Civic Type R Performance: King on the Road, Serf on the Track
Where Rivals Fear to Tread: Type R Performance is a High-Powered Manual Dream Come Alive with No Close Competitors.
Hola! Honda fans, buckle up because we’re heading overseas for this Civic Type R performance vid. Our pals at km77.com, based in sunny Spain, have been raving about the new Honda Civic Type R, and their host, Enrique Calle, got his hands on this beauty for a real thrashing. Spoiler: This pocket rocket packs some serious oomph but still needs a little homework before it aces its track test.
Type R: Unrivaled in Horsepower
Let’s talk power—329 horses of it, backed by 310 lb-ft of torque. This thing zooms from 0-100 km/h (that’s 0-62 mph for us Yankees) in 5.4 seconds and tops out at a nerve-racking 275 km/h!
The Type R owns the title of the most potent front-wheel-drive car you can get, even in Madrid. Calle wasn’t messing around when he pointed out that none of the competition even touches the Type R’s potential—most rivals cap out at 300 hp. Plus, they’re all rolling with 6 or 7-speed automatic transmissions. Want a manual? Your choices drop to the Ford Focus ST and the Hyundai i30 N—both falling short at 280 hp, as Calle points out.
The Track: Slalom & Moose Test
The Type R Calle tested was wearing Michelin Pilot Sport 4S shoes—size 265/30 R19, if you want to get specific. Calle put this beast through a dodge test, otherwise known as the Moose Test and a slalom.
In the slalom, we see a slight tire skid in turns and at takeoff, thanks to the brute force funneled to just two wheels. But slap it in sport mode, and that stiff suspension does wonders—Calle pretty much called it a slalom-smashing machine for a FWD’er.
The slalom ultimately proved what many of us already know: The Type R is in a class of its own as it proved to be in pretty elite company.
Unfortunately, the Moose Test wasn’t as pretty. Calle had to dial it back a bit, mentioning that the understeer forced him to slow down to complete the test successfully. And even though the tires seemed to perform better as they warmed up, the improvement was marginal.
Type R Performance: It’s a Love-Hate Relationship
So, what’s the final assessment? The car demands your full attention and a ton of tweaking to be driven optimally.
It’s like that high-maintenance friend you love but can’t entirely depend on in the most demanding situation. Yet, as most of us do, Calle admitted that he enjoyed this ride more than most others he’s driven recently. It’s a bomb on the road, but when it comes to track days, well, let’s say it could use a bit more work.
Don’t Go Moose-Dodging Just Yet
In a nutshell, while the 2023 Type R has its shortcomings on the track, it’s a monster on the road, with no real competition in its class. We can say it’s a star player but not yet the MVP of track day.
But hey, we’re Honda fans; we know the brand’s relentless pursuit of improvement means that track-day greatness just might be around the corner.
But until then, maybe don’t try dodging any moose.
P.S. Be sure to check out the vid, even if you don’t speak Spanish. If you can read, you’ll be fine, and catching the performance with your own eyes is well worth it.
Images: km77