GT5 Transcripts/Honda Civic Type R EP

When the seventh generation Civic made its debut in September 2000, the 5-door hatchback and the 4-door sedan took the spotlight in the lineup, as the 3-door hatch lost its luster to Japanese buyers. That didn't stop Honda from abandoning the 3-door, as it imported them into Japan from its manufacturing plant in Swindon, UK, which explains its European look. The Type R stretched 162.7 inches from front to rear bumper, sat 66.7 inches wide and stood 56.2 inches tall, making it the only Civic ever that was shorter and taller than the outgoing model.

The heart of the Type R was still strong, beating through a 2.0-liter DOHC inline-4 with i-VTEC - the base Civics were powered by a 1.5-liter and 1.7-liter four cylinder. The "i" in "i-VTEC" stood for "intelligent", meaning it actuated different cam lobes at different speeds, enabling the engine to act efficiently. Output was impressive, turning out 212 HP at 8000 rpm and 148.9 ft-lb of toque at 7000. It was mated to a 6-speed manual transmission, whose shifter was mounted on the center dash. The suspension setup - MacPherson struts up front and double wishbones at rear - did a commendable job of providing excellent handling balance and a smooth ride. The car's look was slightly updated in 2004 in the form of a new grille.