Happenings

Civic Type R In Top 5

BY Azfar Hashim

Honda's British-built Civic Type R is among the final five for the prestigious World Performance Car of the Year 2016 title; also the first Honda to have ever made it into the final

The British-built Honda Civic Type R has roared into contention to be crowned World Performance Car of the Year (WCOTY) after reaching the final five in a competition judged by 73 leading motoring writers from across the globe.

The accolade marks the first time a Honda has made it into the final. This is, at the same time, the latest in a line of accolades for Honda’s ‘race car for the road’ on the back of scooping the Scottish Car of the Year award in November, and securing its first motorsport success with the drivers and constructors titles in the 2015 British Touring Car Championship.

World Car of the Year jury panel comprised of 73 motoring writers from across 23 countries and regions globally. For cars to be considered, they must be sold in at least five countries globally, on at least two continents. The first award was announced in 2004, with the performance car category added in 2006. The winner set to be announced at the New York Motor Show on 24th March.

Billed as a ‘race car for the road’, the all-new British built Civic Type R is powered by what Honda declares the most extreme and high-performing Type R engine ever built. The direct-injected turbocharged 2.0 litre VTEC Turbo petrol engine delivers power, torque and performance figures unmatched in the front-wheel drive hot hatch segment. Peak power output is 306 bhp at 6,500 rpm, and peak torque is 400 Nm at 2,500 rpm — both higher than for any previous Honda Civic Type R model.

Mike Rutherford, World Car Awards Director and Vice-Chairman comments, "With the comparatively affordable and accessible Civic Type R, Honda has taken on all of the specialist performance car manufacturers - and, on this occasion, beaten the majority of them at their own game by qualifying as a World Car Awards finalist. The company is now one of only five firms in the running for the coveted World Performance Car title."

Previous successes in the World Car of the Year awards for Honda include taking the World Green Car of the Year crown in 2006 (Civic Hybrid) and then 2009 (FCX Clarity).