Honda just turned bat shit crazy and pulled the curtains off their most insane car yet: the 2015 Civic Type-R. After a long five-year wait, Honda’s hot hatch has returned (at least in Europe) packing a 310-horsepower engine driving the front wheels. The front wheels. Oh, the insanity.

Pegged to become the benchmark of all front-wheel drive high-performance hatchbacks to come, the all-new Civic Type-R comes with Honda’s first application of its new 2.0-liter turbo VTEC engine. This direct-injection unit pushes 310 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 400 Nm of torque at 2,520 rpm—figures which are significantly higher than any previous Honda Type-R model. It also puts it ahead of the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI and the Subaru WRX.



Redlining at 7,000 rpm, the engine is part of Honda’s next-generation Earth Dreams Technology series. Don’t let that sissy name fool you though: it does 0-100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds. This makes the Civic Type-R the fastest accelerating front-wheel drive hatchback ever. It also does a top speed of 270 km/h. This engine is mated solely to a 6-speed manual.

In order to keep all that power on the road (and to save your wrist from monstrous torque steer), Honda has done their suspension homework. A new four-point Adaptive Damper System enables independent control of each wheel to deliver road-holding performance, limit wheel-load transfer during sharp acceleration and braking, and maintain a stable and flat ride. A new Dual Axis Strut Front Suspension reduces torque steer by up to 50 percent. At the back though, the Civic Type-R continues to run on an H-shaped torsion beam axle suspension but with higher rigidity.


The Civic Type-R also comes with a new ‘+R’ mode that increases the response of various chassis and drivetrain systems. It alters things such as torque mapping, steering assistance, and the damping force of the suspension.

The styling is more function over form and has been honed to give the Civic Type-R a aerodynamically-efficient and purposeful design. Careful analysis has been done on both road and track and includes nifty detailing such as a completely flat underside and a rear diffuser to optimize downforce. Prominent ducting and vents provide ample cooling to the turbocharged engine while lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels with 235/35R19 tires specifically developed for the Type-R gives grip. The Civic Type-R is also equipped with Brembo disc brakes with a four-pot caliper upfront.



This car maybe a track racer’s dream, but it also comes equipped with comprehensive suite of sensor-based safety features including Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Traffic Sign Recognition, High-Beam Support, Blind Spot Information, and Cross Traffic Monitor.

If there are any doubts to the Civic Type-R and its abilities, watch the video below as it smashes the Nurburging record for a front-wheel drive production car.