Many automotive enthusiasts today lament Honda for losing its performance charm, but the 2016 Civic Type R aims to change that.
The Japanese automaker will take to this week’s Paris Motor Show with a new iteration of the Civic Type R concept. Save for the bright blue paintwork and red graphics, the Type R II Concept is identical to the one we saw earlier this year in Geneva.
That means the turbocharged 2.0-litre i-VTEC four-cylinder remains under the hood, good for ‘over’ 280 horsepower and 290 lb.-ft. of torque, channeled to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.
This time around, however, Honda says the Civic Type R II Concept will be “unrivalled against” previous Type R cars in Honda’s lineup, including the Accord, Civic, Integra and even the mighty NSX. Suehiro Hasshi, the Civic Type R’s chief engineer, says the car will include a handful of engineering tweaks and enhancements that will make it live up to the performance promises of Honda’s Type R badge.
2016 Honda Civic Type R II Concept
Handout,
Chief among those tweaks and enhancements is an +R button, which sharpens nearly every one of the Civic Type R’s characteristics, including throttle response and torque mapping, steering response and suspension dampening settings.
“In default standard mode, the Civic Type R is exceptionally agile, an everyday sports car with enjoyable and fluid acceleration,” Hasshi said. “The +R button brings out a more dynamic and athletic car for the driver to set pulses racing. The difference in character is immense. The +R mode is extreme; the car is ideal for track use and will be appreciated by the genuine sports-driving enthusiast.”
Keep an eye on Driving for the latest on the Paris Motor Show, which kicks off this Thursday.
