Honda Civic Type R track, rally concepts debut in UK

Honda Civic Type R track, rally concepts debut in UK

The FK8 Honda Civic Type R may already be a potent piece of kit out of the box, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t scope for greater performance with a number of handy tweaks. The Japanese carmaker’s UK arm knows this, which is why it has unveiled two radically different tuner concept cars at the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) Test Day 2019 at the Millbrook Proving Ground.

The first one is fairly straightforward. Developed by Team Dynamics Motorsport, which runs Honda’s successful British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) campaign, it takes the standard turbo hot hatch formula and turns it up to 11.

Changes include a Superchips ECU, an ITG induction system, a PWR intercooler, a Dream sports catalytic converter and a Scorpion exhaust, altogether providing a 25% performance boost. Outputs from the 2.0 litre VTEC Turbo engine have jumped from 316 hp and 400 Nm of torque to a whopping 400 hp and 500 Nm.

All that power still goes through the front wheels, so to keep the car on the road there are Eibach Pro performance springs, adjustable anti-roll bars and rear camber arms and Goodridge stainless performance brake hoses. It rolls on 19-inch Team Dynamics Pro-Race lightweight competition alloy wheels shod in sticky Dunlop DZ03G track tyres.

But the more eye-catching project comes from Ralph Hosier Engineering in the shape of the Civic Type OveRland. Even though it’s only due to be ready in a month, the car has already been given a substantial makeover, turning it into an off-roading monster. The company says it was inspired by rally raid, overland and safari racers, and with the big arches and fat 255/55R18 BFGoodrich tyres it certainly looks that way.

The suspension has been raised by over four inches (three inches at the rear) but retains the standard car’s torque steer-quelling Dual-Axis strut arrangement, while the rear end gets bespoke trailing arm mountings and modified transverse links. Both cars are built using pre-production units, wear signature Championship White paint and retain the standard six-speed manual gearbox and safety features.

Although there are obviously no plans to put these cars into production, Honda UK says that both Team Dynamics and Ralph Hosier Engineering claim they will build one-off versions for “discerning” customers. So, get those chequebooks ready…

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Malicious Computer Adware on May 24, 2019 at 2:08 pm

    Reminds us it’s reminiscing the Lancia Stratos

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 5
    • Diss-illusions on May 24, 2019 at 3:22 pm

      Please don’t insult the Stratos. The italian was a beauty. this, an abomination

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 16 Thumb down 9
    • Pak Lawan boo geease on May 26, 2019 at 11:46 am

      Do not forget to paste as many decal stickers onto the rally car for Extra ponies power…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Ah meng on May 24, 2019 at 2:17 pm

    Satri GTi far better than this

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 8
  • Mr. Octopus on May 24, 2019 at 4:07 pm

    Gotta be the ugliest rally car ever!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 9 Thumb down 3
  • Mirage on May 24, 2019 at 10:59 pm

    Gundam

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Benard on May 25, 2019 at 11:03 am

    The creator of the rally car must have made it super ugly to protest Honda UK closure of UK Honda factories.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • frogs on heels

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • This civic is one of the ugliest car honda ever made

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • vVivi Zurianti on May 27, 2019 at 10:34 am

    Great rally cars are built from clean slate, with clear goal and objectives. This Type-R is “rojak”, with random things thrown in just to spice up here and there. not to mentioned, jacked-up.

    Can i lower a pickup truck and call it street racer??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
 

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