Since its debut, Civic Type R has quickened the pulses of hot-hatch enthusiasts, earning widespread praise from media and owners alike. The new Limited Edition model turned up Type R performance further still, with lower weight, improved handling, and a higher-performance wheel and tire combination.

The 2021 Type R Limited Edition was also available in an exclusive Phoenix Yellow colour, with gloss black paint on the roof, outside mirror caps, and intake vent on the hood, along with a dark chrome Civic badge on the rear hatch. Inside, each Limited Edition has a special numbered plaque on the centre console designating its build number. That variation has completely sold out, but don’t despair as the standard Type R is still available and more than capable of setting your heart on fire.

The 2021 Civic Type R carries forward the numerous updates made to the 2020 Type R, including the freshened front and rear exterior styling, larger grille opening and radiator for improved engine cooling, and interior updates such as the Alcantara™-wrapped steering wheel, and a new weighted shift knob. Both feature the Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies as standard equipment, including Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Forward Collision Warning, Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

Under the hood, the 2021 Civic Type R draws power from the same race-bred 2.0-litre direct-injected and turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with VTEC™ valvetrain that the Special Editions uses, putting out a peak 306-horsepower (SAE net) and a peak 295 lb.-ft. of torque (SAE net), with power to the front wheels delivered through a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential. The Type R also allows drivers to choose between three driving modes – Comfort, Sport and +R – that vary throttle mapping, damping force and steering assist.

TYPE R LIMITED EDITION

Why did the Limited Edition sell through so quickly? The 2021 Type R Limited Edition embodies multiple engineering and feature changes designed to maximize performance, without sacrificing Type R’s unique combination of razor-sharp performance and civilized daily-driving manners.

Racers know that reducing weight is key to better performance at the track, which is why a number of measures were taken to reduce the curb weight of the Type R Limited Edition by 21 kilograms versus the standard Type R.

Replacing the standard Type R wheels with lightweight forged-aluminum alloys from BBS saves the Type R Limited Edition an additional 8 kilograms of unsprung weight, which has an important impact on agility and road holding with a side benefit to ride comfort. The lighter weight results in lower rotational inertia, an effect amplified by lightweight two-piece floating front brake rotors that were applied to all Type Rs in 2020, which yielded over 1 kilogram of weight savings per side.

Going further still, 13 kilograms of sound-deadening materials have been removed from the roof, rear hatch panel, and front fenders and dash; even the cargo cover, rear heater ducts and rear wiper mechanism were removed to save weight.

The Type R Limited Edition also features grade-exclusive Michelin Cup 2 tires with improved cornering performance. To take full advantage of the lighter weight wheels and extra-grippy tires, Limited Edition features unique programming for the Active Damper System (ADS), which was already updated just last year to sample inputs 10 times faster than before. Similarly, the electrically assisted power steering has been reprogrammed to match the elevated dynamic performance and lighter weight of the BBS alloys. The result is even more impressive but best suited to those planning on going to the track. If you’re looking for a Type R to drive every day, then act quickly to secure one of the standard edition models.

If you’re interested in test driving a 2021 Honda Civic Type R, please click the button below. Depending on current conditions, traditional test drives may not be available so we’ll contact you to discuss what is possible. Thank you in advance for your understanding and patience.

Please Note: The details of this article were accurate at the time it was written. Manufacturers may change the details of any vehicle’s specifications, at any time, without notice.