Honda Civic Type R GT 2.0 VTEC Turbo MT
Motoring review by Tony Yates
Power and Efficiency
The might of the Type R GT is powered by a 320PS turbocharged 2.0 VTEC petrol engine that has blistering performance and can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 5.8 seconds – making it what can only be described as a fast accelerating front-wheel drive hatchback.
Also, let’s not forget that it has a top speed of 169 mph which will blow your mind for all sorts of reasons.
To be honest, I have never seen anything move so quickly on the road.
Well, not with number plates anyway!
Thinking back, it’s been a while now since I have driven a car where both parts of the engine and chassis felt so moulded together – and if the pairing of those two is just not good enough for you – then Honda have done one more thing that will excite your senses that little bit more – the +R mode button.
By sliding that +R mode button you will unleash yet another storm that will intensify the whole driving experience so much more that you will be giddy with excitement and you will immediately need to be locked in a very small room to have a lie-down.
On the road
The Type R GT delivers exceptional road holding on any road surface, even when I was really trying to get the Type R GT out of shape into the corners under normal road conditions it was just so planted – all I can remember thinking is ‘dam this thing is really good’ then there are the brakes that are just as staggering.
Again – slide the +R button and the whole car changes. I’m not talking about a bit more torque here and there – I am talking about the whole car morphing into something else.
Slide the button if you dare – and the response of the various chassis and drivetrain are activated, where the engine responsiveness is heightened, the torque map is changed, the steering becomes more responsive and the whole car becomes something else.
I have never in all my time as a motoring writer felt anything like it.
Design & Technology
When you look at the Type R GT – it looks very aggressive and if I’m being honest, it looks like a bit of a ‘yobbo’.
The aerodynamic styling for one almost makes you stop in your tracks and take in the depth of what’s in front of you.
I’m not kidding – it’s been a strange week.
But to be fair – it does look like it’s straight from the race track with its big rear spoiler and wide arches.
Most people just stood there and looked – but others just wanted to drive it.
Standard equipment on the Type R GT includes; Adaptive Damper System, Limited Slip Differential, Multi-link Rear Suspension, Capless Refuelling, LED Headlights, Smart Entry & Start, Sports Seats, Triple Exhaust, Dual Zone Climate Control, Blind Spot Information, Wireless Charging and a lot more.
To sum up:
What more can I possibly say – the Type R GT is an epic machine that I cannot possibly fault. If we are talking about pure power, speed and drivability – then the Type R GT wins it for me as it’s a very full-on ‘catch me if you can’ sort of racer.
There is no doubt in my mind the new Type R GT will go down as my favourite car of 2020.
Price: from £34,820 OTR (GT Spec)
