The Honda Civic Type R, more specifically the Limited Edition model revealed recently, is out for blood. Not pleased with Renault stomping on their Front-wheel Drive (FWD) territory, Honda recently took the FK8 Type R around the Suzuka circuit in Japan, and emerged with outstanding results and an incredible video.
In the hands of Super GT driver, Takuya Isawa, the limited edition cracked the record set in November last year by the Renault Megane Trophy-R by a full second – en route to becoming the fastest FWD around Suzuka.
That’s mighty impressive considering there were no performance upgrades in the limited edition model with only 1,000 units available. Instead what Honda did was lighten it by almost 50 kg. Honda achieved that by removing the rear wipers, the tonneau cover and rear heater ducts.
Removing the sound dampening materials alone in the Civic Type R Limited Edition reduced more than 12kg of the car’s overall weight. The limited edition Type R not only comes with the new Phoenix Yellow paint job but also lightweight forged aluminium BBS wheels.
As mentioned earlier, performance figures have remained unchanged. The FK8’s 2.0-litre turbcharged VTEC engine makes 320 hp and 400Nm. The lighter and faster Civic Type R now also comes with the Honda Sensing driver assistance system.
Next up, Nurburging? It appears so as the current “Fastest Front-wheel Drive (FWD) record” is also held by the Trophy-R.
GALLERY
