If you think 160 ps from the Civic SiR's 1.6 DOHC VTEC is impressive, what about 185 ps? That's what the Type R's b16b engine produces.  Torque is a lowly 160 Nm, compared to a stock Accord 2.3's  210 Nm@  That comes at a very inaccessible 7500 rpm, too.  For racing though you'd probably keep the revs up, so that shouldn't be a problem.  Max power is also reached a stratospheric high of 8200 rpm.  The peak is more impressive here, 185 ps.  Where other engines would begin to self-destruct, the Type R's is just beginning to wake up.  

Soundbase's Type R has a little more than that, about 195 ps.  Some of that comes from a new air filter and exhaust system.  The ECU has also been swapped for a Mugen unit, which remaps the engine functions to better suit race conditions.

The 195 ps engine may be the main attraction here, but playing a strong supporting role is the reinforced suspension.  No need to purchase new springs here-the Type R is already lowered by 20 mm from the normal Civic. The tires themselves are just 195/55-15s, but the double wishbones on all four corners takes full advantage of their available traction.  

The stiffened suspension creates additional stresses on the chassis, and the engineers at Tochigi are ready with reinforcements at strategic points on the chassis.  These additional bits of metal welded at just the right junctions help the Type R corner with ease and fluidity.  Brakes, taken from the mighty NSX, are up to the task of hauling down the Type R repeatedly for a whole race distance.

The Type R's weight has been pared down by elimination of sound and some heat insulation, and it weighs in at 1070 kg,  even with the added chassis reinforcements, this helps to make sure that the high-rev biased engine can pull the car around with little difficulty.  That's 1070 kg with all the creature comforts like aircon and small things like door trim and carpets!  Stripped down, and with a racing fuel tank, the car weighs in at about 850 kg only.

Even with all those changes, this Civic can disappear into a queue of ordinary Civic hatchbacks.  There are very few styling cues that differentiate it.  It's available in four colors: white (of course, the traditional Type R color), black, silver and bright yellow-Jordan yellow?  There's a front airdam, and rear and side skirts.  A small spoiler is also attached to the top of the rear hatch.  Discreet red "H" are at front and rear, and "Type R" badges are at the rear flanks, and…that's it.  Those needing more attention need not apply, then.  The stock five-lug alloy wheels look good on this car!

The interior will be familiar to all of you Civic owners out there.   A relief from all the gray plastic is a splash of bright red-the pair of Recaro buckets in the front.  A titanium gearknob connects your hand to the close-ratio five-speed gearbox.