MISSILE LOCK

Lap records are expected to tumble with latest sixth generation Honda Civic Type R

Honda has slipped offits meds again. A run of fairly numb, economical SUVs that place driver enjoyment right at the very rung of the engineering ladder seemed it would continue indefinitely. Then Honda does an unexpected U-turn and shows the world why it’s still a force to be reckoned with when it comes to building a hot hatch.

Honestly we weren’t sure there would be a new Civic Type R. Firstly it’s extremely niche and sells a fraction of what VW manages to do with the GTi – blame the manual shifter and toothy styling. And secondly, recent Hondas are perusing an EV direction, far removed from the turbo charged unit hiding under the bonnet of the new Type R. So we breathe a sigh of relief that the new one has overcome the odds stacked against it and only sets out to refine one of the most enthralling hot hatches of the modern era.