HONDA ANNOUNCES CIVIC 3-DOOR TYPE S FOR EUROPE

A new 3-door Honda Civic breaks cover at the British International Motor Show in July. The Type S shares the same platform and overall dimensions as the 5-door Civic, but it has a sportier look and feel, with re-tuned suspension to deliver sharper cornering. The car will go on sale in January 2007. Type S is aimed at younger customers wanting style and performance in a 3-door package. It joins the 5-door and Type R Concept to complete the Civic line-up for Europe. Exterior styling is bold, with sculpted side skirts flaring towards both the front and rear wheels and blended into the wheelarch surrounds. These then flow into the front and rear spoilers to complete the lower body structure, all of which is finished in a gun metal finish. Elsewhere, Type S exaggerates the coupe-like profile with a unique rear side window, the lower edge of which kicks upwards to give a distinctive tapering shape. To give the Type S sharper steering response, improved ride and excellent cornering stability, the suspension has been specially-tuned, with revised spring and damper settings and a 20mm wider rear track. This broader stance, coupled with the deep front air intake and standard 17-inch alloy wheels, gives the Type S a particularly muscular, planted look. Under the bonnet of the 3-door Civic sits either a rev-happy 1.8-litre i-VTEC petrol engine, or Honda’s highly-rated 2.2-litre diesel unit. Both engines produce a significant 140PS and can be combined with a 6-speed manual gearbox. The 1.8-litre i-VTEC is also available with Honda's automated-manual i-SHIFT transmission.