Deep in the Japanese mountains lies a test track that blatantly plagiarizes Germany’s famous Nurburgring circuit. This is Honda’s playing field and they are not afraid of comparisons. Japanese automakers have always taken the best parts from European cars and improved them themselves, so why not do the same for racing circuits?

Takasu’s test track is 6.2km long, offers over 40 turns, including a dozen blind turns as you climb and incline through the woods, a part where all four wheels leave the tarmac if you’re fast enough and a series of complicated curves. If there’s a car that can average 95 mph and go around in about three minutes, it’s a bit special. The latest Honda Integra Type R does all of this. Better find a used one then.

Why shouldn’t you buy a new one? Well, simply put, it’s because you can’t. So it’s time for a warning before we all get carried away. The latest Integra is very special, however it is too close in terms of performance to the newer Civic Type R we have in the UK. As a result, Honda will not import it to our shores. To buy one, it will have to be a used example. This in itself is not a problem, as Honda is known for its reliability and build quality. However, you will have to go through an importer to get a direct one from Japan, a country that fortunately drives on the right side of the road like we do.

However, it is worth the hassle, starting with the style. The new Integra is a much beefier model than the one built up to 2001. Sleek headlights balanced perfectly with a revised grille give the car a determined look. The car sits on larger 17-inch (16-inch predecessor) alloy wheels with red Brembo brake calipers that peek through the spokes, giving the car a cool look and enforcing that it will stop too. dry.

The roofline is also higher than the previous model, and the car’s stylist, Hideaki Uchino, said the overall look is designed with the American market in mind. According to Uchino, previous Honda sports cars have been too “thin”, so they have followed suit with the latest offerings from BMW and Audi. Surely it is not another case of the Japanese who were “inspired” by Europe? In this case we will let Honda go, after all, Uchino used to work for Ferrari Pininfarina stylists and helped design the 360 ​​Modena. More than enough to have on your CV, I am sure you will agree.

Recaro’s racing seats stay happy, which means you’ll stay firmly gripped no matter what corners come your way. The 1.8-liter engine has been upgraded, upgraded to a smoother 2-liter i-VTEC. There’s also clever engineering that means the intake cam timing is continuously variable. What this means in normal words is that emissions are reduced and power increased. They are a smart bunch, right?

As a result, the power rises from 30 hp to 217 hp and the legendary i-VTEC will accelerate again to 8,400 rpm. The greatest pleasure in driving a VTEC still remains, this time at 6,000 rpm. Once the counter hits this magical figure, the high-elevation cams are activated and you launch yourself towards the horizon accompanied by one of the best soundtracks ever. A short-shift six-speed gearbox ensures that you too can get the most out of all the revs.

Honda also claims big improvements to the structural rigidity of the body and when you combine this with a stiff suspension it gives the new Integra a very different feel. The rear grip is phenomenal, and the car refuses to let go unless you really overdo it, but you’d have to be a jerk to head around a corner that fast anyway.

Bigger wheels do more than just revamp the car, they also help with handling. Combining all of these factors, the latter car feels significantly faster (especially cornering) despite the raw data suggesting minimal advances in speed, primarily because the car weighs 72kg more overall due to the larger engine.

When you need to stop, never fear, as the brakes, like the wheels, not only look good, they do too. Once again, Honda is talking in technical terms about 300mm vented discs, fade resistant brake pads, and cooling ducts. Just worry about the fact that this car stops really fast and you never tire of doing it.

Finally, in case you’ve forgotten which car it was in, ‘Type R’ badges adorn every available space – the seats, the steering wheel, the aluminum pedals, the gear stick, etc. Honda didn’t have to bother. Once you’ve driven the used Honda Integra Type R, you’ll never forget it.