Honda Civic Type R priced from $50,990
Long-awaited fifth-generation Honda Civic Type R aims directly at Ford Focus RS, but will be detuned for AustraliaHonda Australia has lifted the lid on pricing for its single-specification Civic Type R hot hatch, which will retail from $50,990 (plus on-road costs) when it goes on sale this October.
That’s the same price as Ford’s giant-killing Focus RS all-wheel drive hot hatch, and the only option will be metallic paint, at $575.
The highly anticipated fifth-generation Civic Type R is already drawing a lot of attention Down Under with Honda Australia confirming 250 pre-orders for its high-tech hot hatch.
It says many of those are “early adopters and enthusiasts who’ve been waiting for the car”, and that more than 5000 expressions of interest have also been taken.
The figures indicate the latest Civic Type R could become the brand’s best-selling yet in Australia. The previous iteration found 2162 homes here between 2007 and 2012 -- 719 of those in the first year alone.
“We’ve already taken more than 250 customer orders and more than 5000 people have registered their interest, so it’s clear there’s a lot of pent-up customer demand for the return of the Civic Type R,” said Honda Australia director, Stephen Collins.
Detuned for Australia’s hot climate – and more widely available 95 RON premium unleaded petrol – the Civic Type R will output 228kW of power (-7kW) at 6500rpm and 400Nm of torque over 2500-4500rpm.
The 2.0-litre VTEC TURBO engine will be mated exclusively to a six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching function.
The chassis comprises three-mode adaptive dampers, model-specific spring, damper and bushing settings, new dual-axis front suspension with aluminium lower arms and steering knuckles, multi-link rear suspension.
The Civic Type R is steered by an adaptive dual-pinion electric system with variable gear ratio and the front-wheel drive hot hatch will also benefit from a helical limited-slip differential.
It is further enhanced with four-piston Brembo brakes, Berlina Black 20-inch alloy wheels and Honda’s SENSING range of electronic driver safety aids. All are standard equipment.
“It’s the fundamental strength of the all-new Honda Civic platform, which enables Type R to achieve such remarkable performance,” Collins continued.
“As a record-holder around the Nurburgring Nordschleife, it’s clearly the fastest, most dynamic Type R model ever sold in Australia. Enthusiasts across the country are going to absolutely love it.”
Included as part of the SENSING technology suite are Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System (AEB), Forward Collision Warning, Intelligent Speed Assistance, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist System, Road Departure Mitigation, Traffic Sign Recognition, and a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (in lieu of a spare wheel).
“We’ve also added the full Honda SENSING suite as standard which brings autonomous emergency braking capability, the convenience of adaptive cruise control, plus a whole lot more. And being a Honda, Type R introduces an innovative third exhaust pipe designed to cut noise to the cabin at cruise on the highway,” Collins confirmed.
Meanwhile, the car’s Technology Centre – Honda’s name for the Civic Type R’s infotainment array – includes an integrated wireless smartphone charging pad, and HDMI, USB and 12-volt connectors, 7.0-inch touch-screen for infotainment, dual-zone climate-control functions and reversing camera, plus Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
No proprietary satellite-navigation will be offered.
As noted by Collins, the latest Civic Type R is Honda’s quickest yet, and even holds the front-wheel drive record at Germany’s famed Nurburgring Nordschleife.
It’s seven seconds quicker than the outgoing model around the ‘Green Hell’, clocking a 7:43.80 lap of the 20.83km public road circuit, and promises a 0-100km/h time of 5.7sec and top speed of 272km/h.
“Type R is the ultimate expression of Honda putting the enthusiast at the centre of everything it does,” Collins added.
“Honda is renowned for pushing the boundaries of engineering and technology, so it’s great that Honda Australia can offer another cutting-edge performance car in Civic Type R, to sit alongside the pioneering NSX hybrid supercar.”
Visit motoring.com.au again soon for our review of the 2017 Honda Civic Type R.
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