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Watch the latest Civic Type R hit the track in Japan

The latest Honda Civic Type R is very sweet forbidden fruit because the launch of the new generation Civic in the US suggests that the 306-horsepower turbocharged hot hatch might not arrive on this continent in its current form. However, the next one should come here and could have an even more powerful version of the Ohio-made 2.0-liter engine. While North American buyers wait, Best Motoring host Keiichi Tsuchiya slips behind the Type R's wheel in this video to show us what we're missing. After the Drift King's drive, the CTR looks a little rotten. Tsuchiya seems to fight understeer from the moment he hits the first corner of the very tight Nikko Circuit, and it doesn't appear to let up over his couple of laps. Unfortunately, this clip doesn't have English subtitles, so we can only draw conclusions from Tsuchiya's driving – unless you understand Japanese. There could be a few explanations for the Civic Type R's performance in this video. There's still snow on the ground, so the performance tires could have trouble with grip in the cold. The track's layout also doesn't provide much opportunity to open the throttle. The tight corners really tax a vehicle's handling, and the hot hatch's front-wheel drive lap record at the Nurburgring suggests the Type R might prefer a quicker track. We also remarked on understeer during our First Drive, but it wasn't this bad. If you're unfamiliar with Best Motoring and Tsuchiya, you're missing out. The show puts racing drivers into mostly Japanese performance cars and lets them offer their driving impressions. Tsuchiya is the star and quite an accomplished racer, one of the drivers who took a class win in a Honda NSX in the 1995 24 Hours of Le Mans. If you've missed out on these clips, prepare to waste a weekend watching the series on its YouTube channel. Related Video:

2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI vs. sport compact sedans: How they compare on paper

Hot hatchbacks may be stealing the headlines, but they're not the only way to get cheap speed. There are actually a number of small sporty sedans on the market, too, in case you want that more formal roofline. The recently revealed 2019 Volkswagen Jetta GLI highlighted these vehicles, so we figured we'd take a look at the specifications and see how they compare to each other. Our contenders are the aforementioned VW, along with the 2019 Honda Civic Si, 2019 Subaru WRX and 2019 Hyundai Elantra Sport. All four start under $30,000 and offer more than 200 horsepower. And of course, they all have trunks. In our comparison, we'll look at each car's powertrain comparing horsepower and torque. We'll also look at practicalities such as interior space, fuel economy and pricing. You can see the raw numbers in the chart below, followed by additional analysis and links to reviews. If you'd like to compare any of these cars with a different group, be sure to check out our car comparison tool. Engines and drivetrains Performance, and particularly power, is likely a priority for a sporty sedan buyer, and there's a clear leader: the Subaru WRX. At 268 horsepower, it's 40 ponies ahead of the next most potent car, the 228-horsepower Jetta GLI. It also ties the GLI for torque at 258 pound-feet. Both cars also support the old adage that "there's no replacement for displacement," since each have 2.0-liter engines while the Hyundai has a 1.6-liter unit and the Honda engine only displaces 1.5 liters. The Hyundai and Honda are nearly tied for power and torque, too, at roughly 200 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. Another bonus for the Subaru is its standard all-wheel-drive system, which is handy for power delivery, lateral grip and for inclement weather. While the Jetta GLI and Civic Si are front-drive only, they do feature mechanical limited-slip differentials to enhance traction under power. The Elantra Sport makes do with electronic aids and an open differential. We're pleased that all four of these cars offer manual transmissions, too. But if you do want or need an automatic transmission, the VW, Subaru and Hyundai have you covered. The VW and Hyundai rely on seven-speed dual-clutch transmissions, and the Subaru uses a CVT with eight preset ratios for manual mode shifting. The Civic Si, though, is manual only (and it's an excellent manual at that).

Honda Civic Type R Concept is the shape of hot things to come

Soon, kids. Soon. The next-generation Honda Civic Type R is finally coming, and we're getting another preview of the hot hatch here at the Paris Motor Show. Of course, this one probably won't be headed to the United States (boo!), but it doesn't mean we can't get excited. After all, we're big fans of little turbo hatches, and from what we know right now, this one sure sounds sweet.
Underneath that new blue paint and red decals is a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four, reportedly good for 276 horsepower. Honda tells us there's a "steer axis" system with adaptive dampers, and with the push of its +R button, the suspension, steering and torque mapping are all altered to make this Type R even more Type R-ier than before. In fact, Honda says this Civic will surpass every Type R that came before it - that means every Integra, Accord, Civic and even the NSX. Hot diggity.
We've got a fresh batch of images of the Type R Concept up top, and Honda's press release is available below. Hopefully it won't be long before the production car is finally revealed.