Grrr...

Honda has taken the unusual step of not tuning the Type-R's engine to produce a headline-grabbing power figure. Its 200bhp is less than the Focus ST, Seat Leon Cupra and Volvo C30 2.5T, but is quicker to 62mph than most of its rivals (bar the C30 and Mazda 3 MPS). Top speed is 146mph, about the same as the Type-R's competitors. But while most of the other hot hatches on the market have turbochargers to provide their grunt, the Type-R has Honda's i-VTEC system. That means the Civic remains docile under 5,400rpm, but turns into a motorbike-sounding screamer between 5,400 and its 7,950rpm redline. Keeping the car in the VTEC zone is an incredible feeling as the revs build, and the six-speed manual gearbox has a perfect set of ratios to keep the engine spinning between the magic numbers.