Not only does the 2016 Honda Civic Type R look better in white than it did in that grainy magazine ad photo that leaked out this morning, it also has way more power than we imagined. How does 310 horsepower strike your fancy?
Autocar has details on what they're calling the fastest and most powerful front-wheel drive hot hatchback in existence. The 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque at just 2500 RPM (in a Honda! Jesus!) come from a 2.0-liter turbocharged i-VTEC four. The zero to 62 mph (100 km/hr) dash happens in 5.7 seconds, and top speed is 167 mph.
To help the front wheels manage all that power, the new Type R has a special 'Dual Axis Strut' front suspension system, similar to Ford's RevoKnuckle suspension system from the previous Focus RS. It has an additional steering knuckle "so the wheel steers around a point closer to its center line, reducing torque steer by up to 50 percent compared with a standard Civic," Autocar says. There's also a mechanical limited-slip differential.
It also gets a stiffened rear suspension, adaptive dampers on all four corners, a +R driving mode that makes the experience even racier, high-performance Brembo brakes, a fairly ridiculous but functional aero kit, and suede sport seats inside.
The new Civic Type R sounds badass. The want is extremely strong here in America. HINT HINT, Honda.
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