Honda to start delivering Civic Type R
THE first batch of the 100 Honda Civic Type R cars earmarked for the Philippines has arrived.
Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) said all 100 units of the Type R, the high-performance variant of the Civic, were reserved by customers only two days after the company accepting orders for the car. HCPI announced the introduction of the Civic Type R at the Manila International Auto Show in March, then opened the car for reservations in July. The company said some examples of the Civic Type R will be displayed, starting in mid-October, at select dealerships before these are delivered to their owners.
The Civic Type R — the first Honda Type R sold in the Philippines — is powered by a turbo-charged, 2.0-liter VTEC engine that makes 306 hp at 6,500 rpm and 400 Nm at 2,500-4,500 rpm. 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.
Marking out 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.
HCPI said it expects to complete deliveries of the 100 Civic Type R cars in 2018.
Aston Martin, Red Bull form F1 team
ASTON MARTIN and Red Bull Racing have formed a Formula One team that will compete under the banner of Aston Martin Red Bull Racing starting 2018.
Aston Martin said its has “strengthened” its Innovation Partnership with Red Bull that began in 2016, and which has already produced the Valkyrie hypercar. The tie-up will also result in other future products, as well as the new Advanced Performance Centre that is set to open on the Red Bull Racing campus in Milton Keynes, England, later this year.
The car maker added it is considering supplying Red Bull Racing a Formula One engine in 2021.
Toyota plants trees
TOYOTA MOTOR PHILIPPINES (TMP) said it has conducted a series of tree-planting activities as part of its All Toyota Green Wave Project.
The car maker said the program encourages its affiliates worldwide to plant 11 million trees. In the Philippines, TMP said members of its operation recently participated in planting trees inside the 82-hectare Toyota Special Economic Zone, as well as on the grounds of Pulong Sta. Cruz Elementary School.
The company said it held similar activities at its 10-hectare adopted forest inside the University of the Philippines Los Baños Makiling Botanic Gardens.
