Honda has taken the wraps off its subtly facelifted Civic Type R at the Tokyo Auto Salon, handing the hot hatch minor mechanical and styling upgrades.

The refreshed model gains new two-piece brake discs and new brake pads “designed to reduce fade and improve high-speed braking efficiency”.

Suspension revisions, meanwhile, include updated dampers for “better ride comfort”, stiffer rear bushings for “better grip” and modifications to the front suspension to reduce friction and improve steering feel.

Styling changes are as subtle as they come, led by a new larger front grille opening and the availability of a new Type R-exclusive “Boost Blue” exterior paint colour.

Inside, you’ll find a redesigned Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and a new gear shifter with a restyled knob and even shorter shift throws. The Civic Type R also gains a fresh suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies (for the US market, anyway).

Nothing’s changed under the bonnet, though, where the turbocharged 2,0-litre, four-cylinder petrol engine still delivers 228 kW and 400 N.m to the front axle. However, the Japanese firm has added a new “Active Sound Control” system, which modifies interior sound according to the chosen drive mode.

Original article from Car