Type R bows out with a bang
Always leave them wanting more – which is precisely what Honda has done with its end-of-the-line hatch, Says Andrew Frankel
Taking the R through its paces in sunshine means at least you can see where you’re going; in darkness its headlights are a let-down
It’s something that happens to me quite a lot: I’m sitting here trying to think of the right word. What I want is a word to describe the sensation of exhilaration, tempered by slight unease that rests with me now, having driven Honda’s new Civic Type R.
It’s not the ability it demonstrated despite the limitations of its front-drive, five-door hatch configuration that is the source of my disquiet, though at times it feels like witchcraft. Nor is it, per se, a list price of £46,995, a rise of almost 50% relative to its predecessor (from which it is derived) when it went on sale seven years ago. Option in the carbon pack and you can spend 50 grand on a Honda Civic, and while that price means numbers will be tiny, it’s not a limited edition.