Honda Civic Type- R Hatchback

The human body can be a very unique machine once stretched to the limits of filth. Often when on long road trips in the burning sun, the body oozes out a clear liquid and gives off a rather nasty, salty smell. Now you may be asking why I just mentioned this and forced half of the subscribers to cancel their subscriptions. It's simple really: to point out the importance of being clean. This isn't just important for sweaty armpits and potentially hot dates either, it's everywhere and keeps the universe from collapsing. But you don't need to mention that to Fabian Carrillo of Plantation, Fla. His Mugen Civic Type R hatchback has a clean and polished JDM look pouring out of every panel, bolt and wire. His car teaches everybody a lesson; that you don't need triple-deck wings stretching 5-ft high, massive ground effects kits and 27 TVs in your car to have a bad-ass ride. Carrillo realized you don't need to drop your car all the way to center of the earth to get a good look. This Civic doesn't scrape on cigarette butts as it goes down the road; it retains comfortable street manners and is a daily driver. The best of both worlds. Makes you jealous doesn't it?

The Civic was built with a single unifying theme: JDM Mugen Type R goodness. As many pieces as possible were changed out to duplicate the sweet goodness that Honda decided to keep overseas. The stock front seats were removed in favor of a pair of Mugen buckets with Takata four-point safety harnesses. The Civic lost its rear seats and Carrillo went with Integra Type R rear seats to give passengers that luxurious and supportive ride. A Mugen instrument cluster was installed along with Mugen pedals, block-off tray and a Mugen steering wheel. Door panels were given a red dress-up coloring, and a Pioneer head unit and Boston Pro speaker set were all installed to spice up daily driving entertainment. Outside, the Civic was repainted from red to Type R Phoenix Yellow and a few Mugen and Type R badges were added to give just a hint of what lies inside.

The Type R badge is only given to cars that give the most pure driving experience. The kind of car that has a razor-sharp edge, a car that excites the driver and gives a certain joy when taking it out on the track. Carrillo's car is built to perform and shows that the "R" in Type R stands for racing. The EK hatchback had a surprise in store for all the church ladies that wanted a nice gas-sipping commuter; it could tear corners like no car in its price range should. A double wishbone suspension design with Honda engineering behind it let the Civic haul some serious ass around turns. Who could blame Carrillo when he thought, "What if it had Type R muscles underneath?" Mugen strut tower bars were installed front and rear to help with chassis rigidity and to reduce flex. Firmer and shorter springs from Skunk2 were installed along with a Civic Si front anti-sway bar. A five-lug conversion was done all around the Civic that helped open up a world of performance options that the four-lug Civic can't tap. Civic Type R brakes were installed all around the car to bring down braking distances. Firmer and shorter Skunk2 springs were installed at the four corners, along with the proper Koni dampers to contain the new spring rate. Grip and driver feedback with the road were both increased with new 16-in. GAB rims with Yokohama meats in a 205/45-16 size.

The Honda B-series engines have spanned legions of diehard fans, and Carrillo extended the Type R treatment to the engine bay. Getting all the power out of your motor is a process that requires thought and planning, and Carrillo planned a screamer. The B16 retained its original bore and stroke, but Civic Type R pistons were installed to bump up the compression ratio to a crushing 11.7:1. The stock piston rods were shotpeened, balanced and held in place with APR rod bolts. Civic Type R camshafts were installed to increase power and give that extra Mustang-crushing juice. The cylinder head received a three-angle valve job and a port and polish. Titanium valves, JUN valve springs and titanium retainers were installed to decrease rotational mass and increase engine ability. A Mugen Formula Head cover was installed over all that goodness to give that clean look to the engine bay. Exhaling duties were upgraded with an Integra Type R 4-to-1 header along with a Mugen exhaust muffler. Carrillo also installed a Mugen thermostat and radiator cap to help with cooling duties for the upgraded engine. A Mugen oil filler cap was added to help with dress-up under the hood. A new ATS 4.929 final drive gear was installed along with an ATS limited-slip differential to help the car accelerate faster and still be able to put the power down to the ground. The extra power the engine made is now contained by an upgraded Mugen clutch and upgraded axles.

The car has run a 14.2-sec. quarter mile at 99 mph, but straight-line speed isn't really the purpose of this Civic. Agility and finesse combined with a little extra strength give the car a sharper, more refined edge. Carrillo's Civic is the total package; balanced and upgraded in all performance areas while retaining a professional, clean look. Like a triathlete in a tuxedo, Carrillo's Mugen Civic Type R creation is much more potent than its clean look would let it appear to be. Just don't try to misjudge this Civic and let it surprise you out on the streets. It just might clean you out.