ARTA launches Civic Type R racer for the road
Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya races a Super GT Civic; the ARTA GT is his vision for the public highway...
For many years now, the appearance of the Honda Civic Type R has probably best been described as ‘unapologetic’. It hasn’t followed trends or tradition, and there’s certainly never been any danger of mistaking them for standard Civics. Even the old FK8 Sportline retained three exhaust pipes. Bad news for shrinking violets, but great news for those hoping to make a more extreme Civic Type R - because it already starts at wonderfully OTT.
This particular FL5 is the GT, and it's the work of Autobacs Racing Team Aguri, also known as ARTA. It races a Civic Type R in Super GT (which looks absolutely wild, of course), and this limited edition car is designed to take that aesthetic to the street. It consulted the racers, too, which include Aguri Suzuki and Drift King Keiichi Tsuchiya, with circuit sign-off from former ARTA driver Tomoki Nojiri.
While there is more power than standard - somewhere around 400hp thanks to a new turbo, exhaust and intercooler - the focus must surely be on the extraordinary appearance. It would take quite a bit for a standard Civic Type R to look tame, but that’s exactly what’s been achieved. Trying to get the touring car aesthetic for the road usually ends up a bit of a muddle; seemingly the solution is a front end that gapes this much, flics that could double up as kitchen shelves, and track widths bulked up by an obscene degree. How this remains legal on a road isn’t exactly clear, given how long and low that front splitter is. And good luck seeing anything out of the back with that new spoiler in place.
But that’s missing the point. ARTA’s work makes for an even more dramatic Civic Type R, one that should be even more capable on a track as well. See, it doesn’t just look like a race car: there are proper motorsport bits underneath as well. They include two-way adjustable KW dampers, huge AP Racing front calipers, uprated pads and lines, plus giant 295-section Bridgestones at each corner, wrapped around 18-inch forged wheels. The GT certainly isn’t a case of all show and no go. New Recaros and a wheel seemingly straight from a GT500 spec machine complete the motorsport makeover.
ARTA suggests that the GT channels ‘the pure essence of driving’; certainly it’s hard to imagine this much going into a car as good as the Type R and the end result being anything but spectacular. Just 20 are going to be made, with the GT kit costing 13,500,000 - or £63,000, at current rates. That much carbon on a Civic was never going to come cheap, particularly with actual race team expertise as well.
Add that to the current cost of a used FL5 (they can’t be too different in Japan) and this is at least a £100,000 Civic. With ARTA Orange at extra cost. Yet apparently they were so swamped by enquiries at Tokyo that build slots are now having to be allocated via a lottery. The fortunate 20 will surely receive a car that will attract as much attention as anything else costing £100k - and be just as fast around a track.
(Pic credit: Autobacs Seven)
Quick question as fellow FL5 CTR owner, did you put winter tyres on yours or stick with the OEM PS4s? I kept the PS4s but there did seem to be a loss of traction during the cold snap at 2 degrees and I didn't venture out in the snow!
Can’t help thinking that Japan is having - all the fun here - what are we getting from our industry & legislators - 3000kg EV’s at 100k prices, with no ICE madness…
Best brush up on that Japanese phrase book & get out there - soon…!!
Also - agree - I haven’t been in a multi story car park since I 50 fifty pence pieced a front wheel on my A45 in Bristol… dreadful wheel killing & bodywork scraping places - seemingly designed to HURT…!
Quick question as fellow FL5 CTR owner, did you put winter tyres on yours or stick with the OEM PS4s? I kept the PS4s but there did seem to be a loss of traction during the cold snap at 2 degrees and I didn't venture out in the snow!
Quick question as fellow FL5 CTR owner, did you put winter tyres on yours or stick with the OEM PS4s? I kept the PS4s but there did seem to be a loss of traction during the cold snap at 2 degrees and I didn't venture out in the snow!
I've got a few sets of wheels now;
Bola FLB - 245/40/18 (Summer) - Pilot Sport 5
Work Emotion ZR10 - 265/30/19 (Blingy Summer
) - Pilot Sport 4S (BMW OEM PS4 / Cup2 Hybrid)OEM Wheels - 255/35/20 (Track) - Cup 2
Can't remember -245/40/18 (All Season) - Vredestein Quatrac Pro
(I think there's another set of 18's as well ready for 18" Track use, but I'm thinking I might have bought too many wheels so we'll leave those out...)
It's way overkill, but has given me the chance to try lots of tyres in lots of conditions...
For normal and 'fast road' use,
Pilot Sport 4 / 5 Are better than the 4S - As per the tyre reviews video, they are more compliant and last longer, with better wet performance:- These benefits vastly outweigh the marginal handling / dry gains of the 4S in my opinion.
Pilot Sport 4S Is good for dedicated 'Hot Summer' use.
Cup2s are Cup 2's - Just as winter tyres feel magic in the snow, wait until you get them on a track...
To finally answer your original question;
I went for an All Season (Vredestein Quatrac Pro) for use as a Winter tyre.
Chose the Vreds as they tradeoff snow grip for very good wet performance, which is more pertinent to the conditions in the South.
They are still miles better than any summer tyre in the snow, but most critically, you benefit from the compounds being optimised for the temperature.
As you rightly say, 4S / UHP Summers tend to 'Go off' below 7c, and drop off even more sharply below 3c particularly in the wet.
When using the all seasons in 0c, you still feel like you've got rubber tyres, rather than 4S's that feel like hard plastic - The handling is more enjoyable, and the extra compliance offered gives winter driving a bit of a 'Comfort Mode' feeling, perfect for all the potholes that appear, and naturally encouraging the adoption of a more winter-appropriate driving style.
I'd very strongly recommend it - You get better grip, handling and feeling in cold conditions, and by splitting the wear, you can spread the cost of tyres significantly.
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