Category: Hot Hatchbacks 
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Superb free-spinning engine, feels like the stripped-out racer it is, slick gearshift.
Handling and ride is not quite as sorted as main rivals. If it is given the go-ahead limited production run suggests it is likely to be pricey.
One-off Civic is far more thrilling than standard car, but less convincing than some of its capable rivals.
Honda introduced the latest Civic Type R - which we rather like - in 2007, but since the advent of Ford's Focus RS and the Renault Megane R26.R, the 2.0-litre, 198bhp Civic has appeared a tad undernourished in both the power and handling departments.
This car, the Honda Civic Type R Mugen, is meant to change that. Officially it's a concept, developed by Mugen, Honda's semi-official tuning arm, but it's no secret that both Mugen and Honda would like to put the Civic into a limited production run of around 25 units. Mugen's European offshoot is keen to increase its profile in the UK to help it sell some aftermarket tuning parts and accessories, while Honda is not averse to the idea either.
If the concept is to be made in a low volume, Honda and Mugen might have a problem setting the price. Similarly-powered rivals cost no more than £25,000, but the Civic Mugen's engine is a piece of work that might result in it costing a few thousand more than that to bring to market.
Mugen's traditional speciality is engines, so it's no surprise that this is the area in which the hard work has been done. It's still a 2.0 but there are new pistons, throttle body, camshaft, valve springs, intake manifold, airbox and a stainless steel exhaust. Power is up to 237bhp but, crucially, rather than being developed at 7,800rpm as in the standard car, it now comes at 8,300rpm, with a limiter that doesn't intervene until a racy 8,500rpm.
There are suspension changes too: Mugen and Honda have kept the Civic's semi-independent torsion beam rear suspension set-up, rather than changing it for a fully-independent system as used on Honda's Japanese domestic-market Civic and, importantly, nearly all of its rivals. But springs and dampers are different front and rear, the geometry is altered and there are new tyres.
The regular Civic isn't a heavy car but Mugen has still found 105kg to throw away. Body panels are composite at the front, the wheels are lighter and the rear seats have been ditched. The front seats are new, too, and lighter, with four-point racing harnesses fitted, as well as the standard seatbelts.
It sounds not unlike the extra-special Renault Megane R26.R. The question is, is it as good?
Latest Readers' Drives About the Honda Civic Type-R
wrote on 04 06 2008
wrote on 28 02 2008
wrote on 06 01 2008