What do you do when you decide that you want a brand new FL5 Civic Type R but only in blue? You patiently wait two years for the phone to ring and the dealer to tell you that they’ve finally got one, of course! 

That’s exactly what Paul did. After owning a Honda Civic FK8 Type R, when the new FL5 model was launched Paul knew that he had to have one and set his heart on getting one in Racing Blue Pearl. In 2022, Paul went into his local dealership to order an FL5 but was told that he could only order it in two colours, neither being the blue that he wanted. Instead of rushing to buy a car that he wasn’t 100% on Paul waited a further two years until the dealership gave him that long awaited phone call. “We’ve got a blue FL5 in the showroom that’s got your name all over it” and without hesitating Paul told them that he’d be there the following day to buy it (and we don’t blame him!).   

Hailed as the ‘best hot hatch on the market’ by PistonHeads and described as more ‘polished and poised’ than any other hot hatch by Evo Magazine, the FL5 truly won automotive journalists over across the world. Pushing 325bhp from factory through a six-speed manual gearbox straight to the front wheels, the FL5 sounds like it has followed the original recipe for a hot hatch (although it is a lot larger than the EK9 and EP3 generation Type R’s of old).  

Paul himself perfectly described the FL5 as a ‘grown up’ version of the FK8, with its more sensible styling and individual driver modes. The wheels have also gone down a size from 20’ to 19’ with higher profile tyres, giving the FL5 a great stance. Despite the less aggressive aero the FL5 develops more downforce than the previous FK8 with approximately 100kg of downforce at 124mph.  

Since late 2024, Paul has wasted no time in making the car his own. He has already fitted an aftermarket air intake and got the car remapped from the standard 325bhp to a more shouty 380bhp. As far as further modifications go, Paul is now happy with where the car is and he has no plans to take the upgrades any further.  

His next plans are simple, to get behind the wheel and enjoy the car. Having already enjoyed what the Honda has to offer on some local B-roads, Paul is now planning to go on a couple of organised driving trips around the UK that take place across multiple days. We have to say that we are very envious of this, cruising through some windy Welsh roads in a Civic Type R, does it get much better? 

In a world where new cars are often becoming more desensitised the FL5 Civic Type R is a breath of fresh air.  

Paul is a regular at The Motorist so next time you see him parked up with his eye-catching Honda, make sure to say hi! 

Car Facts: 

Make: Honda 

Model: Civic Type R (FL5) 

Year: 2024 

Engine: 2.0l VTEC Turbo  

BHP: 380 (325 from factory) 

Top Speed: 171 mph 

0-62: 5.4 seconds (from factory) 

Weight: 1429kg 

Additional modifications: upgraded intake and remapped to 380bhp