Honda and Autocar have teamed up to celebrate the 25th anniversary of R performance models.
Things originally kicked off in 1992 when Honda launched the NSX Type R in Japan. However, the first R model didn’t arrive in the United Kingdom until the Integra Type R was introduced in 1998.
Designed to showcase Honda’s performance philosophy, the Integra Type R was lighter than the standard model and included stiffer springs and dampers. The car also was equipped with a Momo steering wheel, Recaro seats, and a titanium gear knob.
More importantly, a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine resided under the hood and produced 187 hp (139 kW). This enabled the car to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds before hitting a top speed of 145 mph (233 km/h).
The Integra Type R was followed by the Accord Type R one year later. While it wasn’t as sporty its predecessor, it had a 2.2-liter four-cylinder with 209 hp (155 kW). Despite the extra power, the car wasn’t exactly fast as it took seven seconds to complete the dash from 0-60 mph and only had a top speed of 140 mph (225 km/h).
The R performance brand really started to take off when the first Civic Type R arrived in 2001 with 197 hp (146 kW). It was followed by a more aggressively styled model six years later. Of course, that car was followed by the 2015 Civic Type R and the current model which owns the front-wheel drive Nürburgring lap record.