Around the Mondello track at blistering speeds the engine, suspensions and brakes were pushed to the limit. Thankfully, at the end of the test it was clear that technology from Honda's Formula 1 programme had found its way into this road car.

The engine is a high revving two-litre unit which has undergone extensive reworking.

It has VTC variable inlet camshaft technology which makes it more responsive and it runs more smoothly thanks to a new electronic throttle valve.

The high torque engine gives an exciting driving experience and a 0-100km sprint takes just 6.6 seconds. The top speed is 235km/h (144mph).

With such speed on tap the suspension needed special attention and it is now more highly tuned, with special spring and damper settings and a 15mm lower ride height. To cater for the G-forces, there is extra strengthening in the floor area and the upper suspension mountings. Bigger all-round disc brakes, 18" tyres and exclusive Honda steering-assist technology give reassurance for the driver at high speeds.

The safety measures include anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and a vehicle stability assist programme to keep your wheels on the road in cornering, accelerating and sudden manoeuvres. It is critical that this latest Honda technology applies braking to the right- or left-hand wheels as necessary and that it also assists in managing the accelerator use in potentially dangerous situations.

Front seatbelts get double pretensioners and there are six airbags, while the bucket seats get headrests that shoot forward to protect the head and neck in the event of a rear-end collision.

The Type R comes with a sporting design and has the same compact dimensions of the Civic five-door range. The fuel tank is located under the front seats.

This may sound a little disconcerting at first but according to Honda this gives it excellent protection in the event of an accident. There are side skirts, which are not just for show, and a wider rear track stance. But still remembering that this is a road car, the Honda engineers have managed to put a class-leading 485 litres of boot space behind the rear seats.

In normal driving conditions the Type R is quiet but on the open road, the stiff suspension would be obvious. It's easy to get in and out of and, as one would expect, the cockpit has all the trimmings.

So why would anybody want to spend 37,000 on a three-door compact that legally you cannot use to anything like its full potential? The answer is the very visible Type R badge, the look, and just knowing, and letting everybody else know as well, that you have a thoroughbred. Expect to see about 40 registered this year and 90 next year. There is no doubt that many of these owners will be booking Mondello on a regular basis to join other owners of high-powered cars to experience the raw fun of it all.

The Type R goes on sale in two weeks' time and a sibling, the Type S which comes with a 1.8 litre 140bhp engine is already on sale at 27,820. This model has the same body, different suspension settings, 17" wheels and a top speed of 205 km/h with fuel consumption running at 6.6 L/km in mixed driving.

Frank Kennedy, sales and marketing director of Universal Honda, says that sales of the fivedoor Civic, voted Semperit Irish Car of the Year for 2007, are now the highest on record here and in Europe and the arrival of the new high-performance cars with more hybrid models coming on stream is going to strengthen the brand in the premium end of the market.

VITAL STATISTICS
Model Engine Length Width Height Wheelbase Acceleration Top speed Transmission Economy Price C0 2emissions Honda Civic Type R 2L iVTEC 201 bhp 4275 mm 1785 mm 1445 mm 2635 mm 0-100km in 6.6 secs 235 km/h 6-speed manual 9.1L/km 36,980 215g/km