Chris, both issues are being taken care of. There's a turbocharged Protege debuting this year, and it's expected that it will be available for all variants (wagon included) by it's redesign. And the WRX gets a mild restyle this year, which looks much better.

 

I still think the WRX reskin looks weird. As for the P5, I'll find something else to bitch about. I don't like the feel of turbos :fawk:

 

they'd better sell a kit to the public then...i want one on my p5

 

Well, if Mazda really decides to push their MPS performance tuning division, that's quite probable. If not, there will likely be other performance companies offering kits, albeit voiding the warranty.

 

Now it really looks like a minivan.

 

From what it looks like, MazdaSpeed is coming with a full line up of turbo cars. Simply awesome, hope the competition responds with similar cars. Then we would have a choice of cool, yet affordable, cars.

 

With a ride hard enough to rattle out your fillings and huge bucket seats, the Civic Type R isn't practical enough for most people. Enter the new Type S, offering a good dose of the flagship's performance with extra luxuries and the Honda's versatile five-door body.

From the outside, the Type S is set apart by unique 15-inch alloys, a mesh grille and rear spoiler, although our early production car was missing some details. The Type S badge appears on the tailgate, while 2.0 decals show that this Civic is the only one to get the 158bhp engine derived from the CR-V i-VTEC.

The S can't keep up with the Type R, but it still feels quick and agile on the road, with 0-62mph covered in 8.5 seconds and a top speed of 130mph. Peak power comes at 6,500rpm, while maximum torque isn't much lower at 5,000rpm, but in reality the engine seems strong throughout the rev range and is a joy to use. The ride has been softened, but it still boasts a sporty edge. Economy, meanwhile, puts many rivals to shame, with 37.7mpg and CO2 emissions of 178g/km helping to keep running costs down.

At £14,995, the new model seems expensive against the £15,995 range-topping Type R, but the extra spec should make up for it. Standard fare includes climate control, black part-leather trim and chrome fittings. Ford matches the Type S's practical five-door shape with its Focus ST170, but at £16,495 this rival looks pricey and will cost more to run than the Honda.

Verdict
Compromising very little on the Civic Type R's good bits, and smoothing over its impractical failings, the new Type S is a breath of fresh air for those who need a five-door body. The 2.0-litre powerplant is punchy and performance is impressive, while economy and emissions should be well within family budgets.

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Chris Thorp

 

type-s = US Civic Si hatch?

 

I almost thought that was over here for a second. :doh:

 

Exact same thing.