UP FRONT

HONDA THROWS A BIT MORE ‘RRRRRRR’ INTO THE TYPER

Since its launch in 2017, the FK8-generation Civic Type R has been all about the numbers. Before it even hit the showrooms, Honda was boasting of its benchmark-setting Nordschleife time – a frankly unbelievable 7:43.8. For a smidge over thirty-grand, buyers were furnished with a tasty platter of figures – 316bhp, 169mph, 0-62mph in 5.7s, 1,380kg. And yes, we can assure you that the bonkers 169mph top speed is genuine… we tried it out on the autobahn, and it sits quite happily at that speed! You can really hear the aero working too, there’s a terrific sucking noise from the rear wing.

A pretty popular formula then, and for the 2020 model year the connoisseur’s hot hatch has received a mid-life refresh. That’s the car you see here, and while it still wears the brutally uncompromising