The new Honda Civic Type R, set to come to the Asian and European markets, is referred to as a performance version of the original dull and uninteresting Honda Civic hatchback. The main problem of this car is that some guy at Honda really thinks that it takes only one horsepower to make a 'superhatch' out of a motorized wheelchair.



No, really. The 2007 Honda Civic Type R is equipped with a 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC with a maximum power output of only 201 hp reached at 8,000 rpm. That is exactly one horsepower more than is squeezed from the previous version of the Civic. The zero to 62 mph acceleration is still the same 6.6 seconds. Compare this with the 2007 Mazdaspeed3's 274 horsepower 2.3-liter MZR DISI engine and its sub-six-second 0-60 time. Honda will have to sell its Type R at a very competitive price to beat Mazda's little monster.