Both the Brits and the Japanese have always gotten first dibs when it comes to the highly-coveted Honda Civic Type-R (CTR). Instead of getting the same, American drivers got the shaft and were offered a de-tuned Si model and an Integra Type-R that was so limited it might as well have its own endangered species label. This treatment is kind of like getting to third base, realizing that you aren’t going to score, but you don’t want to complain because what you’ve got is better than nothing at all.
Both the Brits and the Japanese have always gotten first dibs when it comes to the highly-coveted Honda Civic Type-R (CTR). Instead of getting the same, American drivers got the shaft and were offered a de-tuned Si model and an Integra Type-R that was so limited it might as well have its own endangered species label. This treatment is kind of like getting to third base, realizing that you aren’t going to score, but you don’t want to complain because what you’ve got is better than nothing at all.
But with the turbocharged Honda Civic Type-R coming our way sometime in 2017, the hype behind its American arrival is about as fervid as a nest of rabid hornets, and for damn good reason: The car that set a world record for front-wheel drive vehicles around the Nürburgring, spanking all-wheel drive monsters like the mighty Nissan Skyline GT-R in the process, may be shaping up to offer even more power in order to compete with more powerful contenders.
Autoblog recently released a speculative piece that highlights some of the design cues of the 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder engine, and it raises some interesting questions. While the piece talks a little about the electric actuator on the wastegate, as well as a bypass valve integrated into the compressor housing, it is by no means a guarantee that Honda will recalibrate its hot hatch to show that the 306 horsepower motor is capable of more ferocity. But we’ll get to that topic momentarily — instead of relying on rumors, we went straight to the source and found some facts pertaining to the engine itself that only Honda can offer up.
Someone at a party recently asked me why Honda would want to make the CTR more extreme. While I am of the belief that 306 horsepower is more than enough for something so small, there is no getting around the fact that the clever little rocket ship is going to be going up against some seriously strong adversaries the minute it arrives. Since the car has to be remodeled to meet American standards anyways, perhaps it might be best to see what Honda Performance Development (HPD) can do.
While Ford is busy readying its Focus RS for American hot hatch extremism, companies are tinkering in preparation for a forced induction four-cylinder war that will be about as heated as it will be interesting. Out of the bunch, the Focus RS has the upper hand on paper in both the handling and power departments, as it is all-wheel drive and more powerful than its nearest competition. Autoblog’s article might be based primarily around speculations found on a Civic forum, but there is a lot there that is right on.
Honda says that variable and twin-scroll turbos have been omitted on the new CTR for “enhanced responses by VTC and VTEC... read on the next page
But with the turbocharged Honda Civic Type-R coming our way sometime in 2017, the hype behind its American arrival is about as fervid as a nest of rabid hornets, and for damn good reason: The car that set a world record for front-wheel drive vehicles around the Nürburgring, spanking all-wheel drive monsters like the mighty Nissan Skyline GT-R in the process, may be shaping up to offer even more power in order to compete with more powerful contenders.
Autoblog recently released a speculative piece that highlights some of the design cues of the 2.0-liter inline-four cylinder engine, and it raises some interesting questions. While the piece talks a little about the electric actuator on the wastegate, as well as a bypass valve integrated into the compressor housing, it is by no means a guarantee that Honda will recalibrate its hot hatch to show that the 306 horsepower motor is capable of more ferocity. But we’ll get to that topic momentarily — instead of relying on rumors, we went straight to the source and found some facts pertaining to the engine itself that only Honda can offer up.
Someone at a party recently asked me why Honda would want to make the CTR more extreme. While I am of the belief that 306 horsepower is more than enough for something so small, there is no getting around the fact that the clever little rocket ship is going to be going up against some seriously strong adversaries the minute it arrives. Since the car has to be remodeled to meet American standards anyways, perhaps it might be best to see what Honda Performance Development (HPD) can do.
While Ford is busy readying its Focus RS for American hot hatch extremism, companies are tinkering in preparation for a forced induction four-cylinder war that will be about as heated as it will be interesting. Out of the bunch, the Focus RS has the upper hand on paper in both the handling and power departments, as it is all-wheel drive and more powerful than its nearest competition. Autoblog’s article might be based primarily around speculations found on a Civic forum, but there is a lot there that is right on.
Honda says that variable and twin-scroll turbos have been omitted on the new CTR for “enhanced responses by VTC and VTEC... read on the next page
