?t=6085&start=75
This post has been edited by Drifter: Sep 18 2007, 09:06 AM
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