First 100 Civic Type Rs now available in Honda Cars showrooms

UNVEILED in March at the Manila International Auto Show, the first batch of the new Honda Civic Type R is now in showrooms.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) said Honda dealerships are now accepting reservations for the Civic Type R, with deliveries set to begin in September. Only 100 examples of the model will be available this year, each selling for P2.980 million. Two color choices are offered — Championship White and Rallye Red.

Officially sold in the Philippines for the first time, the Civic Type R is also marking its 25^th anniversary this year. HCPI explained the Type R badge has identified the “highest performance version of a respective model.” The company added Type R variants are “racing-inspired road cars” representing the concept of “minimizing weight while maximizing power, responsiveness, dynamic stability and braking performance.”

The fifth-generation Civic Type R is powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged VTEC engine that makes 306hp at 6,500rpm and 400Nm at 2,500-4,500rpm. The engine is mated to a six-speed manual transmission (equipped with a rev match control system that can be switched on or off), which sends power to the front wheels through a limited-slip differential.

HCPI noted the Civic Type R has bespoke settings for its chassis, suspension and steering. It is fitted with Honda’s four-wheel Adaptive Damper System that adjusts itself to different driving conditions. Front brakes are ventilated, cross-drilled 350-millimeter discs with Brembo four-piston calipers. The variable-ratio electric power-assisted steering also adjusts its responses according to the driving mode selected — +R, Sport, and Comfort.

Readily identifying the Civic Type R are its special grille, a Type R spoiler, vortex generators at the trailing edge of the roof line, a carbon-fiber effect on the front and rear bumpers (as well as on the side skirts) and red accents. Filling the car’s enlarged wheel arches are 20-inch Berlina Black alloys that are wrapped in 245/30 R20 tires.

The car’s cabin is just as distinctive with its suede-like red and black fabric trim covering the bucket seats, a steering wheel with red leather inserts and hexagonal stitching, and carbon-fiber inlay surrounded by a red pinstripe on the dashboard. An exclusive Type R serial number plate (unique to every car) stamped near the gearshift lever and a titanium Type R shift knob polish the car’s interior further.

Meanwhile, the seven-inch, full-color Type R instrument cluster with red illumination includes virtual gauges and readouts for the selected driving mode and gear, turbo boost pressure, throttle/brake input, g-force and lap time recorder.