The new Honda Civic Type R is certainly a rabid machine, what with all 300 horses from a 2.0 litre VTEC Turbo engine being sent to the front wheels. So what happens when it’s in the hands of a rabid driver? Enter one Drift King, Keiichi Tsuchiya, as he takes the Japanese hot hatch for a spin around the Nikko Circuit as part of the iconic Best Motoring TV series.
Unfortunately, the video has full Japanese audio with no English subtitles, so we can’t understand what Tsuchiya is saying (perhaps Japanese speakers could tune us in to what’s going on). However, he appears to be struggling with the car, with the Civic quite obviously pushing with understeer in the corners.
Of course, that might be due to the tight layout of the circuit itself, as well as low grip on the cold tarmac (snow does appear to be collecting on the track’s periphery). The Type R certainly looked to be much happier attacking the punishing Nürburgring Nordschleife in an earlier video – in fact, it clocked a blistering 7 minute 50.63 second lap time – so we’re pretty sure there’s more talent hidden underneath that chassis.
There better be, given the ferocity of what’s under the bonnet – that highly-tuned four-pot produces 310 PS at 6,500 rpm and 400 Nm from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. A six-speed manual and a limited-slip differential is standard fit, enabling the Civic Type R to rocket from 0-100 km/h in just 5.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 269 km/h.
GALLERY: Honda Civic Type R at Tokyo 2015
The post VIDEO: Honda Civic Type R driven by Keiichi Tsuchiya appeared first on Paul Tan's Automotive News.
Related posts:
Honda reveals new web show, Serial One N600 stars
Honda Civic 1.5L turbo dyno run reveals higher output; drag
