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Rated R: The Civic Type R Gets Official

(Credit: © Honda )

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Rated R: The Civic Type R Gets Official

Finally, we get our first official look at the production Civic Type R after seemingly ages of staring at a prototype and concepts. And it’s just as sexy as I had hoped.

At the Geneva Auto Show, the Civic Type R finally pulled on its production suit. Thankfully, the production model is just as awesome (maybe a little more) as the prototype. Honestly, I am staring at the new images and comparing them to the prototype, and I can spot nearly no changes – even the wild spoiler remains. In fact, the only clear difference – other than some polishing of lines and such – is the third, smaller exhaust exit in the center of the rear bumper. Honda didn’t get into whether that actually is an exhaust exit, but it sure looks like one to me.

2018 Honda Civic Type R (Credit: © Honda )

Inside, the wild-styled Civic Type R continues to wow. It boasts heavily bolstered front seats decked out in red, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift boot, an aluminum shifter knob, aluminum sport pedals, red Type R gauges, a serialized Type R center console plate, a 7-inch Display Audio System with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 540-watt, 12-speaker audio system. All this comes standard in the Civic Type R’s only trim level: Touring.

The under-hood bits are what everyone has been waiting on, and the Civic Type R disappoints just a bit. To remain competitive with the likes of the 350-horspower Focus RS, most expected the Civic Type R’s 2.0-liter turbocharged engine to boast around 330-340 horsepower. Instead, its final ratings are 306 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. That puts it just north of the 292-horsepower Golf R and well south of the Focus RS.

The only transmission will be a six-speed manual unit. Honda will pair the engine and transmission via a 25-percent-lighter flywheel.

2018 Honda Civic Type R (Credit: © Honda )

Handling is taken care of by an exclusive suspension system with three-chamber dampers, unique springs, and uprated bushing settings. A set of 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels match up with 245/30R20 Continental ContiSportContact 6 performance tires to hold the Type R to the road. Hiding behind the wheels are Brembo four-pot calipers up front with 13.8-inch cross-drilled rotors, while the rear uses 12-inch rotors.

Finally, to appease all driving styles and conditions, the Civic Type R will have three driving modes: Comfort, Sport, and +R. These settings will adjust the adaptive steering, throttle response, rev-matching, stability control, and the adaptive dampers for the conditions and the driver’s intentions.

While the details Honda revealed are thorough, we still must wait until the April 12 at the New York Auto Show to learn more at its U.S. debut. Stay tuned for updates.

Honda expects the 2018 Civic Type R to hit showrooms this spring in the mid-$30k range.

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