Skip advert
Advertisement

Road to Type R – evo meets owners at Honda HQ

evo and Honda UK host a meeting for Type R owners - and bring every generation of Civic Type R together

Type R. The name treads a line somewhere between the exotic and the accessible – a slice of motorsport pedigree that just happens to inhabit humble hatchbacks, coupes and saloons.

Recent generations of the Civic in particular, and the success they achieved, have made it more accessible still, and it’s now possible to find Type R Hondas – once rare and often import-only – at highly tempting prices in the classifieds.

Advertisement - Article continues below

That affordability allowed for a healthy turnout to the recent Type R event hosted by evo and Honda at the firm’s UK headquarters in Bracknell. Over fifty cars turned up, with various generations of Civic, and the occasional Integra in attendance – plus a range of pristine heritage fleet vehicles, two of which evo itself had arrived in.

Type R heritage fleet

We’re not ashamed to admit that it’s a non-Type R model that first caught our attention at Honda HQ, albeit a car that first heralded the Type R brand in 1992.

Honda’s early NSX, an automatic model resplendent in red paintwork, looks incredibly dainty alongside the hefty, bewinged form of the latest Civic R. A 1989, 3.0-litre model, it was driven by none other than Ayrton Senna when the Brazilian was on media duties in the UK. It’s an immaculate example, and while the four-speed auto will be a huge turnoff for some, it’s hard not to fall for in the metal.

Type R started with the NSX Type R in 1992, which shaved 120kg from the standard car’s 1350kg kerb weight by binning soundproofing, air conditioning, electric windows and audio equipment.

That ethos would continue with subsequent Type Rs, including the Integra in 1995 and the EK9-generation Civic in 1997. That car was followed by the EP3 Civic Type R in 2001, as well as the FN2 that debuted in 2007.

The NSX Type R was revised in 2002, while two generations of Accord have also worn the badge – though European Accord Type R (tested in evo 012) was subtly different from their Japanese counterparts which, confusingly, carried ‘Euro R’ badges.

Lined up alongside the NSX and new Civic R are a late-model S2000 – a model never graced with a Type R variant – and the belligerent Mugen Civic Type R. It’s the new car though that attracted the most attention from existing owners.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Honda Civic Type R (FN2) – the car world's greatest misses
Honda Civic Type R FN2
Features

Honda Civic Type R (FN2) – the car world's greatest misses

Its lineage contains some hot hatch greats, but the late-noughties Civic wasn’t one of them
26 Mar 2025
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Mercedes-AMG GT 43 2025 review – £100k four-cylinder lacks Affalterbach soul
Mercedes-AMG GT 43
Reviews

Mercedes-AMG GT 43 2025 review – £100k four-cylinder lacks Affalterbach soul

Affalterbach’s flagship GT range now begins with a four-cylinder, lifted straight from the A45 hot hatch. It might have reasonable performance on tap,…
15 Sep 2025
Audi R8 V8 (2007 - 2015) review – the Porsche 911’s equal is a bargain super sports car
Audi R8 V8
Reviews

Audi R8 V8 (2007 - 2015) review – the Porsche 911’s equal is a bargain super sports car

The Audi R8’s launch was perhaps one of the biggest moments in 2000s performance motoring. It’s as sweet today as back then
9 Sep 2025
Mini Cooper and Cooper S (2001 - 2006) review – the 'new' Mini is now a classic
Mini Cooper S
Reviews

Mini Cooper and Cooper S (2001 - 2006) review – the 'new' Mini is now a classic

The ‘new’ Mini was perhaps motoring’s most anticipated sequel. BMW didn’t get it wrong – quite the opposite, as it transpired
11 Sep 2025