Honda Expands Civic Type R Line-Up With Two Newcomers – Sport Line And Limited Edition
Honda is expanding its Civic Type R range with the addition of two new variants, Limited Edition and Sport Line. Building on the dynamic performance capabilities of the standard Type R GT, the new models each offer a different style and performance proposition, further broadening the appeal of Honda’s award-winning hatchback.
With the Civic Type R Limited Edition, Honda is unleashing the most extreme version of its renowned high-performance car. Built as the purest expression of Type R to date, the Limited Edition features new lightweight components, a stripped-back interior, enhanced driving dynamics and stand-out styling.
2020 Civic Type R range
All models in the newly expanded 2020 Honda Civic Type R line-up, including the existing Type R GT, receive a number of styling enhancements. The front bumper is revised with a smoother design, while the lower fog light surrounds feature a new symmetrical design incorporating smooth surfaces and sleek styling blades. Redesigned full LED headlight clusters and daytime running lights complete the cleaner styling direction that will feature across the Civic range.
A new larger air intake and thinner grille beam deliver a 13 per cent larger opening. Along with an updated radiator core, these improvements deliver a decrease in coolant temperature of up to 10 degrees (Honda internal testing) in high-demand situations, such as on track.
In a testament to Type R engineers’ attention to detail, a small reduction in front downforce resulting from the new larger grille opening was countered by a redesigned front under-bumper air dam, which was made slightly deeper and modified to include new ribbed sections on each end to deflect air back onto the spoiler.
The suspension for the 2020 Civic Type R has also been updated for more responsive and sharper handling. The Adaptive Damper System’s control software now evaluates road conditions faster, resulting in improved damper reactions for both better handling response and ride quality.
The rear bushings for the lower B-arms have been stiffened for an 8 percent improvement in lateral loads, resulting in better toe-in characteristics when cornering. In front, updated compliance bushings and new lower-friction ball joints result in sharper steering feel for better control.
For improved brake performance, the updated Civic Type R features an upgraded braking system, with two-piece floating front brake discs and new brake pads. The enhancements improve thermal efficiency to reduce brake fade, increasing the car’s capabilities during high intensity driving for optimised on-track performance.
The brake pedal also now benefits from a more immediate feel with roughly 15mm less space before the brakes engage. In addition, the new front brake system reduces total unsprung weight by approximately 2.5kg to aid handling response.
Inside the vehicle, Honda has enhanced the usability of the infotainment and climate controls for all Civic models by adding physical buttons and dials. The addition of a new Alcantara®-wrapped steering wheel improves grip, whilst a new tear drop style gear knob, similar to previous Type R models, has been introduced and includes a 90g internal counterweight to help improve shift feel and accuracy.
Also new for the 2020 model year is the addition of Active Sound Control (ASC) which features individual settings for Type R’s Sport, +R and Comfort driving modes. It works through the audio system’s speakers to enhance the engine sound during aggressive driving in Sport and +R modes and refines it in Comfort mode during acceleration.
The 2020 Civic Type R GT will be available in Germany from Spring, with prices starting from €41,990.
Introducing Honda LogR
Debuting for the first time in any Honda is a new performance datalogger, exclusive to Type R. Known as Honda LogR, the new system combines the Type R’s onboard computer and sensors with a smartphone app to help drivers monitor and record a variety of performance parameters.
It also helps improve their driving skills both on and off the track through the use of a driving-smoothness algorithm. With access to the Type R’s onboard computer, Honda LogR can deliver much more detail than third-party performance logging apps.
Honda LogR features three main functions: a Performance Monitor, a Log Mode, and Auto Score Mode. The Performance Monitor provides vehicle information to the driver on the Display Audio screen while the app is functioning.
Log Mode records lap times on the track, allowing drivers to improve their driving skills on track. The Auto Score function encourages smooth day-to-day driving by monitoring braking, acceleration, steering and straight line driving, and generating a score based on the smoothness algorithm.
While driving, all interaction with Honda LogR is through the Display Audio screen. Log Mode and Auto Score both offer more in-depth analysis through smartphone including previous drives, performance traces and replays using Google maps, and detailed vehicle information.
Performance Monitor
When connected to the app-equipped smartphone, the Type R’s centre screen displays a Performance Monitor, which allows the driver to see vehicle functions in real time, including gear position, coolant and oil temperatures, oil and atmospheric pressures and engine intake air temperatures.
Drivers can also choose between a “G-Meter” view that indicates acceleration, braking, and cornering on a “bowl” graph, or a “3D” view that provides a bird’s-eye visual of the car’s cornering, braking, and acceleration behavior. Additionally, the Display Audio screen shows the current drive mode (Comfort, Sport or +R).
Log Mode
Log Mode is designed to help drivers achieve the best possible lap times on the track. The program uses GPS to monitor and map the vehicle’s location and the car’s internal sensors to gather data on acceleration, braking, cornering G, and other parameters. The app encourages smooth, controlled driving through the use of a color-coded trace of each lap.
The goal is to encourage smooth inputs to the clutch, gear shift, steering, brakes and accelerator to keeping the car balanced, and thus improve overall driving skills, not just the skills required for a particular track. Users can save their lap times to compare their improvement over time.
Auto Score
The Auto Score function operates whenever the Honda LogR app is in use, monitoring the driver’s behavior over time by tracking inputs for acceleration, deceleration, turning, and straight-line driving and generating a score for each; it also generates a combination score of those four parameters.
The score is generated against the same expert driver baseline that is built into the app and used in the Log Mode function. However, the Auto Score encourages smoothness of inputs to help improve routine daily driving, rather than seeking faster lap times. Similar to the Log Mode, Auto Score also keeps a historical record that ties in with the GPS function to show driving improvement over time.
Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition
Developed with track performance as its core focus, the new Civic Type R Limited Edition has been designed and engineered to be the most dynamic front wheel drive hatchback available. With new lightweight components and a stripped-back, driver-focused interior, this is the most extreme version of the iconic Civic Type R ever made.
Just 100 will be built for Europe, each benefitting from the standard Civic Type R’s outstanding driving dynamics and performance. The new Limited Edition features lightweight 20“ forged BBS alloy wheels with Michelin Cup 2 tyres, which are designed for high-speed track driving but still deliver exceptional on-road performance. Modified dampers optimise this new wheel and tyre combination and recalibration of the steering offers maximum control and feedback.
To reflect its extrovert nature, an exclusive new colour, ‘Sunlight Yellow’, is introduced for the Civic Type R Limited Edition, along with a dark chrome Civic badge on the back. With the addition of contrasting gloss black paint on the roof, wing mirrors and intake vent on the bonnet, the bold colour scheme reflects Honda’s sporting heritage and ensures the Limited Edition stands out as a unique proposition in the performance hatchback segment.
The Civic Type R Limited Edition’s interior echoes Honda’s sporting bloodline: featuring the red bucket seats and red Alcantara steering wheel all of which is complemented by a teardrop style gear knob. Each model features a plaque marking the build number of the car
Continuing its track-focused nature, the infotainment and air conditioning systems are omitted to save weight. Additional weight is saved by reducing sound-deadening materials in the roof, rear hatch panel, front bumper and dashboard.
Limited Edition has a 47kg weight reduction when compared to a Type R in GT specification. Unlike other brands’ track-focused performance hatchbacks, the Limited Edition retains its rear seats and the everyday usability for which the Civic is renowned.
Like the standard Type R, the Limited Edition also receives the Honda SENSING suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies as standard equipment, including Collision Mitigation Braking System with Forward Collision Warning, Road Depature Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control.
The new Limited Edition model retains the Type R’s powerful 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine. Peak power output is 320PS at 6,500rpm and peak torque is 400Nm from 2,500rpm to 4,500rpm. 0-100km/h (0-62mph) is achieved in 5.7 seconds.
Sales of the 100 Type R Limited Edition cars for Europe start in summer 2020 and prices will be announced closer to the launch.
Honda Civic Type R Sport Line
Further expanding the Civic Type R line-up for 2020 is the understated Type R Sport Line, which retains the sporting pedigree and outstanding driving dynamics of the Civic Type R, but with more discreet aerodynamic styling and a more refined ride.
The Type R Sport Line’s most notable departure from the distinctive styling of the regular Civic Type R is a low-deck rear spoiler instead of the high-level wing. This gives the car a subtler silhouette while still delivering sporty styling. The Civic Type R Sport Line is also distinguished by a grey accent line which runs along the lower edge of the car.
Adding to the range of colour options, the 2020 Civic Type R GT and Type R Sport Line will be available in a bold new paint finish, Racing Blue.
A more refined driving experience
The Civic Type R Sport Line delivers a more compliant and refined driving experience than its more extreme siblings. New exclusive dark grey 19-inch alloy wheels are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sports 4S tyres with a softer sidewall that enhance on-road comfort, with noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) further improved by additional soundproofing materials in the boot and tailgate.
The interior of the new Civic Type R Sport Line retains a performance-focused appeal with a more subtle ambience. Black bucket seats with red stitching are complemented by the new tear drop style gear knob and Alcantara steering wheel. The red stitching is continued throughout the interior, including door panels to reflect Honda’s sporting heritage.
As with the standard Civic Type R, the new Type R Sport Line is equipped with a range of comfort and safety features.The new variant also retains the seven-inch infotainment system, which incorporates DAB radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The new Civic Type R Sport Line will be available in Germany from Spring, with prices starting from €41,490.
