2015 Honda Civic Type R specs and prices

Sending 305 bhp (228 kW / 310 PS) to the front wheels of a compact hatchback is ambitious, but that's exactly what Honda is doing with its long-awaited Civic Type R.

Responsible for such prodigious output is a turbocharged 2.0 litre VTEC engine which is mated to a traditional six-speed manual gearbox. There's no fancy dual-clutch transmission here...

Honda Civic Type R (2015) Front

The Civic Type R is undoubtedly a quick car, as demonstrated by 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 5.7 seconds and a 167 mph (270 km/h) top speed.

By comparison one of its main front-wheel drive rivals, the 271 bhp (201 kW / 275 PS) Renault Mégane Renaultsport 275 Trophy-R, records 5.8 seconds and 158 mph (255 km/h) for those two key benchmarks.

Honda Civic Type R (2015) InteriorHonda Civic Type R (2015) Rear Side

To complement the Civic's pace, Honda has also paid a lot of attention to the chassis. 400 Nm (295 lb/ft) seems like an obvious recipe for torque-steer, so to help keep things under control a bespoke dual axis strut front suspension set-up is fitted.

Other upgrades include a more rigid rear torsion beam, continuously-variable adaptive dampers and stronger Brembo brakes. Furthermore, drivers can select the +R mode, which sharpens the handling and improves throttle response.

Changes to the bodywork might be functional, but they also clearly signal the Type R's performance potential. The front end gains a pronounced splitter plus larger inlets to aid engine cooling. Widened arches house 19” wheels, while a diffuser and a huge wing take care of airflow at the rear.

Honda Civic Type R (2015) Front SideHonda Civic Type R (2015) Dashboard

In the UK, the Civic Type R has a price tag of £29,995. Opting for the GT Pack will add another £2,300 to the invoice, taking the total outlay up to £32,295.

Despite the extra cash involved, not specifying the GT Pack could be a mistake. That's because it comprises several useful items such as satellite navigation, automatic lights and wipers, dual-zone climate control, a better eight-speaker audio system and a complete suite of safety monitoring devices.

Putting those amounts into context, the aforementioned Renault costs £36,430. However, a less extreme (and slightly slower) 'non-R' Mégane Renaultsport 275 Trophy is also available for £28,930.

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