FL5 Civic Type-R: Sophisticated FWD Royalty

11 generations of the Honda Civic have resulted in some of the most iconic cars to ever exist. From the legendary EG and EK to the most modern FK8 and FL5, Honda has made monumental strides in the world of sports cars and tuning icons. With the newest iteration of the Civic Type R, Honda has yet again changed the game for FWD cars.

At a glance, the main update is the change of form from the angular and aggressive lines of the FK8 to a more graceful stance and elegant shape. The smaller rear wing also lends to a more subdued and classy feel rather than the boy-racer style of the older car while the functional diffuser beautifully compliments the tri-tip exhaust. Although it is the largest Civic to date, it sits on smaller 19-inch wheels with meaty 265/30/19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres as standard, giving it a purposeful and powerful look. Additionally, the gently sloped rear hatch and beautiful curves of the fenders lend to a more GT-style aura, elevating the Civic from just a hot hatch to a more bespoke and expensive performance machine in terms of style.

But, we all know this beauty isn’t just for show. The FL5 has taken things up a notch in the performance department, making a healthy 325hp and 310lb-ft of torque from its 2.0 K20 Turbocharged 4-cylinder and creating more downforce than ever, at over 220lbs of downforce at 200kph.

While that may not sound like much compared to race cars, keep in mind that the average road car actually makes no usable downforce, and the extra grip over the rear thanks to the wing and diffuser makes the car incredibly stable at high speeds. A new and optimized turbo setup increases engine response and turbo efficiency, making the car accelerate voraciously.

Slight upgrades to the dual-axis strut front suspension further suppress torque steer, making the car as nimble as ever. Unbelievable cornering grip, effortless direction changes, a slight amount of off-throttle oversteer and intuitive steering feel produce one of the most memorable and exciting drives you can get from ANY modern car. When you put all these lovely things together, you get the fastest production FWD vehicle ever made, breaking the Suzuka and Nurburgring FWD records, holding the prestigious “King of the Ring” title, and stunning the world with exceptional performance.

The interior remains in classic Civic style with low-mounted soft and supportive red seats to embrace you during the immense cornering g-forces as well as a smaller, thinner steering wheel providing just enough feedback and simple but necessary controls while remaining robust and comfortable. The digital dash has a 90s feel reminiscent of the legendary S2000 dash, displaying a huge amount of customizable information with a solid rev-LED cluster above it for maximum racecar feel. Simple black plastic and faux-carbon trim return, with honeycomb vents adorning the dash and an aluminium shift knob connected to what has widely been regarded as one of the most enjoyable gearboxes ever made.

Considering everything, the new Type R is still worth every penny, as there is simply no other modern FWD car that can produce such immense driving enjoyment while decimating track times and cutting down other automotive giants. With enough power to scare off sports cars and near touring car level grip while remaining streetable and graceful, the FL5 Type R is without a doubt sophisticated FWD royalty.