THE DATE IS SET FOR THE LATEST HONDA ARRIVAL
10 February 2007 - Honda

NEW HONDA CIVIC TYPE R – BETTER TO LIVE WITH

From the 1 March 2007 the latest generation of Honda Civic Type R models, the R and R GT, hit the streets of Britain in time for the new 07 registration plate peak sales month. Prices are £17,600 and £18,600 respectively.

According to Honda’s pre–launch PR material over 500 units have already been ordered, around 10 per cent of Honda’s UK annual sales target for the Swindon built ‘flyer’. Of these initial orders 45% are from previous Type R owners.

The last generation Civic Type R was an out and out ‘point and squirt’ road racer and 35,000 were sold in its five-year life cycle, much higher than the 1,500 units a year Honda UK expected to sell. The Type R became a legend in the ‘hot hatch’ market sector and at the time a benchmark model for other manufacturers to follow.

When the all-new radically styled Honda Civic range of three and five door hatchbacks was launched a year ago, all the media questions were ‘when will the new Type R be along’? The same happened again more recently when the three door ‘Sports’ Civic Type S went on sale with potential customers and the motoring press all eager to see and try the ‘Racing’ Type R, such is the reputation of past Honda ‘hot hatchbacks’.

Honda was very aware that the ‘hot hatch market’ has changed considerably over the last few years. The market has grown up and to introduce another ‘point and squirt’, stripped-out lightweight Civic would not have the broad appeal needed for a new Type R to become a real sales and financial success. Mass produced cars these days, even high performance ones, have to be better equipped, safer with better handling and more refinement to appeal to a more sophisticated and well off buying audience.

Feedback to Honda from Type R enthusiasts said they wanted a car that was ‘better to live with’ and ‘not so raw, not so point and squirt’ and ‘a car that could be used everyday, not just for the occasional thrash’.

Honda’s response to this feedback was an engineering brief that for the new Type R more horsepower was not the answer – it was how to deliver the power with more refinement and to build a better equipped car.

Whilst the size of the C-sector in the UK’s new car market is falling as customers downsize to the new generation ‘superminis’, ‘hot hatch’ sales within the sector are growing according to Honda. This week Honda said they expected to sell between five and six thousand Type Rs per year in the UK. Because it is built in Britain they can build more if demand dictates it and traditionally the UK is the largest market in Europe for the Type R.

This year Honda expects to sell over 36,000 Civics of all types in the UK, around one third of those sales will be for the sporty Type S and Type R three door models. Since the launch a year ago of the aggressively styled Civic, the average age of traditional owners has dropped by 10 years and the average now stands at 49 years of age. Honda had planned to sell 25,000 new Civics in the first year of UK sales, in fact they achieved 35,000 registrations.

The profile of the Type R customer say Honda is in the 25 to 40 age group with an income of £40k plus, predominately male with a management or professional occupation, double or single income with no children, they enjoy driving, are status brand conscious and want a combination sporting car that offers style, comfort and performance.

Honda forecasts that 20% customers will opt for the Type R, 60% of customers will order the Type R GT with a further 20% will take the GT variant with the extra cost satellite navigation and Bluetooth handsfree telephone system which will push the top price of a fully specced model to more than £20,375. Optional larger 19-inch alloy wheels, a space saver spare wheel instead of the standard fit tyre repair kit, an improved CD changer, iPod adaptor and rear parking sensors will push the final price even higher.

Wearing the famous ‘Red H’ badge plus Type R and R GT badging sets this model apart from other sporty looking Civic three door models with 18-inch alloy wheels completing the understated exterior ‘premium’ look. The rear spoiler has not changed and still obliterates the driver’s rear view out of the car, not good if Mr Plod is on your tail.

Inside the Type R the standard sporty theme is enhanced with an aluminium foot rest, drilled aluminium sports pedals, Type R sill garnishes alloy gear knob with red stitched leather boot, leather multi-function steering wheel and sports seats. The car has vehicle stability assist, dual front and side airbags and a CAT 1 alarm system. Added specification for the Type R GT includes, dual curtain airbags, cruise control, power folding door mirrors, automatic headlights, front fog lights, dual zone climate control, rain sensing wipers. Both models have a facia which house a mass of controls, all well placed but you need time to get used to their positioning and complexity. All the other usual Civic three-door views apply, cramped rear seats and poor rear and rear side visibility. There is a good sized boot and split folding rear seats so it is a versatile vehicle and generally it feels well built and serviceable but not of premium quality.

The core to this car is the engine and transmission. This latest Civic Type R is now up against still opposition, the market has moved on and the Ford Focus ST2, Vauxhall Astra VXR and Volkswagen Golf GTi plus others offer as much if not more in the way of power. They all certainly offer more in the way or engine torque than the Type R that has a lowly 142 lb ft at 5,600rpm. Honda has widened the torque band it is true and 90% of the ‘grunt’ is available from around 2,500rpm but it is still only 142 lb ft when most of the competitors offer well over 200 lb ft. The engine is still a gem, free and high revving to over 8,000rpm, willing and eager with a terrific howl under acceleration but to get the best out of it you need to keep the engine revving with liberal use of the six-speed manual transmission. Thankfully the gearchange is silky smooth and precise. Without enough torque the brilliant engine struggles with the increased weight of the new generation Civic, all weight added by the improvements in vehicle refinement, specification and safety requirements, exactly the features previous Civic Type R owners asked for.

At slower speeds and in heavy traffic, the new Type R scores heavily over its predecessor. It is more refined and more responsive and in truth those are the conditions we encounter more and more in today’s motoring conditions. On the motorway I would assume the Type R would be tiring to drive or travel in on a long journey because of the noise intrusion and very firm suspension.

The steering is a big improvement over the old car and indeed over the other new Civic models. It does not offer loads of ‘feel’ but it is accurate, quick in response and predictable. The braking is excellent with good ‘feedback’. The handling again is predictable with plenty of grip but poorer road surfaces unsettle the handling and do nothing to help the very firm ride. The rear torsion beam axle is not as sophisticated or as efficient as a more costly independent rear system and lets the car down for overall balanced handling control.

There is no doubt that this generation of Honda Civic Type R as an overall package is much better to live with, it has grown up, it is more sophisticated and Honda will be pleased because those characteristics will be appreciated by a wider buying audience. As a ‘Racing’ Type R it misses out on responsiveness due to the low level of torque and Honda might loose one or two boy or girl racers who want the old ‘point and squirt’ habits, but the car has grown up in line with the real-life requirements of the majority of ‘hot-hatch’ drivers.

MILESTONES. Honda Civic Type R GT. Price £18,600, as tested £20 375. Engine. 2.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol, DOHC, i-VTEC variable valve timing, 201PS (198bhp) at 7,800rpm, 142lb ft of torque at 5,600rpm. Transmission: front wheel drive with a six-speed close ratio gearbox. Performance: 146mph, 0-62mph 6.6 seconds, 40.4mpg (31.9mpg actual), CO2 215g/km. VED: Band F £190. Insurance group: 17E.
For: Overall a more sophisticated package than the previous Type Rs, fantastic free revving engine, slick transmission, well priced over rivals.
Against: Lack of engine torque means lots of gear changing, torsion beam rear suspension not sophisticated enough to cope with the extra performance, rear spoiler and rear/side body shape limits visibility.

Miles Better News Agency

www.honda-eu.com

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