The Civic – the EK body mostly – was the quintessential rice rocket (a term applied to economy cars modified to look like they can go fast) and if you were half conscious back in the early 90s, you’d have seen dozens of these at a time along the streets of Metro Manila. The goal was to make it look and perform like the one kind of Civic that actually was fast, the MK1 Type-R (the 1^st gen). As we all know, looking fast and being fast are two totally different things. Fast-forward 18 years and three generations later, Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. lends me the keys to the sold-out MK4 Type-R and since all of its standout features won’t fit in this page, I detail the most noteworthy below and my experience behind the wheel after seven days. Powertrain The engine of this Type-R is the first-ever built in the US and a version of it is even used by Honda Motorsports in the F4 (Formula 4) US Championship. In the MK4, the 2.0L VTEC engine with an intercooled turbo pumps 310-PS and 400-Nm of torque straight to a six-speed manual transmission with Honda’s Rev-Match Control System. While the power is self-explanatory, the latter is a feature that allows you to ‘blip’ the throttle without having to learn the ‘heel-and-toe’ move that takes racecar drivers months to master. ‘Blipping’, in a nutshell, makes gear changes – up or down – much smoother and allows you to aggressively accelerate out of high-speed corners. Handling Several things factor in to make the driving dynamics match its power and prestige: the suspension, steering and limited-slip differential. Holding it up in front is the dual-axis front suspension that was developed especially for the Type-R. It is angled specifically for optimum sport handling and comes with more initial negative camber for sharper turn-ins and more caster for increased stability. Its dual-pinion gear steering takes driver and electric motor input to limit the amount of assist it gives so you get honest feedback from the steering wheel. For that true racecar feel, the variable steering ratio greatly reduces hand movements and steering effort in various driving scenarios. Plus, it only takes a stunning 2.11 turns to take it from lock to lock. While it may only be a front-wheel drive (FWD) vehicle, it comes with limited-slip differential to reduce wheel slippage (to transfer drive force from the slipping wheel to the one with grip) and improve steering whether you’re on the track or that tricky mountain pass. Type-R styling Using the FK body as a canvass, it is adorned with all manner of sporty equipment and livery including but not limited to the Type-R front and rear bumper, front splitters, rear diffusers, underspoiler, wing-type spoiler, 20-inch wheels, a vortex generator, an aluminum hood with scoop, and a triple outlet exhaust. It comes in only three colors, Rallye Red, Championship White and Polished Metal Metallic. Visually, the cabin is stunning even with just the Type-R Spec bucket seat, red seatbelt and red pinstripe along the dashboard and the panels. It also comes with a Type-R Spec instrument cluster with a 7-inch TFT monitor that displays the turbo meter, rev indicator, G-meter, lap time, and a round Type-R titanium shift knob among others. To indicate exclusivity, its production number is stamped on a plate along the center console. Oh and did I mention it also comes with a seven-inch touchscreen infotainment system with eight speakers? R-rated experience If you’ve never been on a racing seat, it is a trip. Your body is positioned, just like the car, for optimum performance – upper body upright, in full view of the road, all controls within reach, and legs straight in complete contact with the sports pedals. As I stepped on the clutch and pressed the Start/Stop button, I couldn’t contain my “wow” as the instrument cluster lit up red and the lovely engine notes came roaring out. The short-throw six-speed is as advertised – easy to engage and never out of step. +R mode is the car at its best with dampers set at it firmest, steering feedback at its highest, and surprisingly, even quicker throttle response (which BTW was already quick at Comfort mode, the lowest setting). Seek not a fluffy ride because that’s just not what it’s about. Compared to the standard sedan, it feels intense in every way because of two things mainly, acceleration and handling. It is satisfyingly brisk and so generous with steering feedback that it feels highly perceptive to your every input. While it didn’t see track time with me, its reputation precedes itself – fastest ever for a FWD production car at Nurburgring, Silverstone and Spa-Francorchamps. Priced at P2.980 million, get yourself the OG hot hatch, the 2018 Honda Civic Type-R. Text and photos by Eric Tipan