After eight years in production, the rear-drive drop-top S2000 is Honda's flagship performance car, pumping out 109 horsepower per liter. But any day, industry observers expect Honda to announce the end of S2000 production.
That makes the Civic Type R the heir apparent, for the near-term anyway. The CTR is the long-awaited revival of the red badge, the Type R platform silent since Honda ceased production of the DC5 Integra. Powered by a 2.0-liter version of Honda's future classic K-series engine program (K20A), it outputs 222 hp and 158 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed manual, and is brought to a halt by Brembo binders. It is arguably the best balanced car in the compact class.
Still, the S2000 delivers 20 more hp and weighs 50 pounds less than the CTR.
The crew at GT Channel, through their partners at Japan's Best Motoring video team, led us to these clips of the new CTR taking on the veteran S2K at Maze Circuit, a 1.3-mile course located in the Northeastern Japanese province of Niigata. (Click here for a map of the circuit.)
The S2K, piloted by 2007 Super GT champion Daisuke Ito, grabs an easy holeshot on the CTR. But Keiichi Tsuchiya, one of Japan's most decorated and respected drivers (often called the "Drift King" for his mastery of sideways motion) isn't rattled and methodically reels in Ito as the Civic surprises everyone with its poise.
Tsuchiya's brought himself on Ito's tail, but will the young Super GT driver crack with the old man in his mirrors? Braking and composure are the keys. Can Ito keep his cool and his S2 on the course? And will Ichishima make it out of the chase vehicle in one piece, after a few choice words with his young driver, as well as the two stars?
"They drive like savages," cries the old man.
Following along and providing commentary in the Evo chase vehicle are former Super GT and Formula Nippon Champion Juichi Wakisaka and Spoon President Tatsuru Ichishima. A rock star elder statesman in the Honda tuning world, Ichishima notes how the CTR's low steering angle, lower than most front-drive cars, should help it pull out of Maze's last corner before the 500m straight with a burst.
It's all over but the crying. The CTR establishes itself as the new breed of Honda performance. The drivers agree: The CTR displays such good balance that, unlike most FF or AWD cars, you don't need to drop throttle at corner entry. The CTR doesn't cave in to the typical understeer.
After losing to the car, Ito takes the CTR out for some laps. Watch at 2:05 as he bends it into a left-hander and modulates the E-brake to keep it online.
That makes the Civic Type R the heir apparent, for the near-term anyway. The CTR is the long-awaited revival of the red badge, the Type R platform silent since Honda ceased production of the DC5 Integra. Powered by a 2.0-liter version of Honda's future classic K-series engine program (K20A), it outputs 222 hp and 158 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed manual, and is brought to a halt by Brembo binders. It is arguably the best balanced car in the compact class.
Still, the S2000 delivers 20 more hp and weighs 50 pounds less than the CTR.
The crew at GT Channel, through their partners at Japan's Best Motoring video team, led us to these clips of the new CTR taking on the veteran S2K at Maze Circuit, a 1.3-mile course located in the Northeastern Japanese province of Niigata. (Click here for a map of the circuit.)
The S2K, piloted by 2007 Super GT champion Daisuke Ito, grabs an easy holeshot on the CTR. But Keiichi Tsuchiya, one of Japan's most decorated and respected drivers (often called the "Drift King" for his mastery of sideways motion) isn't rattled and methodically reels in Ito as the Civic surprises everyone with its poise.
Tsuchiya's brought himself on Ito's tail, but will the young Super GT driver crack with the old man in his mirrors? Braking and composure are the keys. Can Ito keep his cool and his S2 on the course? And will Ichishima make it out of the chase vehicle in one piece, after a few choice words with his young driver, as well as the two stars?
"They drive like savages," cries the old man.
Following along and providing commentary in the Evo chase vehicle are former Super GT and Formula Nippon Champion Juichi Wakisaka and Spoon President Tatsuru Ichishima. A rock star elder statesman in the Honda tuning world, Ichishima notes how the CTR's low steering angle, lower than most front-drive cars, should help it pull out of Maze's last corner before the 500m straight with a burst.
It's all over but the crying. The CTR establishes itself as the new breed of Honda performance. The drivers agree: The CTR displays such good balance that, unlike most FF or AWD cars, you don't need to drop throttle at corner entry. The CTR doesn't cave in to the typical understeer.
After losing to the car, Ito takes the CTR out for some laps. Watch at 2:05 as he bends it into a left-hander and modulates the E-brake to keep it online.
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