TOVA SUPER EXCLUSIVE
New FD2 CIVIC TYPE-R K20A Spec R Engine !
In March 29 2007, Honda launched the FD2 Civic TYPE R for the japanese domestic market (only). Honda's Type R models are already a legendary household name amongst car enthusiasts, whether Honda or otherwise. They are specially tuned to take full advantage of the potential of the base model, to push the performance boundaries to their limits using generous doses of technology gleemed from Honda's passionate involvement in motorsports. Consequently, the greatest seduction a Honda TYPE-R offers is its racing car-like character and driving feel. First offered on the NSX-R in 1992, the Type R range was extended to the DC2 Integra in 1995, and the EK9 Civic in 1997. The EK9 Civic TYPE R was renewed in 2001 by the EP3 Civic TYPE-R. This new FD2 Civic TYPE-R is the third generation of an already mighty name. It is a result of the distillation of 15 years of technological progress and represents the latest expression of Honda’s “Challenging Sprit”.
All is not a bed of roses for Honda's most fervent fans, unfortunately. While Honda fans, especially the TYPE-R fanatics, have been extremely vocal and strong in our admiration and support of Honda TYPE-R effort, in direct contrast, Honda havenever reciprocated this favour. This of course has been the major cause of frustration amongst the most fervent of us who are from outside of Japan - that despite our support and fanatism, Honda was never willing to give us the JDM-spec TYPE-R machines as an official model. We always had to resort to the parallel importers, for those fortunate ones who have such a resource. For those who don't, well we can only drool in frustration. In the absolute term this stubborn stance of Honda is of course totally illogical, to borrow a phrase from my favourite science fiction character. Indeed if I am to be more bluntly honest, I would personally say it is a rather silly and stupid stance to take, especially against one's most fervent supporters. It is something that I admit I have never understood the rationale for. Fortunately however, from a chance meeting with Honda's CEO Mr Takeo Fukui, coupled with the good fortune of interacting with a group of very pro-active Honda Malaysia staff, all these is about to change very, very soon.
In August 2007, Honda Malaysia will go down in history as the first overseas Honda country office to succeed in getting approval to launch an original-spec JDM Type R model into its local domestic line-up - the new 2007 FD2 Civic TYPE R !! Finally, 15 years after the first Type-R model was launched by Honda, and after 15 years of begging, Honda fans in Malaysia at least, will be able to truly enjoy an original-spec JDM Type-R, the FD2 Civic TYPE-R.
In conjunction with this monumental occasion, TOVA will be publishing a series of short technical overviews on this incredible machine, from now and leading to the official launch later this week and continuing after that. We will look at all aspects of this incredible new machine. We start off the series with this TOVA exclusive look at the technologies that Honda put into the K20A Spec R engine. The materials for this article are derived from two main sources. The introduction is based on the 'Type R Spirit' article (engine section) published on the special Civic TYPE R page of Honda's corporate website, automobile section. This article was supposedly written by the Civic TYPE R's engine development engineer.
