The new Honda Civic Type R is nothing if not expensive, at just under RM400,000. But behind the headline-grabbing price and slightly underwhelming performance figures is perhaps the most exciting performance car this side of a Porsche 911 GT3.
. It’s also the most expensive—whereas the FD2 snuck under the RM200,000 mark, and the FK8 was priced at just over RM330,000, the latest model, codenamed FL5, costs a sliver under RM400,000 and 420Nm—an increase of just nine horsepower and 20Nm, despite significant modifications that include a more efficient turbocharger, a revamped ECU and a freer-breathing exhaust.
But the figures don’t tell the whole story, because the Honda has been singularly designed to put the driver first and foremost. Firstly, the manual ‘box is attached to one of the sweetest shifters known to man, while the steering has been wholly revised for a sharper feel. Under the skin, the Type R has a significantly wider track compared to the standard Civic to improve stability and comes with adaptive dampers so that the driver can adjust the stiffness of the ride depending on their mood.