Bold and sporty Civic Type S
It's striking and certainly the most individual car in its segment with such features as gunmetal-coloured trim around the wheelarches and sills, 17-inch alloys, striking door and rear panels and a very sassy rear end. Yes the Civic Type S is much more than a three-door version of the Civic.
Yes the Civic Type S is much more than a three-door version of the Civic.
It is designed to be a more sporty version and appeal to younger customers wanting style and performance in a three-door package.
Bold is the theme for exterior styling with sculpted side skirts flaring towards both the front and rear wheels and blended into the wheelarch surrounds. These then flow into the front and rear spoilers to complete the lower body structure.
Type S also exaggerates the coupe-like profile with a unique rear side window, the lower edge of which kicks upwards to give a distinctive tapering shape.
The only problem with the design is that the A-pillars reduce visibility and there are blind spots. You have to look and look again, really craning your neck to get an all-round view.
Honda has specially tuned the suspension to give the Type S sharper steering response, improved ride and excellent cornering stability. It is a really rewarding and enjoyable drive.
Power comes from either a revvy 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol engine, or Honda's excellent 2.2-litre diesel unit.
Both engines produce 140PS and can be combined with a six-speed manual gearbox which has a light and accurate shift. The 1.8-litre i-VTEC is also available with Honda's automated-manual i-SHIFT transmission which offers the choice of automatic changes or manual shifts via steering wheel mounted paddles.
Silver-stitched black alcantara seats, a leather trimmed steering wheel and aluminium pedals emphasise the sporting aspect.
The cabin itself is focused around Honda's unique Dual Link dashboard design - first featured on the five-door Civic - which places key information in the upper part of the instrument panel. This makes it easier to read dials and information without losing concentration on the road.
Inside accommodation is roomy and flexible with the rear seats incorporating Honda's one-motion, dive-down feature that creates a flat loading space of 485 litres.
A centrally-positioned fuel tank located beneath the front seats, rather than impinging on the luggage area, helps create space.
Two model grades are available. Standard features include 17-inch wheels, Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA), air conditioning, cool box, remote audio controls and curtain airbags. The Type S GT model also has a panoramic glass roof, dual zone air conditioning, cruise control, front foglights, retractable mirrors, and automatic wipers and headlamps.
Carrying on from where five-door Civic left off, the new Civic Type S is set to be a huge winner in the war against depreciation, according to figures from Glass's Guide.
With an exceptional residual value of 41 per cent after three years and 60,000 miles, the competitive pricing of the Type S means it loses less money - up to nearly £4,000 less in some cases - against competition from other premium brands such as Mercedes and Audi.
Writing in his opening comments for the guide, Jason King, forecasting editor, comments on the improved specification, keen pricing and focus on the "importance of the corporate buyer to Honda".
He points out that the pricing and efficiency of the engines adds up to "a very low BiK taxation liability for company car drivers".
The Civic Type S is on sale now, priced from £15,250 to £17,550 and is available with either a 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol or i-CTDi 2.2-litre diesel engine.
It will form the basis of the Civic Type R, which goes on sale in the UK in March 2007.
"The highly-anticipated Type S will offer greater sophistication without compromising the Type R philosophy of exhilarating performance through advanced engineering," says Honda - I can't wait to get behind the wheel!
By Sharon Walters
