Honda's "Type R" performance derivatives are well-known internationally and have a cult following similar to the Golf GTi but the badge only made its appearance in South Africa with the arrival of the Civic Type R in May, 2007.
Was it worth the wait? That depends on where you live...
A high-performance version of the 2007 SA Car of the Year is certainly an appealing prospect; the only thing the winning Civic 1.8 lacked was some punch in the engine department.
The blast 'neath the Type R's bonnet is a high-revving (and I mean high-revving) two-litre i-VTec petrol engine that produces maximum power at 7800rpm and only hits its electronic cut-out at a screaming 8200.
It's packaged in a car that looks like it just zoomed in from another galaxy; the styling is daring, futuristic - who else would go for triangular tail pipes? Not everyone's taste, I know, but at least Honda's willing to stick its neck out in a sea of bland-mobiles.
The Type R is available only as a three-door hatch and comes in a single highly-specced six-speed manual derivative. The only option you get is colour - black or red.
The makeover from garden-variety Civic to Type "Arrr" also includes styling, suspension, brakes and bodywork upgrades that transform the car in a way that reminds me of X-Men's Wolverine growing spikes from his fists.
The visual aggro comes from sporty skirts and spoilers, 18" alloys and a black mesh grille instead of the standard Civic's brightwork.
There's a spoiler on the tail that a Subaru Impreza would be proud of - but unfortunately it's mounted right in the middle of the backwindow so it hampers rearward vision.
The cabin is pure Bangkok bordello with lurid red-and-black trim and back-lit red instruments. Once again, not everyone's cuppa tea but it makes a blandness-bashing styling statement.
The Type R's body is more rigid than that of the standard Civic and the brakes are bigger; uprated handling comes from lowered (by 15mm) and stiffened suspension, 20mm wider rear track and wider 225/40 rubber.
But back to the business end: as with its S2000 roadster, Honda has opted for a fast-spinning non-turbo engine - unlike competitors, including the Golf GTi, Astra OPC, Mazda 3 MPS, Mini Cooper S and Ford Focus ST.
Non-turbo is all very nice and purist but the Honda loses out on performance at Gauteng altitude. The i-VTec engine makes 148kW - one more than the Golf GTi - at sea level (and I don't think that's a coincidence) but you can subtract about 17 percent from Honda's figure on the oxygen-starved Reef.
Linear power delivery
The Type R is quick and very satisfying to drive with great handling and a racy blare from its high-revving engine that gives you gooseflesh.
The power delivery is basically linear with no major "step", although there's a stronger surge of power from 5500 to 8000rpm when the i-Vtec system changes the cam profile.
This high-revving nature gives the Honda a character distinctly different to that of its rivals; it needs to be driven like a racing car to give of its best.
That's no problem - the engine revs freely and doesn't sound strained even when the needle's bouncing against the limiter. The short-shift gearshift is beautifully slick, a typical Honda trait, and snicks through its gate with great precision.
The steering is very direct and it always feels sharp and alert as it scythes through bends; the ride's predictably firm but the car feels very solid and rough roads don't cause any judders or rattles.
Short of class average
All well on that front but at Johannesburg's oxygen-starved altitude the Type R doesn't fare well against the stopwatch. Honda claims a very brisk, 6.6sec 0-100km/h sprint time at sea level but the 8.7sec we recorded in Gauteng was well short of the class average and it also lags in the overtaking acceleration stakes.
This might be acceptable if the Type R cost less than its faster rivals but it's actually pricier than some of them.
Why, I wonder, didn't Honda simply slot the S2000 roadster's 177kW, two-litre engine into the Civic Type R, rather than this detuned, 148kW version that runs out of puff on the Highveld?
Verdict
It's a great car, terrific fun to drive, with great sonic charm and possibly the best looks in its league. It's one of the best in terms of build quality as well, and let's not forget Honda's good after-sales reputation.
It does the business performance-wise at sea level but not at altitude. This league is all about bang for the buck and as enjoyable as the Civic Type R is to drive, it's a difficult ask by Honda to sell the car for the same price as its faster rivals.
However, it has a different character to its turbocharged competitors and there are drivers who might prefer that special high-revving driving style and glorious sound. - Star Motoring