Thanks to careful tuning, this car kicks out a tyre-burning 260bhp. It's the same basic i-VTEC 2.0-litre unit, but Honda has reduced friction on the internals and redesigned the camshafts. However, the greatest power gains have come from electronic improvements made using the ECU to operate the VTEC system.
Now, the engine doesn't go into fuel-sipping mode at lower revs, improving throttle response as a result. Meanwhile, the VTEC set-up cuts in at 5,100rpm instead of 5,400rpm. So rather than the perceptible increase in power you get when VTEC is unleashed on the standard model, the R-R's engine feels stronger throughout the rev range thanks to a 30 per cent hike in torque. Combining a compliant ride with taut handling is one of the standard hot Civic's greatest attributes. And although this car's suspension has been revised to give it more focused handling, it still rides bumps surprisingly well.
Probably the biggest change is to the steering. It has been made even more responsive, so the smallest input to the Alcantara-clad wheel has an immediate impact on the vehicle's position on the road. However, you do have to put your faith in the system because it's lacking in feedback, particularly at low speeds. Still, the car's handling remains nimble and sure-footed.
Another area that doesn't fall short on the standard model is the gear-change. Yet while the original is a manual, this car gets a six-speed sequential unit. You use the clutch to start off, and then simply pull the lever back to shift up and push it forwards to go down through the box.
Changes are made in only 80 milliseconds, which gives a brutal edge to the Type R-R, particularly as the steering wheel writhes with every upshift. Considering how much extra power is going through the front wheels, traction is remarkable. You'd expect to spend a lot of time sitting in a cloud of expensive tyre smoke, but engineers have been careful to tune the suspension so that does not happen. Instead, the car gets on with the job of entertaining its driver with even more purpose than the standard car.
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