2007 Honda Civic Type R ’superhatch’ unveiled

September13

2007-honda-civic-type-r-hatchback.jpg

Honda today unveiled the 2007 Civic Type R, a high-performance version of the Civic hatchback for the European and Asian markets. Referred to by Honda as a “superhatch,” the new Type R continues to be powered by the naturally-aspirated, high-revving 2.0-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine but the unit has been significantly reworked to improve responsiveness using a new balancer shaft and drive-by-wire throttle control. VTEC variable valve timing and VTC variable inlet camshaft technology continue to underpin the engine structure. Further development of the Type R unit means more useable torque, as the switch to high-lift, long duration valve timing (the cam change) now takes place at a lower 5,200rpm, and continues all the way to 8,000rpm. Max output is now 201 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, compared to 200 horsepower at 7,400 rpm. Acceleration to 62 mph takes 6.6 seconds — identical to the previous car.

Like the Type S, its rear track is 20mm wider than that of the 5-door model, but otherwise damper, bush and spring characteristics are all unique to Type R.

Broad 225/40 ZR18 tyres provide added grip, while a 15mm reduction in ride height further reduces body roll. Firmer steering, a quicker ratio and stiffer steering box mountings all provide pin-sharp responses to steering wheel input, while the fuel tank’s central location beneath the cabin floor helps to lower the centre of gravity and reduces the body’s inertia moment.

Extra strengthening has been introduced into the floor cross member just ahead of the central fuel tank, around the upper front suspension mountings, while the lower cross member (just ahead of the engine bay) provides greater rigidity. The overall result is a more predictable chassis, with levels of responsiveness and stability that are some of the best in class. At the same time, the damper settings deliver enhanced ride comfort, so the Type R is easier to use in all conditions and on all surfaces.




 


39 Comments

  1. One extra horsepower and exactly the same accelleration time 0-60.

    What is so super about this superhatch?

    Stick the RDX motor in there, that would be a superhatch. Mazda did it. Honda will have to as well after the Mazaspeed3 gets on the cover of every mag when it debuts.

    Mazdaspeed3, that is a Superhatch. Honda are you listening?

    Comment by Renton, posted on September13 at 5:18 pm
  2. Comment by Renton, posted on September13 at 5:20 pm
  3. Im sure it handles much better etc, and it looks better, but with an RDX motor that would be amazing and worth the extra money.

    Comment by ehhh?, posted on September13 at 5:25 pm
  4. Interior is sharp? It would pain Captain James T. Kirk to pilot this thing. Techy-tacky land.

    Comment by Xymox, posted on September13 at 5:32 pm
  5. The exteior looks a bit silly and the interior is over the top. Is tasteful too much to ask from Honda?

    Comment by wenge, posted on September13 at 5:38 pm
  6. Very nice indeed. Great looks inside and out….especially inside. I’m sure down the road they will add more oomph. You can’t go all out right away as you have to make later models appealing. EVERYONE does this.

    Comment by joseph, posted on September13 at 5:39 pm
  7. I was hoping the cam shift would happen a lot lower than the outgoing model, as 5200rpm is stil l a long way to go to get the peak output. Having said that, the old car made revs a lot of fun, so this one should be no different. It’ll be interesting so see how different the ride quality is this time around - the old one was pretty harsh, and even the standard new civics are on the firm side.

    Oh, and I hope they offer it in the pearly white & smoked gold alloys combo that the showcar had :)

    Comment by interphase, posted on September13 at 5:43 pm
  8. That’s the RSX Type-S engine. Hurray it’s still alive.

    Comment by Don, posted on September13 at 5:57 pm
  9. Don - it’s actually more like the new Civic Si engine. The RSX had a K20A, this is the K20Z.

    Comment by pirelli, posted on September13 at 6:41 pm
  10. That shifter boot cover thingy looks kind of odd, and dust/dirt may make its way into the folds. And I’m not a huge fan of red - but a silver version with a polished steel interior would be nice.

    Comment by InvisibleEcho, posted on September13 at 6:50 pm
  11. Unce unce unce, that’s what I think when I look at this car…

    someone should tell Honda designers that techno is dead…

    P.S. i’m a honda fan

    Comment by sampson, posted on September13 at 7:00 pm
  12. That interior looks exactly like one of those 1980’s video games you put quarters in at the arcade. And 1 more horsepower?…look out BMW, generation Y is going to go pókemad over this!

    Comment by Madcapp, posted on September13 at 7:12 pm
  13. This is a tight looking car, I approve

    Comment by LamborghiniZ, posted on September13 at 7:50 pm
  14. Because Honda is not bringing these stateside ……
    ………………. Honda can blow me.
    .
    .
    I want one.
    .

    Comment by Ricardo Head, posted on September13 at 7:58 pm
  15. Interior is very 1980s futuristic, as well as the exterior. Regardless, Honda Type-Rs are always extremely popular, excluding the last batch in America.

    Comment by Webran61, posted on September13 at 7:58 pm
  16. It’s already out in Europe. I was there for 6 months and trust me, as weird as I think it looks, it looks worse in person.

    Comment by Phileas Fogg, posted on September13 at 8:06 pm
  17. [...] Article Link [...]

  18. This looks AWESOME.

    Comment by oodLes, posted on September13 at 8:21 pm
  19. It’s not all that, I’ve seen better.

    Comment by 1c3d0g, posted on September13 at 8:43 pm
  20. Needs to be in the US.

    Comment by Joey D, posted on September13 at 8:44 pm
  21. I love the bloody H. Looks like a vampire’s car.
    This should be featured in Blade IV, or another Underworld movie.

    Comment by John Landers, posted on September13 at 10:48 pm
  22. Honda has talked about a Civic Type RR. perhaps the RDX turbo can go into that?

    I’d still like to know how much it weighs. 2700lbs would be respectable if one is going to call this car “super”

    Comment by Hyperion, posted on September14 at 12:48 am
  23. [...] [via LeftlaneNews] [...]

  24. [...] Honda today unveiled the 2007 Civic Type R, a high-performance version of the Civic hatchback for the European and Asian markets. Referred to by Honda as a “superhatch,” the new Type R continues to be powered by the naturally-aspirated, high-revving 2.0-litre DOHC i-VTEC engine but the unit has been significantly reworked to improve responsiveness using a new balancer shaft and drive-by-wire throttle control. VTEC variable valve timing and VTC variable inlet camshaft technology continue to underpin the engine structure. Further development of the Type R unit means more useable torque, as the switch to high-lift, long duration valve timing (the cam change) now takes place at a lower 5,200rpm, and continues all the way to 8,000rpm. Max output is now 201 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, compared to 200 horsepower at 7,400 rpm. Acceleration to 62 mph takes 6.6 seconds — identical to the previous car. More info on Leftlanenews [...]

  25. [...] Vía: LeftLaneNews Archivado en: Lanzamientos, Compactos, Deportivos, Coupés, Honda [...]

  26. Hawkish. Polarizing. These are terms that have been missing at Honda for the past few years.

    Tip of the Hat, Honda.

    Comment by novicius, posted on September14 at 9:08 am
  27. Interior looks great…outside not so fond of. Bring that interior to the US Civics and I’d be onboard. Performance #s don’t sound so “super” to me, but I’d imagine Honda has this thing handling on rails similar to our SI, S2k, old Integra/RSX Type-S/R.

    Comment by snork, posted on September14 at 9:12 am
  28. i would give a testicle for that car… seriously i would. curse you honda for not bringing it to NA

    CURSE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Comment by pezones, posted on September14 at 9:25 am
  29. Looks like a bad nightmare of Accord Euro meets Meagan Hatch

    Comment by Aston_, posted on September14 at 10:01 am
  30. The red badge steering wheel is over the top but other wise it’s awesome.

    Comment by Saud, posted on September14 at 12:21 pm
  31. hey pezones, you should, because that car has none.

    Comment by doublearon21, posted on September14 at 12:43 pm
  32. The interior is cool looking, but the exterior is fugly.

    Comment by Jon Luc, posted on September14 at 1:20 pm
  33. ewww looks like a mini van

    Comment by bacalao, posted on September14 at 3:12 pm
  34. wow look at that tach…its so cool, its like what is on the mercedes benz. normally i would love to get this, but i really want more torque…i want permanent vtec!

    Comment by gsh, posted on September14 at 4:00 pm
  35. If Honda wants to come back and compete with Nissan or Toyota..
    They need to bring more variety of new vehicles..
    ARE YOU LISTENING HONDA OF AMERICA?

    Comment by Dakine, posted on September14 at 6:22 pm
  36. That engine bay looks a tad confined. The hatch looks really ugly.

    Comment by V1ltR, posted on September14 at 8:31 pm
  37. pezones — it is a Civic. Rethink what you would give up for it.

    Comment by Renton, posted on September14 at 10:27 pm
  38. They could have made the engine beefier, i think they’ve maxed out the performance for a 2.0L hatch - time to move on to 2.5L =)

    Comment by Aston_, posted on September15 at 8:38 am
  39. At one time, Honda enginers stated that they wanted to get to 260 horsepower from a 1.8 liter engine in their production cars. The same ratio applied to a 2.0L (unless the laws of physics intervene) would mean a really impressive Civic Type R should have a 280HP 2.0L engine :)

    I don’t see them actually doing this, of course. Honda talks a lot and delivers very little. They also don’t listen to their enthusiast market.

    Let’s see a 2.5-2.6L 8000 rpm four cylinder engine churning out 280 horsepower in a 2700lb Civic hatch.

    THAT’S super. A completely factory legal front drive road car with a power to weight ratio under 10.

    Comment by Hyperion, posted on September16 at 6:49 pm

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