![]() ![]() More importantly, firmer suspension, a helical LSD and a 212bhp K20A engine were fitted which dramatically transformed the driving experience. Inspiration was taken from the successful EK9 Type R, meaning Championship white paint and red Recaros were mandatory. Instead of simply shipping an assignment of European-spec EP3s over, a special JDM version was prepared in Swindon. It was built in Swindon and proved such a success story that Honda fans in Japan wanted a slice of the action. The booming hot-hatch market in the UK during the nineties and noughties, though, saw Honda release the EP3 Civic Type R only on our shores in 2001. Its usually the other way round and we've traditionally been the ones to pine for more hardcore JDM variations. Its not often that Japanese car enthusiasts crave the models we receive here in the UK. Source your perfect DC2 via our Personal Import Serviceģ. Despite the interior starting to feel a little dated and unrefined, the DC2 is the option for the drivers out there. The gear change and ratios are short and snappy, helping you rifle through the gears with ease. The five-speed, LSD-equipped transmission is superb too. Its direct and returns great feedback, filling you with confidence straight away and inviting you to push to ten tenths at every opportunity. The big red H on the steering wheel lets you know you're in a Type R, while thinner glass and minimal soundproofing keep weight down and ensures you enjoy the screaming VTEC soundtrack to the full. In fact, the Integra offers up the most engaging drive out of all the cars here. The Recaro front recliners make the most of the low seating position. You just cant beat a B-series engine for drama and excitement which is why the DC2 continues to be a big favourite. The JDM version comes with more power (197bhp), largely thanks to a bigger bore exhaust system. Theres a coarseness about its power delivery, a raw snarl thats simply intoxicating. For many, the B18C under the bonnet is as good as it gets. ![]() Its also the model that encompasses everything that's great about VTEC running gear. Its the one pedestrians will double take and the one motorists wont mess with! The DC2 then is probably the most respected car here outside of the Japanese car community. In fact, many still hail it as the greatest FWD performance car ever produced. ![]() The global motoring press went crazy for the low-slung Honda. The DC2 Integra is the car that established the Type R badge as a household name. Source your perfect EK9 via our Personal Import Service With enough pace to scare more glamorous turbocharged competition and pin-point handling thats hard to better, the first Civic Type R remains hugely respected among the car community. Most EK9s that come into the country are finished in the iconic Championship white hue, but over the years we've sourced the full range of colours including Vogue Silver, Phoenix yellow and Flamenco Black. None of those features are unique in this company, but they help to make the ageing interior more endearing than old-hat. Inside the cabin, the red Recaros and carpets add drama, as do the Momo wheel and cool metal gear knob. When driven to redline, only the DC2 comes close. The VTEC crossover feels mightily aggressive, helping to make the feisty EK9 arguably the most riotous to pilot in this line-up. The rawness of the screaming B-series engine is accentuated for the driver with next to zero sound-deadening under the red carpets. And with it being plumbed into a lightweight, rigid, seam-welded monocoque chassis, the Civic was like nothing we'd ever come across before. The EK9 Type R, though, was blessed with a 182bhp 1.6-litre B16B. The EK4 Civic VTi already seamed a technical marvel, with its 158bhp 1.6-litre B16A2 punching well above its weight. The EK9 was one of the first Japanese models that made us Europeans realise that we'd been missing out. So whether you're looking for something feisty, raw, unique, accomplished or sensible, theres a desirable Honda for everyone. Now, though, theres a whole line-up of hot JDM Hondas that can all be had for under £10k. Europe's strict emission regulations and demand for creature comforts and softer ride quality have meant the models we've received over the years have ordinarily been watered down. Honda has always retained its very best cars for the Japanese domestic market. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |