Red and Black

Last September, the British factory in Swindon Honda started assembling the new model generation Civic. The car comes in four body styles: three-and five-door hatchback, sedan and coupe. The first 150 cars floated away in their historic homeland (well in the Japanese style: all the best - for myself) - three-door hatchback that had a version of the Type R, with a 2-liter 200-horsepower engine and six-speed transmissions with the convergence. These sports cars. Therefore, when the Honda Civic Type R has appeared in Moscow and hit the "motor" for a test drive, to its logical fell to me - the sportsman racer. Honda Civic Type R immediately attracts the attention first of all, thanks to quite original-cut body. A sort of bug, a hunchback, exquisitely ugly, especially from the front. Huge headlights, hood tailless creeps on, sinking into the arches of large 17-inch wheels, antikrylyshko, perched above a narrow glass back door ... Type of vehicle is a complex feeling, which is close to umileniyu.Iz the strongly raised the roof and more vertical than the previous model, the landing was much more spacious inside. Different interior trim neat asceticism. Under the left steering switch on the glove compartment and console under the heater there are niches for more details. The instrument panel is decorated with white dials, easy to read and completely overwhelmed. Against the background of matte-black dash stands finished in silver plastic console heater. It is the shift lever (which, according to one friend of mine, looks very sexy) - this is one of the main highlights of the car. I must say that this arrangement is functionally very convenient. The lever is located close to the steering wheel and nearly one in his plane, which is important in acute dynamic driving. "Zero" has become smaller, while it is much easier to twist, probably due to more efficient amplifier. By driving two classic Japanese switch in charge of wipers, lights and direction indicators. The front seats are really pleased with sports design. These are tough scoops, direct relatives racing Recaro ... proceed to the main point - sea trials. When a small car costs about $ 27,000, it usually indicates its outstanding ride quality. So it is. The two-liter engine due to the impressive moment of luck from the bottom. Literally thousands of revolutions with a new Civic Type R accelerating rapidly. To three thousand extra pickup felt, and in the range of six to eight thousand if you're already flying - if not a fighter, then the sport plane for sure. In the previous Type R had a problem - its potential as the engine should be implemented only with 5500 rpm, a very "long" transmission made it impossible to keep him within range of VTEC (5500-8000 r / min.). Now both problems have been solved - engine with i-VTEC (VTEC plus VTC) will scale from top to bottom, and six-speed transmission with sporty-sblizheny.Podveska new Civic Type R is much stiffer than the previous "hot" version. In my opinion, this is primarily due to the fact that the car is added to the growth - the center of gravity has moved above and to avoid strong cross-rolls the Japanese had "tightened" suspension. Now it is true sportkar.Upravlyaemost above all praise, almost neutral steering, and the rapid entry into 90-degree turns - even a little redundant. In the initial stage of rotation at the time of braking and steering the machine is slightly nodding, screwed into the turn with a slight skid of the rear axle, and then when you add the gas comes out of it with confidence, delivering the driver a real pleasure ... During the test, I could not help comparing the new Civic Type R and Civic Black Phantom 1998 issue, on which I travel for four years. In essence, this Type R the previous generation, with a distinct decor - "limited edition" was released on the occasion of some anniversary kompanii.V my car steering wheel slightly larger diameter, comfortable low seat, soft seat and anatomy of medium hardness, with a claim to sportiness, suspension. Black Phantom as it combines two different machines. On one Saturday, I slowly otvozhu mother in law to the country, spending at the same time about 6 liters per 100 km and return to the city is on the other hand, almost a race, breaking the 60 km of country roads for 20 minutes and paying for it is 20 liters per hundred. My car, thus, represents a compromise between an ordinary car with economy-class suspension, gravitating towards understeer, and conditionally sports bolidom.Novy same Civic Type R - a sports car without compromise. I rode on it day in Moscow, and constantly found himself on the fact that I just can not go quietly. The proximity of the gear ratios in a box makes it impossible to remove his hand from the gear lever, suspension stiffness and seats, even the interior design - all triggers for aggressive driving style. Here are just aching back in the evening. From Moscow to St. Petersburg for this sports equipment I do not go ... settle down if the new Type R in the Moscow market? I do not know how many there willing to shell out for a small car without air conditioning the skin and that kind of money. Returning behind the wheel of his "Phantom", I have the whole day wondering where to go away its power and athletic sbitost. Of course, the new Type R is far away from its predecessor. I am pleased to put five new Japanese fighter, so well disguised daily non-combat jacket.