After the GT variant of the updated Civic Type R’s impressive showing at the 2020 evo Car of the Year, we could help but include this even more focused and exciting Limited Edition to this year The 2021 Limited Edition boasts a number of improvements, starting with small mechanical tweaks that debuted on the standard 2020 Civic Type R. The Limited Edition takes those one step further The 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition Is 46 Pounds Lighter and Only Comes in Yellow. Like the normal refreshed 2020 Type R, it gets new front and rear bumpers, a larger radiator core, and a 13 The 2021 Civic Type R is a 10th-gen model (under the wider Civic line) and has 2 variants, namely: the Civic Type R Touring and the Civic Type R Limited Edition. The base Touring variant possesses expected features for a compact sports car, including: Turbocharged 2-liter 4-cylinder engine (306 horsepower, 295 pound-feet of torque) Shop 2020 Honda Civic Type R vehicles for sale at Cars.com. Research, compare, and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 26 2020 Civic Type R models nationwide. Type R badges (front/rear) • LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off • LED Brake Lights • Underbody Spoiler Kit • Wing Spoiler: Gloss Black: Aluminum Hood • Center-Mounted, Triple Outlet Exhaust • Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock® • Fin-Type Roof-Mounted Antenna: Gloss Black: Rear Window Wiper/Washer with Heated Wiper Zone . Feb 19, 2020 at 8:00pm ET Since coming to the United States for the first time in 2017, the Honda Civic Type R has been widely praised as one of the best performance cars on sale. Adding to this reputation, Honda announced today that joining the new facelifted 2020 Civic Type R is a lighter-weight, track-focused version of the street car called the Civic Type R Limited Edition. Only 600 examples of this special edition will make it to the market. While its name doesn’t exactly break convention, the Limited Edition’s purpose is simple: take back the front-wheel-drive record at the Nürburgring, which Honda will likely attempt later this year, though that is unconfirmed at this time. To make this car faster than the 7:40 time set by the Renault Mégane Trophy-R, Honda reduced the car’s weight from the standard Type R with BBS forged aluminum wheels that save 18 pounds ( kilograms) and removed sound deadening, the rear heater ducts to save an additional 28 pounds ( kilograms). European-spec’d versions of the Limited Edition will also ditch the infotainment system and air conditioning saving additional pounds, however, the cars retain those features. Enhancing the Limited’s track prowess, Honda traded the standard Continental tires for stickier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber. Finally, the company reworked the dampers to a more aggressive state of tune and recalibrated the steering for additional feedback to the driver. In addition to making this a more hardcore Type R for the street and track, Honda also makes the Limited differ from the standard car by giving it exclusive Phoenix Yellow paint that draws back to the Acura Integra Type R. All 600 units coming to the market will wear this color, along with contrasting black accents and a unique number plaque inside. Everything You Need To Know About The 2020 Civic Type R: We know that the Limited Edition will make its way to the market later this year in the fall, but Honda has yet to confirm pricing. We can expect it to command a premium over the standard Type R’s $39,995 starting price, but just how much is still undetermined. With its weight reduction, revised hardware, and special color scheme, the Civic Type R Limited Edition is sure to be a hot commodity by the brand’s most hardcore fans. Whether or not it gets the change to reclaim bragging rights around the world's most infamous racing circuit remains to be seen. Source: Honda Gallery: 2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition Hide press release Show press release 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition: Ultimate Track-Focused Type R Coming to America Special lightweight features include forged wheels, reduced sound deadening Exclusive Phoenix Yellow color scheme 600 units coming to each with unique numbered plaque MILAN, February 20, 2020 – The ultimate street-legal track-focused variant of Honda’s legendary Civic Type R will arrive on American shores later this year, the company announced today. The lighter, faster and even more ferocious 2021 Type R Limited Edition will feature all of the 2020 model year Type R updates, plus additional enhancements designed to make it the ultimate street-legal Type R track machine. Only 600 units of the 2021 Type R Limited Edition, all in brilliant new Phoenix Yellow and each with an individually numbered serial plate, will be sold in the with availability starting this fall. 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition modifications from stock include: Lightweight, forged aluminum wheels from acclaimed manufacturer BBS (18 lb. total unsprung weight reduction) Further weight reduction of approximately 28 pounds accomplished via reduced sound deadening materials and removal of features such as the rear wiper, tonneau cover, rear heater ducts Specially tuned dampers Recalibrated steering for maximum control and feedback Paying homage to past Type R Limited Edition models, the 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition will come in one model-exclusive color: Phoenix Yellow. Additional model-exclusive treatment includes contrasting 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. The new Type R Limited Edition shares the 2020 Civic Type R mechanical and design updates. In addition, all Limited Edition models will feature an individually numbered serial plate denoting the vehicle’s original country of sale. Like the standard Type R, the Limited Edition also receives the Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies as standard equipment, including Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) with Forward Collsion Warning, Road Depature 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 direct-injected and turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with VTEC™ valvetrain, putting out a peak 306-horseopwer and 295 of torque (both SAE net), with power to the front wheels delivered through a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential. As with the “standard” Type R, drivers can choose between three driving modes – Comfort, Sport and +R – that vary damping force, steering assist and throttle mapping. The new-for-2020 Active Sound Control modifies interior sound in concert with chosen drive mode. Manufacturer’s Suggested Pricing for the 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition will be made available closer to its launch. Neue Bestmarke für Fahrzeuge mit Frontantrieb Kompaktsportler umrundet den legendären Kurs in 2:23,993 Minuten Civic Type R setzt erneut Maßstäbe hinsichtlich Dynamik und Performance Der Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition hat auf der Rennstrecke in Suzuka (Japan) einen neuen Rundenrekord für Fahrzeuge mit Frontantrieb Die bisher sportlichste Version des Type R umrundete den Kurs in 2:23,993 Der 5,8 Kilometer lange Suzuka Circuit ist für seine Hochgeschwindigkeits-Schikanen, seine schnellen Kurven und für die 1,2 Kilometer lange Gerade bekannt, die einen anderen Abschnitt der Rennstrecke als Überführung kreuzt. Insgesamt ähnelt der Rundkurs damit der Form einer Acht. Auf dieser Rennstrecke, die zu den anspruchsvollsten der Welt zählt, hat der Civic Type R Limited Edition nun Maßstäbe für Fahrzeuge mit Frontantrieb gesetzt – dank Leichtbau-Komponenten, Modifikationen an Fahrwerk und Lenkung sowie einem reduzierten, fahrerorientierten Interieur. Der Suzuka Circuit dient Honda seit 1962 als wichtiges Prüfareal für die Performance und Leistungsfähigkeit seiner Fahrzeuge und Motoren. Gebaut wurde der Kurs nach den Anweisungen des Unternehmensgründers Soichiro Honda, der feststellte: „Wer Automobile verbessern will, muss sie auf der Rennstrecke auf Herz und Nieren prüfen.“ Der Rundenrekord wurde von einem Entwicklungsfahrzeug des Civic Type R Limited Edition bei der abschließenden Leistungsprüfung im Februar 2020 aufgestellt – bei gleichen technischen Spezifikationen, ohne Modifikationen oder Leistungssteigerung gegenüber dem Serienmodell. „Mit der Limited Edition des Type R wollten wir den Fahrspaß des Type R weiter steigern und die Erwartungen unserer Kunden übertreffen“, sagt Projektleiter Hideki Kakinuma. „Die Leidenschaft für Motorsport, die bei Honda von einer Generation an die nächste weitergegeben wird, macht den Civic Type R zum idealen Sportwagen. Für diese Modellvariante3 haben wir zusammen mit Honda Racing Development (HRD) Sakura, die eine Schlüsselrolle in der Motorsportentwicklung von Honda spielen, noch mehr Wert auf Geschwindigkeit gelegt. Das Ergebnis ist der neue Rundenrekord in Suzuka, einer der großartigsten Rennstrecken der Welt.“ Der Civic Type R Limited Edition ist in Europa auf 100 Fahrzeuge limitiert und kombiniert die dynamischen Eigenschaften des Civic Type R mit zahlreichen Zusatz-Features – darunter beispielsweise geschmiedete 20-Zoll BBS-Leichtmetallräder mit Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Reifen, die herausragende Performance auf Rundkursen und normalen Straßen mit einer Gewichtseinsparung von zehn Kilogramm verbinden. Auf diese neue Rad-Reifen-Kombination sind auch die modifizierten Dämpfer ausgelegt, die zusammen mit der neu abgestimmten Lenkung optimale Kontrolle und Rückmeldung liefern. Die Steuerungssoftware des adaptiven Dämpfersystems erfasst die aktuellen Fahrbahnbedingungen nun noch schneller und passt die Dämpferreaktionen entsprechend an. Dies optimiert Handling- und Komforteigenschaften gleichermaßen. „Bremsgefühl und Verzögerungsleistung des neuen zweiteiligen, schwimmend gelagerten Bremssystems waren in den Tests exakt wie vom Fahrer erwartet“, fügt Kakinuma hinzu. „Damit konnten wir die Bremszeiten reduzieren und ein außergewöhnliches Kurvenverhalten bei hohen Geschwindigkeiten erreichen. Davon profitierte vor allem das Tempo in der schwierigen S-Kurve und in der zweiten Kurve der Löffelkurve. Neben der gesteigerten Bremsleistung sorgen auch der außergewöhnliche Grip der Michelin Cup 2 Reifen sowie Modifikationen an Aufhängung und Dämpfersystem für eine hocheffiziente Dynamik und Kontrolle – und damit für problemlose Richtungswechsel bei hohen Geschwindigkeiten. Die Reduzierung der ungefederten Masse durch die leichten geschmiedeten Räder verbesserte zudem die Straßenlage und erhöhte die Traktion beim Beschleunigen aus den beiden engen Degner-Kurven und der berühmten 130R-Kurve. Durch die erhöhte Motorkühlung war es zudem möglich, die 320 PS voll auszuschöpfen und auf der Geraden gegen Ende der Runde die Höchstgeschwindigkeit zu erreichen. Die gemessene Rundenzeit auf dem Suzuka Circuit beweist, welche Fortschritte wir mit dem Type R Limited Edition erzielt haben.“ (Kraftstoffverbrauch Civic Type R Limited Edition 2020 in l/100 km: kombiniert 7,7. CO2-Emission in g/km: 177.) Unter der Motorhaube der Limited Edition arbeitet der kraftvolle 2,0-Liter-VTEC-Turbo aus dem Type R. Das Triebwerk entwickelt eine maximale Leistung von 320 PS bei min-1 und ein maximales Drehmoment von 400 Nm zwischen und min-1. Der Sprint von null auf 100 km/h wird in 5,7 Sekunden absolviert. (Kraftstoffverbrauch Civic Type R Limited Edition 2020 in l/100 km: kombiniert 7,7. CO2-Emission in g/km: 177.) Als Außenlackierung steht der exklusive neue Farbton „Sunlight Yellow“ zur Wahl. Die Heckklappe schmückt eine Civic Plakette in dunklem Chrom, Dach und Außenspiegel sind in glänzendem Schwarz lackiert. Ein Lufteinlass auf der Motorhaube komplettiert die dynamische Optik. Im Innenraum unterstreichen rote Schalensitze und eine Plakette mit der Produktionsnummer des Fahrzeugs den sportlich-hochwertigen Charakter der Limited Edition. Das mit Alcantara bezogene Lenkrad und der neu gestaltete Schaltknauf in Tropfenform intensivieren die Verbindung zwischen Fahrer und Fahrzeug – auch auf dem extrem technischen Suzuka Circuit. Um Gewicht zu reduzieren und die Renntrecken-Performance zu erhöhen, verfügt das Fahrzeug über kein Infotainment-System und keine Klimaanlage, doch die Rücksitze sind an Bord geblieben und sichern jene Alltagstauglichkeit, für die der Civic bekannt ist. Insgesamt summieren sich die Gewichtseinsparungen – neue Räder und Reifen, neue Leichtbau-Komponenten und das reduzierte Interieur – gegenüber dem Civic Type R GT auf 47 Kilogramm. „Die neue, fortschrittliche Version des Type R, die wir uns zu Beginn der Entwicklung erträumt haben, ist Wirklichkeit geworden“, so Kakinuma abschließend. „Das Ergebnis ist einfach überwältigend, unsere Mühen wurden belohnt. Wir werden auch weiter daran arbeiten, dass der Civic Type R als ‚ultimatives‘ Fahrzeug wahrgenommen wird – eine Herausforderung, die niemals enden wird. Mit der neuen Modellversion kommt der Civic Type R dem Ziel des perfekten Sportwagens einen Schritt näher.“ Zusätzlich zur Limited Edition hat Honda die Type R Reihe um die neue Modellvariante Sport Line erweitert, die herausragende Performance mit einem dezenteren Design und mehr Komfort verbindet. Alle Modellvarianten der neuen Type R Familie, einschließlich der GT Version, wurden zum Modelljahr 2020 aktualisiert und bieten viele der Performance-Features, die der Limited Edition zum Rundenrekord in Suzuka verholfen haben. Dazu gehören das verbesserte Bremssystem mit zweiteiligen, schwimmend gelagerten Bremsscheiben vorne und neuen Bremsbelägen. Auch die Radaufhängung und das adaptive Dämpfersystem wurden bei allen Type R Modellvarianten modifiziert, um präzisere Handling-Eigenschaften und mehr Fahrkomfort zu bieten. Mit der neuen Bestmarke in Suzuka setzt sich die erfolgreiche Rekordjagd des Kompaktsportlers weiter fort. 2017 stellte der Honda Civic Type R GT mit 7:43,8 Minuten einen neuen Rundenrekord für Fahrzeuge mit Frontantrieb auf der Nordschleife des Nürburgrings auf. Danach erzielte ein Civic Type R GT in Serien-Spezifikation weitere Rundenrekorde für Serienfahrzeuge mit Frontantrieb auf fünf legendären europäischen Rennstrecken. 1 Honda Angabe (Stand Februar 2020) 2 Honda Messungen 3 Civic Type R Limited Edition Kraftstoffverbrauch Civic Type R GT 2020 in l/100 km: kombiniert 7,7. CO2-Emission in g/km: 177. Kraftstoffverbrauch Civic Type R Limited Edition 2020 in l/100 km: kombiniert 7,7. CO2-Emission in g/km: 177. Developed with track performance as its core focus, the new Civic Type R Limited Edition has been designed and engineered to be the most dynamic front wheel drive hatchback available. With new lightweight components and a stripped-back, driver-focused interior, this is the most extreme version of the iconic Civic Type R ever made. Just 100 will be built for Europe, featuring lightweight flow-formed 20” forged BBS alloy wheels with Michelin Cup 2 tyres, which are designed for high-speed track driving but still deliver exceptional on-road performance. Modified dampers optimise this new wheel and tyre combination and recalibration of the EPAS offers maximum control and feedback. To reflect its extrovert nature, an exclusive new colour, ‘Sunlight Yellow’, is introduced for the Civic Type R Limited Edition, along with a dark chrome Civic badge on the back. With the addition of contrasting gloss black paint on the roof, wing mirrors and intake vent on the bonnet, the bold colour scheme reflects Honda’s sporting heritage and ensures the Limited Edition stands out as a unique proposition in the performance hatchback segment. The Civic Type R Limited Edition’s interior echoes Honda’s sporting bloodline: featuring the iconic red bucket seats and red Alcantara steering wheel complemented by the teardrop gear knob. Each model features a plaque marking the build number of the car. Continuing its track-focused nature, the infotainment and air conditioning systems are omitted to save weight. Additional weight is saved by reducing sound-deadening materials in the roof, rear hatch panel, front bumper and dashboard. The Limited-Edition Type-R is 47kg lighter than a Type R in GT specification. Unlike other brands’ track-focused performance hatchbacks, the Limited Edition retains its rear seats and the everyday usability for which the Civic is renowned. The new Limited-Edition model retains the Type R’s powerful VTEC Turbo engine. Peak power output is 320PS at 6,500rpm and peak torque is 400Nm from 2,500rpm to 4,500rpm. 0-62mph is achieved in seconds. New Limited Edition brings go-faster dynamic package for ultimate Type R performance, clothed in exclusive Phoenix Yellow Limited Edition features BBS forged alloys, extra sticky Michelins, weight reduction, and bespoke chassis tuning Type R Limited Edition1 set new front-wheel drive Suzuka Circuit record The 2021 Honda Civic Type R begins arriving in dealers today, heightened by the addition later this month of the ultimate street-legal Type R, the Limited Edition. Since its debut in 2017, Civic Type R has quickened the pulses of hot-hatch enthusiasts, earning widespread praise from media and owners alike. The new Limited Edition model turns up Type R performance further still, with lower weight, improved handling, a higher-performance wheel and tire combination, and an exclusive, eye-catching Phoenix Yellow paint. The 2021 Civic Type R comes with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $37,495, while the Type R Limited Edition has an MSRP of $43,995 (neither including the $955 destination and handling charge). With only 600 Limited Edition units available, it is recommended buyers contact their local authorized dealerships directly for availability of this exclusive model. The 2021 Type R Limited Edition will come in an exclusive Phoenix Yellow color, 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 center console designating its build number. The 2021 Civic Type R and Type R Limited Edition carry 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 Collison Warning, Road Departure Mitigation with Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assist, and Adaptive Cruise Control. TYPE R LIMITED EDITIONThe 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 50 lbs. 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 18 pounds of unsprung weight, which has an important impact on agility and roadholding 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 a pounds of weight savings per side. Going further still, 28 pounds 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 performance2 and reduced weight (1 lb. each). 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 the 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 an even more rewarding driving experience, especially during on-track driving. Under the hood, the 2021 Civic Type R and Type R Limited Edition draw power from the same race-bred direct-injected and turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with VTEC™ valvetrain, putting out a peak 306-horseopwer (SAE net) and a peak 295 of torque (SAE net), with power to the front wheels delivered through a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential. Both Type R models allow drivers to choose between three driving modes – Comfort, Sport and +R – that vary throttle mapping, damping force and steering assist. Suzuka Track RecordThe Civic Type R Limited Edition (European spec) recently stormed to a new front-wheel drive track record at Suzuka Circuit, Honda's Formula 1 racetrack in Japan, with a time of 2 minutes seconds. Originally built as a test facility for Honda, the Suzuka track's figure-8 configuration today is known worldwide as a highlight of the Formula 1 season as a driver and fan favorite. To read more about this achievement, visit About Honda Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic and Accord passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. Honda’s electrified vehicle lineup includes the Insight hybrid-electric sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid, and the Clarity series. Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2019, more than 90 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in the were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts. For More InformationAdditional media information including detailed pricing features and high-resolution photography of all 2019 Honda models is available at Consumer information is available at To join the Honda community on Facebook, visit # # # 1. European specification2. High-performance summer tires are not designed for winter driving and will wear faster than normal passenger car tires. Please see your Honda dealer for details. [MUSIC PLAYING] ALISTAIR WEAVER: The Honda Civic Type R has long been Edmunds's favorite hot hatch, but now its crown is under threat from the limited edition 2021 Mini John Cooper Works GP, the most powerful, most extreme, and the most expensive production Mini ever. I'm Alistair Weaver, and we're here at the Edmunds Test Track with two of the hottest hatchbacks ever produced. Both are either new or updated, both are over 300 horsepower, both are front wheel drive, and both are uncompromising in their pursuit of performance. We're going to put them through the full Edmunds testing procedure, and then we're going to drive them on the track and declare a winner. But before all of that, be sure to subscribe to the Edmunds channel, and check out the link below for a companion piece on that reveals all the testing data. Let's get on with it. To be honest, I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Minis. It was my mom's first car, and legend has it that if she hadn't broken down in it and asked my dad for help, then I wouldn't have been here. And I'm sure we can all agree what a tragedy that would have been. That first, classic Mini really was a work of genius, a genuinely pioneering family car with trick suspension that just happened to be good on the track and rally stage. The Mini Cooper S that won the Monte Carlo rally still looked like my mom's shopping machine. It had a kind of utilitarian chic. Unlike this car. It's like Mini's designers took one look at the Honda Civic Type R and said, hold my beer. Now, whether you like it or not is purely subjective, and I certainly enjoy its sense of theater. But what does irritate me is how much of it is fake. Now, Carlos Lago has his pen. My old skiing buddy, Matt Watson at Carlyle has his Stick of Truth, and I have my Chopstick of Shame. So ready for this, Charlie? Stay with me. Engine air intake? No such thing. Engine power bulge? Also fake. Front grille? Well, some of it's real. Some of it's not. We can forgive that, I think. These kind of wheel arch extensions designed to widen the track of the car give you, in theory, a bit more poise and stability. This is using carbon-reinforced plastic, the sort of thing that you find on the BMW I3 and I8. And apparently, they channel down the side of the car. But if you follow me, you'll see at the back here that these vents don't really go anywhere. But what it actually does is collect gravel-- strange. You also get that natty little gas cap. And then, if you can follow me to the rear, please, sir, there's a diffuser down here. If you crawl underneath, you'll discover it isn't really a diffuser at all. You get some fantastic looking exhaust pipes. Now, the piece de resistance is this split-wing, complete with little gurney flaps. Now, you might be thinking this is a moment of aerodynamic genius, but what it's actually for is to make sure that you don't decapitate the aerial every time you open the truck. Watch this. [LAUGHS] The other thing I should point out, if you look inside, in order to save weight, Mini has junked the rear seats-- you can't even have them fitted as an option-- and gone to is the luggage shelf. What you do get is this sort of red bar, which, at first glance, looks like a strut brace designed to improve the integrity of the body shell. But according to Mini, it's actually there to stop your shopping whacking you in the back if you brake suddenly. It's quite a collection. It's not exactly minimalism. In fact, in my eyes, it's not exactly Mini. It's hard to argue that under BMW's stewardship, Mini is getting further and further away from that original purist ethos. But at least it's not just a styling exercise. There is meat on those bones, which is just as well given it costs $45,000, or around $8,000 more than the Civic Type R. You get 301 horsepower. That's 73 more than the standard John Cooper Works. There's reinforced crankshaft. There's new pistons, a new turbo, a new oil sump, even a new engine mount. But the one thing you don't get is a manual gearbox. Apparently, BMW doesn't have a manual box for a transverse engine capable of handling the GT's 331 pounds-feet of torque. Instead, you have an eight-speed auto with flappy paddles-- more of which later. Like every car we test, we've put it through the full gamut of the Edmunds experience-- so 1/4-mile speeds, braking, and even lateral acceleration, or G-Force to you and I. And now, by the magic of socially distanced cellular technology, I'm being texted the results. So text me, please, Mr. Editor. [DIGITAL EFFECTS] And here we go. Honda Civic Type R, 0 to 60, seconds. Mini GP, helped by that automatic gearbox and slightly lazy clutch action in the Honda. 1/4 of a mile, at miles an hour for the Honda, for the Mini at miles an hour. So braking, that's how fast it stops, from 60 to 0, 107 feet for the Honda, 105 feet for the Mini. So about that much shorter. Now onto the skid pad for a measure of lateral acceleration G-Force. Honda Civic Type R, which is a really good result. Anything over 1g, particularly for a front-drive hatch, is super impressive. Mini GP? Drum roll, please. [DRUM ROLL] So the Honda has more lateral grip. Enough of the stats. Let's hit the circuit. You've probably noticed by now that here we're focusing mainly on the Mini. If you want the full tech lowdown on the Type R, watch Carlos Lagos's superb film on our channel. Now we'll hit the track. So as I warm my car up, let's reacquaint ourselves with the benchmark. It's amazing how immediately at home you feel in the Civic Type R. These seats are fantastic, way better than they are in the Mini. And this driving position really is first-rate. I like the Alcantara wheel they've got on this, the recently updated type R, and it's got this slightly thicker, heavier gear know. Now, I remember a development engineer once telling me that you could tell how sporty a car was by the distance between the gear stick and the steering wheel. And in this car, it's-- well, it's barely a hand span of my slightly puny hand. So it's nice, on a modern car, to be able to feel the cogs mesh in the way that you can in the Honda. Doesn't sound amazing, but what this car's always done well is to put its power down. There's over 300 horsepower. Through front-wheel drives, it's normally a recipe for problems. But actually, you can start to feed out of these corners at 90 degree right and feel the turbo kicking and provide that torque, and away you go. 7,000, hitting the rev limiter, hard on the brakes. Lift off, turn it in a little bit. Held the nose. You can start to feel the rear end rotate. This is a car that you can steer on the throttle, but without it ever feeling alarming. I'm going to go into R-plus mode, which, on the road, it makes it way, way too harsh. But it's actually been designed for circuit use or tracks like this. So this is now their Civic Type R in full attack. You never forget you're in a front-wheel drive car, but there's a lot of fluency. Yes, you can place the car really well on the circuit. And I love this rest matching as well. In some ways, it's kind of lazy not to have to heel and toe, but it does make life easy a little bit to say that you're hitting the rev limiter. Fourth gear, a little lift through here, and hard on the brakes. Down to third, moved a little bit on the braking. That's OK. Turn it in. Hard on the throttle, and the car actually helps you to pull it out of the corner. It's really easy to drive, but it's still entertaining, and it's far from intimidating. And that little bump in that corner, you can feel how aggressive the damping is in this mode. But that's always going to be in the Honda's favor. Because it's got electronic dumping on the road, you can switch it down to Comfort or even Sport and have a ride quality which is compliant enough to be tolerable. Of course, the other thing in the Honda's favor is this is still a proper five-seater family car with a good-sized trunk and plenty of space for genuine adults behind me. This really is a car that you can sell to the family as a everyday tool. Right, come on, Mini. Inside, it'll instantly feel familiar to pretty much any other Mini driver. You do get, though, these fairly funky digital displays and some 3D-printed flappy paddles here on the steering wheel that actually move with the rack. You also get more 3D printing here on the dashboard, including your car's unique build number. Apart from that, though, pretty much business as usual, including the excellent Mini driving position. On the electronics, you have a unique Mini GT Stability Control Mode. If I activate it here, it gives me this little message on the dash that says "Sporty Driving Experience due to Later Intervention of Suspension Control Systems." Which is odd, because it does absolutely nothing to the suspension. Anyway, let's go. [EXHAUST REVVING] To be honest, our handling circuit at the Edmunds Test Track could have been tailor-made for this Mini. It's more like a tarmac rally stage than a traditional racing circuit. So if it's going to feel good anywhere, it should feel good here. To create this car, Mini's engineers have given the standard John Cooper Works a thorough going-over. It now sits 10 millimeters-- that's about 1/3 of an inch-- lower to the ground, and they've upgraded the springs, the dampers, and the stabilizer bars. Now, unlike the Honda, there is no electronic damping. So it only really has one mode, and that's, well, angry. So it's kind of like my ex. So at the moment, we're in stability GP mode. Let's see what she can do. Now, that ride quality on the road at times, if I'm honest, can feel slightly brutal. It never really settles. And I was driving down the highway, talking to a friend on the phone, and I had to actually apologize, because he could hear this kind of fluttering in my voice. And when you hit expansion joints, then there a real hard kick in your spine. But this circuit here is a lot smoother, so that's diminished. But it's still very, very firm. And the other thing about it is you have this constant presence of torque steer, the challenge that the front tires have of actually deploying all that power. The way the Honda puts its power down is a lot more efficient. You're always conscious it is front-wheel drive, but it works with you. In the Mini, you feel that the mechanical diff is always doing battle. And you can feel that sort of kicking back through the steering. And I don't want a sports car that's easy to drive. I don't-- I want to feel like there's a challenge. I want to feel like it rewards me when I do things well. But this car, it feels like it's not so much working with you as hampering progress. Ultimately, somehow, as well, in this pursuit of ultimate performance, Mini's deprived this car of the kind of ultimate agility for which it's renowned. I can't help think that a standard Cooper S would feel a lot more agile, a lot more willing to play than this GP does. I'm going to try, now, actually, just turning all the systems off. Dynamic stability control is now completely off. Let's see what difference this makes. So turn it in, be patient. [SCOFFS] I keep knocking the gearstick with my knee. Coming out of this second gear corner, I feel that I'm constantly fighting that front end. Turn it in. You have to be pretty aggressive to kill that initial understeer, and again. And then you see the car. As soon as I come back onto the power, the car is wanting to push me effectively to the outside of the circuit. And particularly on a circuit as tight and twisty as this, when you really do want to use the full extremity of the tarmac, it doesn't inspire confidence in the way that the Honda does. Also, you don't have a manual gearbox, which as fine. My god, but nor is it a double clutch transmission. It's actually a standard auto, which means it's not as quick to change. Sometimes, particularly on the downshifts, you shift, and then you kind of wait for it to happen. You get this initial push, and that will fire it out I feel like I'm working that much harder, and not, necessarily, in a good way. And I'm sorry if this is sounding really negative, because on paper, it's got so much going for it. But it's just not working for me. And earlier, I actually threw the keys to a couple of other members of the Edmunds test team for their opinion, and we all kind of came up with the same feeling. I find it, actually, quite frustrating, because as I said at the beginning, I've always liked Minis, and I really, really wanted to like this GP. But it just feels like they're trying to push their recipe a bit too far. You sometimes get into cars that are driven more by a kind of marketing demand to create some buzz and create some excitement in the media than a bunch of engineering know-how. And this car feels like that. It's somehow less than the sum of its parts. It just feels like they're stretching themselves a little bit too far. [MUSIC PLAYING] And so to the conclusion. And to be honest, I'm finding it difficult to be so hard on the Mini, because I really, really wanted to like the GP. I love mad cars, and this is certainly one of those. But we're here to be objective. And I reckon you buy that car because you must have the fastest, most expensive, arguably one of the most exclusive Minis ever built. But you don't buy it because it's a great car, because frankly, it isn't. If you really care about cars and excellence like I do-- and so does everybody else at Edmunds-- then the only choice is the Honda Civic Type R. The best just got that little bit better. To be honest, it wasn't even close.

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