VIDEO: Honda Civic Type-R in Paris
We're going to spare you the weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth that seems to take place every time a new Type-R is released and the U.S. is left off the shipping invoice. It's safe to say that we're getting used to the disappointment, but when we compare the newly designed Euro-Civic to our own two- and four-door offerings, it feels like the knife gets twisted a little deeper into our gut.
For those of you who are blessed with slightly thicker skin and won't start sobbing uncontrollably at the unfair world in which we live, Honda was kind enough to produce a little montage of their new Civic Type-R as it sat on its stand in Paris. The video provides some drool-worthy shots of all the little details that adorn their newest FF-fun box.
The Type-R, for those of you who haven't already pored over the specs, will come equipped with a 2-liter, 200 hp inline-4 that will consume the sprint to 60 in about six and half seconds. The iVTEC powerplant will putter around like any other Honda until about 5,800 RPM, when the second cam lobe brings the engine to boil and proceeds to runs the tach to its 8k redline. A six-speed manual sends power to the seven-spoke, 18" alloys, wrapped in 225/40 rubber of unspecified origin. The interior benefits from Alcantara wrapped racing buckets, a three-spoke wheel, the love-it or hate-it, two-tier dash and a 'Start' button that allows the lucky owner to channel the part of the brain that controls racing ambitions.
In the meantime, we'll wallow in self-pity, occasionally asking why the Honda-Gods are angry with us, again.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
pb 7:15PM (10/03/2006)
What's the cry about? It has the same power as our Si, only it's uglier. If anything we got the better deal.
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bgdc 8:03PM (10/03/2006)
Whoopty do. The Mazdaspeed3 will devour the Civic Si on a track (same slalom times and twice the torque with a much better power-to-weight ratio). The Type R's still got the same power deficiencies as the Si. Every straight would equal the far more powerful and nearly as nimble Mazdaspeed3 disappearing.
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Leroy Brown 7:59PM (10/03/2006)
I like our current Civic - the sedan is very nice looking, the coupe is downright attractive, and the SI is no-BS sexy. And this is coming from a 100% muscle car lover.
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Ted K 8:45PM (10/03/2006)
If you think a mazdaspeed3 is catching that thing, you've got another thing coming.
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MikeW 11:16PM (10/03/2006)
The Mazdaspeed3 has skinny tires 215/45 18, but the wider tires here are offset by the integral trailing arm suspension.
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RDL 9:33PM (10/03/2006)
"1. What's the cry about? It has the same power as our Si, only it's uglier. If anything we got the better deal.
Posted at 7:15PM on Oct 3rd 2006 by pb"
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Indeed.
Type-R = Mutant Egg with wheels.
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"4. If you think a mazdaspeed3 is catching that thing, you've got another thing coming.
Posted at 8:43PM on Oct 3rd 2006 by Ted K"
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Surely, you jest.
Mazdaspeed3:
250 hp @ 5500 rpm
280 ft-lbs. @ 3000 rpm
12.6 lbs/hp
Civic Si/Type-R, et al.:
197 hp @ 7800 rpm
139 ft-lbs. @ 6100 rpm
14.6 lbs/hp
Notice the torque. Not even close. And with a price difference of only USD$1,500.00 for the base models, it's a no-brainer.
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Jason 12:35AM (10/04/2006)
They can keep it. It looks like a squashed turd. Honda knows US won't like a body like that.
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Zo 12:54AM (10/04/2006)
Car and Driver: Nov 2006
Mazdaspeed 3 - "A rocket into WRX territory"
0-60: 5.8sec
1/4 mile: 14.4 @ 99mph
Top speed: 155mph
Braking 70-0: 167ft
Skid pad: 0.87g
Observed gas milage: 18mpg (blah!)
Qoute p. 54:
"Yes, sir, get it right, and the Mazdaspeed 3 has speed in the double-E size. It'll run off a GTI and slap a Civic Si silly. It's got more beans than all of its pocketmongoose competitors save the old Dodge Neon-based SRT4 (and, likely, the new 300 horse Caliber-based SRT4, when we eventually test it)"
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GOT 9:43PM (10/04/2006)
Beautiful looking Civic! I really like that Civic hatch (can't stand the dumpy looking Civic sedan). Unfortunate to-no-end that Honda won't bring it and the 5-door-hatch to the USA.
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tekdemon 3:31AM (10/04/2006)
I think at the end of the day, the Si is still going to end up with much more aftermarket support compared to the Mazdaspeed3. I mean, the Mazdaspeed3 is impressive, but I've seen how tuning companies have been refining their K20 engine offerings over the last couple of years-basically the K20 has PLENTY of potential if one cares for excessive amounts of power in a FWD car.
Seriously though, there's sort of a point where the power is just overkill. If we're just dumping numbers, the Dodge Caliber SRT-4 puts out 300HP and 260lb/ft of torque and if history means anything, it's probably very underrated (the last SRT-4 was putting almost as much power to the wheels as the spec sheet said was going to the crank).
The Si and Type-R are about more than just raw power, and it's always been that way, and the Civics and RSXs still flew off the shelves (save for the sad selling hatchback from 2002-2005)
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stj 4:34AM (10/04/2006)
Japan is getting the 4dr type r with 220bhp
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Mr Butterscotch 9:08AM (10/04/2006)
I've been tracking the new Civic Type R for a while - I'm in the UK - and I'll be one of the first to test drive it, though it's way out of my budget.
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Ted K 10:35AM (10/04/2006)
#4 RDL
suurely _i_ jest?
first of all, "Civic Si/Type-R, et al." - you think the cars will be the same? please catch the next cluetrain back to mazda's nuts where you can swing for the rest of the week.
next, you're spewing numbers for drag racing.
what kind of an idiot ricer retard buys FWD hatchback sportcoupes for drag racing? yes lucy, we're talking about the cars' potential for real motorsport here, not their potential for nhra and nascar.
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naugahyde 12:12AM (10/15/2006)
We did not get the better deal pb - the Si coupe is a pretty worthless car for many of us. I own a 2003 Si hatch, and the reason that I want the type R is so I can have the power, the handling, the 6 speed tranny - and yes - the red starter button in a hatchback form.
My lifestyle won't let me buy a car like the current Civic 2-door coupe - it has a trunk the size of a high-school girl's makeup bag. I go places other than the local Fashion Bug and Sonic drive through - hiking, camping and Home Depot, and my '03 hatch swallows it all. If I can't that utility / fun combo when it is time to replace the current car, I may have to go with a WRX wagon, a Mazda or something like that. My option from Honda is to either drive a Fit (nerd alert...) or a boy racer aimed at the 16 to 19 year old market? I don't think so.
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Danielle Phet 1:18AM (10/19/2006)
I want one soooo bad. Oh my god. I actually want the slower one though. The Civic Type S. Please if anyone can tell me how I can order one. I have the current Si and yes it's great but I love the way these ones look.
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