honda civic type r 101 8a26
Matt Brogan30 Jun 2017
NEWS

No automatic for Civic Type R

Honda says weight distribution behind decision for manual-only hot hatch

Honda’s latest Civic Type R will join other hot hatches including Ford’s Focus RS and the Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy R in being a manual-only proposition.

Honda said the decision to offer the Civic Type R with only a six-speed manual transmission was made to preserve the car’s sensitive weight distribution, countering initial advice that both manual and dual-clutch automatic transmissions would be offered.

“We produced just 6MT (six-speed manual transmission) only for Type R because the engine achieves 400Nm and 320PS,” explained Honda powertrain project leader, Yuji Matsumochi.

“The Type R being a lightweight front-wheel drive means there is a need for lightweight powertrain systems. So the engine has big power and relatively heavy weight, so the transmission needed to be lightweight.

“If we tried to have an automatic transmission (option) or DCT for over 400Nm, then the powertrain would be very heavy weight, which would mean additional front weight, and upset the weight balance.

“So we decided just to have the 6MT, and the 6MT is very fun to drive, and easy to drive. It’s easy to control, for sporty driving, and easy to shift up and down -- so easy and so smooth,” he concluded.

The all-new Civic Type R will otherwise be generously equipped. Honda Australia says the five-door hatch will be specified with all the safety and infotainment technology offered in other markets, including Honda’s SENSING electronic driver assistance technologies.

Included as part of the SENSING technology suite are Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision Mitigation Braking System, 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).

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.

There will be no proprietary satellite-navigation offered on Australian models when they arrive here later this year.

The latest Civic Type R promises to be Honda’s quickest yet, and even holds the front-wheel drive record at Germany’s famed Nurburgring Nordschleife.

Seven seconds quicker than the outgoing model, the direct-injected 2.0-litre VTEC TURBO-powered hatch cracked a 7:43.80 lap time around the 20.83km ‘Green Hell’, which is quicker than both Renault’s Megane RS 275 Trophy R (7:50.63) and Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport (7:49.21; sold here as the Golf GTI 40 Years edition).

Honda says the Civic Type R is the fastest-accelerating and quickest car in its class. The Civic Type R will hit 100km/h in 5.7sec (a full second slower than the all-wheel drive Focus RS) on its way to a top-whack of 272km/h.

Those numbers are also expected to apply to the Australian version, despite the fact its power output will be 7kW down on the 235kW/400Nm European version, at 228kW/400Nm, due to climate and fuel issues.

Visit motoring.com.au again soon for our review of the 2017 Honda Civic Type R.

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Written byMatt Brogan
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