Limited Edition doesn't get increased engine output; its 2.0-liter turbo-four produces the same 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque as the standard model. Instead, Honda is offering this car with specially tuned dampers, recalibrated steering and -- most importantly -- higher-performance tires. The car you see here rolls on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, which are some of the finest track-ready rubbers available today.
The European-spec Limited Edition won't have a radio or air conditioning, but all of the US-spec cars will.
The 2021 Limited Edition further improves performance by reducing weight. Thanks to things like lightweight, 20-inch BBS wheels, fewer sound-deadening materials and the removal of the hatch wiper, tonneau cover and rear heater ducts, the US-spec Limited Edition is roughly 46 pounds lighter than a stock Type R.
We have to make the "US-spec" distinction because the European version will actually be even lighter. These cars will have their audio systems and air conditioning stripped out, which will result in an additional 30-pound weight loss. Honda won't be offering this super-bare-bones example in the US; a spokesperson tells us there simply isn't any customer demand. For what it's worth, Honda offered an audio/HVAC-delete option for the S2000 CR in the late 2000s, and only a small percentage of buyers went this route.
Honda is offering this car with specially tuned dampers, recalibrated steering and -- most importantly -- higher-performance tires.
New car reviews from all the major sources always seem to make a big deal about tires. Tires are the easiest part of a car to change, and are in fact you're going to have to change them before too long. So other than to comment briefly about how they help or hinder the chassis, who cares what tires come on the car?
Honda is offering this car with specially tuned dampers, recalibrated steering and -- most importantly -- higher-performance tires.
New car reviews from all the major sources always seem to make a big deal about tires. Tires are the easiest part of a car to change, and are in fact you're going to have to change them before too long. So other than to comment briefly about how they help or hinder the chassis, who cares what tires come on the car?
Agree with you, as it doesn't matter to me, I swap my tires right way.
However, I think it does matter what tires come on the car to the average person. 99.999% of people don't buy a brand new car and swap tires. Look at all the Prius tires that come on the brz/frs. Minute you upgrade the tires, chassis is transformed. If OEM provided the grippier tires, stats would be better. Stats sells.
Could it also be that much of Europe is cooler climates where A/C isn't as important? I know all cars in the US stopped offering a/c as an option several years ago. Can you still buy a car without a/c in Europe? If so, then the delete makes more sense.
In general, a/c used to be a much more exotic option in Europe, so a lot of people are used to drive cars without it. In Northern Europe (ie, most places north of Switzerland) you can get away without a/c most of the time. It's kinda like most of the time you don't need a/c in Maine or Upstate New York.
I wouldn't be surprised if on a bunch of cooking models (especially on European manufactured cars), a/c would still be an option at least at the base trim level.
My last car in USA that didn't have an A/C was 1991 Honda Civic HF Hatchback. 4 forward gears, vinyl seats. 67Hp. no tacometer, no center console, no right side mirror on door, all bumpers/door handles non body colour (black plastic)
I know in the USA, A/C is a $1295 option on base Wrangler, even in 2020.
Of course the more important question is how long these will stay glued to showroom floors because of ridiculous "market value adjustments"?
I really wish the manufacturers had more power to keep the dealers from doing that.
Agreed - there is a very good chance that Honda would have sold another CTR and Alfa would have sold one less Giulia if it wasn't for dealer gouging. IIRC the CTR is still sitting on the showroom floor.
Of course the more important question is how long these will stay glued to showroom floors because of ridiculous "market value adjustments"?
I really wish the manufacturers had more power to keep the dealers from doing that.
Agreed - there is a very good chance that Honda would have sold another CTR and Alfa would have sold one less Giulia if it wasn't for dealer gouging. IIRC the CTR is still sitting on the showroom floor.
Yep. I remember a few dealers in the OKC area still had 2 Focus RS, still marked above MSRP................AFTER they announced they were going to stop making them. At the same time, other dealers around the country were finally offering at or just below to get them off their floorplan.
I'm failing to see what's much different in this special edition. Tires aren't a permanent fixture on a car. A rear windshield wiper and HVAC vent delete? Sounds half assed IMO.
The 10G Civic forums have a "naughty list" for dealers that are still marking up CTRs. Honda can totally do something about dealers that do this since Honda NA controls the inventory that dealers get. They could withhold future models like this "limited edition" hackjob or hotter selling CUVs.
There's a dealer in Central Florida that is hoarding CTRs - they have 5-6 of them now. All have been on the showroom floor for over 2-3 months and they all have a $5-8k markup. They even had a used one with a "market adjustment" added to the price. They also list a ton of cars on their website that they also don't have in inventory to draw people in. It makes Teslas sales model seem like a dream until you hear some of the nightmares on that end -- which is a whole nother thread.
The CTR is getting a new blue color, some revised interior bits, and a limited edition model for it's mid-cycle refresh and the dealers will eat this crap up for their "market adjustments."
My last car in USA that didn't have an A/C was 1991 Honda Civic HF Hatchback. 4 forward gears, vinyl seats. 67Hp. no tacometer, no center console, no right side mirror on door, all bumpers/door handles non body colour (black plastic)
I know in the USA, A/C is a $1295 option on base Wrangler, even in 2020.
It's not like there is a link in the first post or anything.
I may have been making a point about clarity. I have an electrical engineer friend who speaks in Initialisms, and I make a point of not understanding anything he says to me.
My last car in USA that didn't have an A/C was 1991 Honda Civic HF Hatchback. 4 forward gears, vinyl seats. 67Hp. no tacometer, no center console, no right side mirror on door, all bumpers/door handles non body colour (black plastic)
I know in the USA, A/C is a $1295 option on base Wrangler, even in 2020.
I use my A/C in the car enough in Alaska in the summer that I don't know why Canadians wouldn't want it? Where most Canadians live, their summers are hotter than ours even,
Also I was hoping we were talking about a new one of these:
Back in the 50's cars shipped to South Florida did not have heaters. Most of them also didn't have A/C. But he were a tougher hardier species back then. Cars had side vent windows. LOL
Grew up in south Florida, didn't have a car with A/C before 1977. Can't for the life of me figure out how we survived.
