2015 Honda Civic Type R – Turbo Charged?

Earlier this month the third Civic Type R reached our shores in the UK, and it has been one of the most anticipated day-to-day performance hot hatch cars.

Hearing that Honda have made the move from natural aspiration to a turbo charged engine was a little disappointing for me as I have always been a fan of Honda’s natural aspirated engines and the performance they have achieved without strapping a turbo on! (although I have seen some interesting results when people have fiddled around under the bonnets of their S2000’s) But I was still keen to hear more about this new model.

A pre-production version set an impressive 7min 50.63sec lap of the Nurburgring Nordschleife which was a front-wheel drive record, bettering the likes of the Renaulsport Megane 275 Trophy R and Seat Leon Cupra Sub8 Ultimate.

The price of the new Civic Type R. is £29,995, but this buys you 306BHP of Japanese hot-hatch, front wheel drive, six speed manual gearbox, mechanical LSD, gorgeous gear change, clamping seats, revs to the skies like previous high performance cars by Honda, yes? No.

Unlike older models that hit the 9,000 rpm mark, 7,000rpm is the limit in this new turbocharged motor, speculation amongst enthusiasts believe this is due to the hot hatch power race now dictating no less than 300bhp and due to environmental regulations getting more strict, the natural-aspirated Type R engine had run its course.

Honda’s solution to meeting emission regulations was to combine VTEC and turbo charging – the new unit still uses the VTEC variable valve timing system.

The 2-litre, four-cylinder unit develops 306bhp at 6500rpm and 295lb ft of torque from 2500rpm.

Honda claims 0-62mph in 5.7 seconds and 167mph flat out, if you dare to give it a go on our UK roads.

If you do dare to try and hit the speed limit in the new Civic, then you’re not going to be able to be discreet about it or blend in, because the look of the new Civic is not understated, some might even describe the slats on the bonnet, futuristic looking low front splitter and rear wing that wouldn’t look out of place on the WRC, distasteful?