Yes, the R in “Type R” stands for racing. Make no mistake: although Type R models are street-legal, they are true racing-bred machines. Engineers developing Type R models have handling and performance in the pole position on their list of goals. While Type R models typically have more power than the next trim level in line, the Type R namesake brings far more than a bit of a boost in power.
The biggest upgrade Type R models see over other trim levels is suspension. Since the NSX Type R, Honda engineers have poured their hearts and souls into ensuring Type R models have handling characteristics and grip performance like nothing else in its class. The Integra Type R, for example, was developed to oversteer through corners despite its front-wheel-drive layout to get it around corners as fast as possible.
If you think engineering-specific suspension setups for each model are hardcore, though, that’s only the beginning.
