2006 Honda Civic Type R Concept

Original name: ホンダシビックタイプ R コンセプト

Civic Type R Concept: dynamic styling, exciting performance

With a level of success way beyond Honda’s initial expectations, the Civic Type R which ended production last year proved a smash hit among those seeking the thrills of a sporty, high performance car, yet still delivering a strong dose of practicality, and all at an affordable price.

The bold styling and 200 PS DOHC i-VTEC engine of the Civic Type R Concept provides a clear indication of how the final production car will appear; driving enthusiasts are unlikely to be disappointed.

THE CIVIC TYPE R CONCEPT

The practical nature of the current Civic Type R made it a car you could live with in everyday driving, yet one that just as equally delivers instant performance, plus fun handling, on demand. That dual personality thrilled over 35,000 customers, far exceeding initial sales forecasts during its relatively short production run.

Last year Honda announced it is to build a successor, and while the previous model is a tough act to follow, the credentials of the Civic Type R Concept which makes its world debut at Geneva, suggests that the new car will attract a whole new wave of enthusiasts.

Bold and emotional styling is teamed up with a development of the previous Type R’s race-proven, high-revving pedigree DOHC i-VTEC engine. 200 PS delivered from a capacity of 2.0 litres without resorting to a turbocharger defined the character of the old model and will equally define the character of its spiritual successor. The promise then is of a performance hatchback that will be as exciting to drive as it will be to look at when it goes on sale at the beginning of 2007.

A new 3-door version of the Civic, which shares DNA with this Type R Concept model, will go on sale in Europe later this year. It makes use of many of the styling themes that have brought such wide praise for the recently introduced Civic 5-door.

Civic Type R and the rest of the Civic 3-door range, will be exclusively built alongside the Civic 5-door range at the Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) plant in Swindon.

SOURCE: Honda

The Civic Type-R Concept Debuts at Geneva

When Honda unveils a new sports concept there is always a sense of anticipation and the new Civic Type R is no exception. To please all its fans, Honda engineers have designed a 'superhatch' to deliver blistering performance from the same power output as the previous incarnation (200 bhp). The aggressive, lower and wider-looking body encases a new 2.0 liter engine and the model, built in Britain, will go on sale in early 2007 priced around £18,000. Expect to see more 3 door versions at the London Motor Show in July.

What is a Type R?

The Type R name was introduced by Honda Motorcycles, where the letter R was added to conventional bike names to indicate a performance derivative. For example, the CB – a standard 4-cylinder across-the-frame bike – became the CB-R, a sporting model. One of the earliest Type R cars was the Honda NSX-R, a stripped-down, lightweight version of the NSX supercar. This was developed in response to claims the NSX did not have enough power to compete with rival cars from Porsche and Ferrari. The key factor in this argument – and a point proved by the NSX-R – was the importance of the power to weight ratio.

Type R Time-line

February 1992: NSX-R introduced. Weight is reduced by 265 lbs. Recaro seats and MOMO steering wheel fitted. Stiffer suspension adopted. Production limited to 1995 units. September 1995: Honda announces the launch of the DC2 Integra Type-R. The Integra Type-R is powered by the B18C 1.8-litre DOHC VTEC engine, specifically developed for the Integra Type-R, with 200 bhp at 8,000 rpm. Standard equipment includes a helical LSD, sports suspension, a front lip spoiler, a rear spoiler, alloy wheels, a leather wrapped MOMO steering wheel, Recaro seats, and a titanium shift knob.

August 1997: The EK9 Civic Type-R is launched in Japan. It is powered by an exclusively-developed 1.6-liter DOHC VTEC B16B engine that makes 185 bhp at 8,200 rpm. The lightweight B16B engine features a new valve system allowing higher engine speeds, reduced engine friction, improved breathing, and increased compression ratio. Main features of handling include increased body rigidity, reduced weight, sports suspension, torque-sensitive helical LSD, sports-tuned ABS, and Bridgestone Potenza RE010 tires.

Jan 1998: The Accord Type-R goes on sale in the UK, with a tweaked version of the H22A engine on board. In addition, the Accord Type-R boasts a limited-slip-diff, Recaro seats and a stiffer chassis.

July 2001: An updated version of the Integra Type-R (DC5) is launched for sale in Japan and USA. The special color of Championship White celebrates Honda’s first victory in F1. The DC5 Integra Type-R is powered by the K20A 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC engine with 220 bhp and a new 6-speed manual gearbox. The suspension adopts clever front suspension and reactive-link double wishbone rear suspension. The Integra Type-R is also equipped with Recaro front seats, a leather wrapped MOMO steering wheel, aluminum pedals, aluminum shift knob, exclusive aero parts and Brembo front brakes.

October 2001: A Type-R version of the 7th generation Civic is announced. It is built at Honda in the UK Manufacturing in Swindon, Wiltshire. The CTR – as it becomes known by enthusiasts – is powered by a 2.0-liter i-VTEC engine that produces 200 bhp. The Civic Type-R goes on to sell over 35,000 units and pick up numerous Hot Hatch of the Year awards.

February 2006: An all-new Civic Type R, based on a three-door version of the 2006 Civic is unveiled at Geneva Motor Show.

SOURCE: Honda