If you're looking for a better argument for slow car fast over fast car slow, look no further than Honda's Type R gems of the '90s. The 'R' may stand for racing, but the DC2 Integra Type R only pushes out 200 horsepower and the EK9 Honda Civic Type R is even more modest at 180 horsepower.
Still, even car enthusiasts who are only mildly familiar with these old Type Rs will know the sublime balance and chassis dynamics make these cars feel greater than the sum of its parts.
20 years after the first EK9 Civic Type R was produced, Honda continues its Type R lineage with the latest 2017 Civic Type R, the very first 'CTR' available for sale in the U.S. market (The USDM 'ITR' arrived in 1997), and currently on display at the 2017 New York Auto Show.
With a 2.0 liter turbo power unit, the 2017 Civic Type R boasts 306 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. Available with an adjustable suspension, lightweight aluminum suspension components, Brembo brakes, a limited-slip differential, and a gigantic rear wing, the new 'CTR' is a completely different animal compared to its predecessors. And although the 2017 Civic Type R will no doubt win in a fast lap around the Nürburgring, the original EK9 CTR and DC2 ITR wins our hearts.
Enjoy a blast from the past and check out this Best Motoring EK9 Civic Type R vs. DC2 Integra Type R comparison test at the quick Ebisu East Circuit, featuring Keiichi Tuschiya and Gan-san in a video from the archives that originally aired in 1997, exactly 20 years ago.
