Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Sports/GTs, Japan, Honda
Honda launches the Civic Type R sedan in Japan
Click image to view 62 desktop-sized pics of the Honda Civic Type R sedan
Come Friday, March 30, the new Civic Type R will go on sale in Japan. Based on the current Civic 4-door, the Type R is powered by a screaming, normally aspirated 2.0-liter four cylinder (K20A) that eclipses 100 hp/liter, producing around 225 ponies at 8,000 rpm and 159 lb-ft of torque at 6,100 rpm.. A six-speed manual transmission feeds power to the front wheels -- 18-inch units shod with a set of Bridgestone Potenzas. Four-piston Brembos are visible between the spokes and provide the car's stopping power. Body rigidity is said to be 50% better than that of the previous Integra Type R (Acura RSX), and the car weighs in at 1,250 kg (2755 lbs) with no A/C installed. The creature comfort adds another 20 kg (44 lbs).
More info after the jump.
[Source: Honda]
Gallery: Honda Civic Type R sedan (JDM)
Externally, a redesigned front fascia incorporates a large lower air intake for improved breathing. The hood and front fenders are unique to the Type R, as is the rear bumper with its integrated diffuser. Red "H" emblems, sill extensions and the to-be-expected rear wing cap off the car's racy look. Type R badging adorns the rear of the car, and logo decals are available for owners who want to add them to the spot in front of the rear wheel cutout. Additionally, Modulo provides an aftermarket stripe kit and accessory driving lights, both of which you can see in the attached gallery. Viewed in profile, the Type R has an aggressive stance, with a decidedly pointed snout. It is the best-looking Civic sedan available in any market.
Inside, Type R-exclusive front seats await the driver and passenger, and the upholstery is available in either all-black or a black-and-red two-tone. An aluminum shift knob, metallic pedals, red steering wheel logo, and an Engine Start button make it clear that this is not your ordinary Civic, while options such as ambient lighting in the footwells and Honda's hard-disk navigation system allow for further personalization. Three paint colors -- Championship White, Super Platinum metallic, and Vivid Blue Pearl -- are offered, and Honda hopes to sell 400 of the cars each month at a price of 2,835,000 yen (which directly translates to around $24,000 USD for those of you who were wondering, not that it really applies to us). All we know is that we want one. Badly.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
jj 3:04AM (3/29/2007)
I.
Want.
One.
Bastards.
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Deezee 3:17AM (3/29/2007)
159 torques. Better buckle up!
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Jason 3:52AM (3/29/2007)
It's hard to take a car seriously with a minivan front triangle window.
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DPC car videos 4:23AM (3/29/2007)
Here is a video of the Honda Civic Type R but at the time they called it a prototype.
http://www.dpccars.com/car-videos/03-08-07page-Honda-Civic-Type-R-Sedan-Prototype.htm
This car car very clean lines and I bet a very fun car to drive, also with 225 ponies at 8,000 rpm this car should be a great track car.
http://www.dpccars.com
DPCcars
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Mappy 4:28AM (3/29/2007)
Oh man, why isn't it the awesome five-door shape from the UK? This doesn't look so good to me...
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Dustin 4:46AM (3/29/2007)
Does anyone think they just took 5 years to make a civic look like an RSX?
Looks like it to me. ZZZzzzZZzz..
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Travis Ayres 5:28AM (3/29/2007)
#2 -
Torques is not a correct word. Torque is defined as force perpendicular x lever arm, and it is the name of said thing. The units of torque are lb-ft or Newton-meters. NOT TORQUES. Science students everywhere are cringing.
I heard Jeremy Clarkson call them torques on Top Gear, and it sounds cutsey, but its improper, so lets all stop doing it. Please, this country's science education is in the toilet as is, lets not make it worse on purpose.
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chris 5:54AM (3/29/2007)
Mappy, because there are three different Civics, this is the Asia-Pacific one, completely different to the American and European one. Honda in the UK can't build enough Type-Rs as is, there's no way they can export them to the Japanese/Australian market. I wouldn't want them to either, as this is the true hardcore Type-R, not the more compromised European Type-R that has to compete with the numerous other dailu driver-friendly hot hatches.
And I don't see how this looks at all like an Integra.
I do find it kind of crazy though how a 2007 Civic can have bigger wheels than the legendary NSX-R ahah. I think the top-of-the-line Astra even gets 19s these days.
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chris 5:57AM (3/29/2007)
'dailu' = 'daily' obviously oops.
And I think the "159 torques" thing was just a little joke Travis Ayres, not even Clarkson himself would use that term when they're being at all serious.
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digitalzombie 7:08AM (3/29/2007)
I think it is torques. It's the measurement of the crankshaft and the pistol rod if I remember correctly....
Where the hell do they measure the torque from then?
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Aetius 7:45AM (3/29/2007)
225HP-159 torque? Uhh...no thanks! The Mazdaspeed3 still wins it.
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Derek 9:07AM (3/29/2007)
Torques is a verb - as in, "The mechanic torques the lug nuts"
Torque is a noun - "the engine produces 159 lb*ft of torque"
Saying 159 torques is not only an incorrect useage of the word, but it is meaningless because it does not specify units. Is it 159 lb*ft? N*m? Heck, torque can be and force and any distance! Perhaps it is 159 gram*furlongs?
Yes, I saw it on Top Gear. Thought it was stupid then, too.
But, who cares. With only 159 lb*ft waaaaay up at 6100 rpm, this engine isn't torquing much of anything.
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Curt Chambers 9:45AM (3/29/2007)
Anybody else notice the Honda Asimo icon representing the car on the nav system - thats pretty funny!
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joe justice 9:55AM (3/29/2007)
According to the Honda dealer material, this Civic type R laps Tsukuba circuit 1.9 seconds faster than an S2000, 1.7 seconds faster than a 2005 Integra Type R, and almost 1 full second FASTER than a 2005 NSX.
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P B 10:01AM (3/29/2007)
#11
No kidding. Me Eco tuned Focus makes 149 lb-ft of torque right off the lot.
Come on Honda, NA VTEC is all well and good, but at some point you've got to give your cars some kick in the pants.
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nailz420 10:51AM (3/29/2007)
#15
Why? Everyone knows horsepower sells cars while torque only wins races. Guess what Honda's interested in.
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MCS05 11:06AM (3/29/2007)
heck i might even put aside my disdain for japanese cars and buy this if it was available.
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MikeW 11:19AM (3/29/2007)
That 159ft-lbs is 80 ft-lbs / liter. Better than the new M3, better than the not so hot 139ft-lbs the US receives from Honda.
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f3rg 11:46AM (3/29/2007)
sweet car.
would it really kill you guys to post the "wallpaper size images" in an actual, uncropped 4:3 ratio???
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Chris 12:28PM (3/29/2007)
What the hell, where's the Type R Coupe??
Why're they forgetting the coupe? :-(
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