That's because the cars from the Honda stable deemed fit for the red 'H' badge have never failed to impress.

The 'R' affixed to the Type stands, of course, for racing. It is the equivalent of an archers two bow-fingered salute to all and sundry.

It is an instant indication that the car will be lean, taught, quick and aggressive.

In 2001, the outgoing Civic Type-R was launched and was all of the above and more.

It was raucous and the suspension was stiff bordering on uncomfortable. The V-TEC engine was a rev-happy gem of a unit and the close-knit 'box put race-day feel into the driver's grasp.

It was in fact the second coming of the hot hatch. People were harping back to the original Golf and Peugeot 205 GTis.

It scooped so many industry awards it became embarrassing and so its successor had to be special or face obscurity.

Honda has not disappointed. When the first images of the new Type–R hit the press it sent rivals skittling.

It's edgy lines, sharp contours, and sleek styling touches made it an instant hit.

In its yellow paintwork the cry from pun lovers was 'mustard' but that didn't really tell us very much about its credentials.

The truth is that in comparison with its predecessor, which I absolutely adore, the new Civic Type-R is more of a French mustard than an English.

It's milder and easier on the palette – much less likely to shoot up your nose making water gush from every orifice.

The ride is softer, the gears are longer and the V-TEC engine works across a broader range of engine revolutions.

I say the ride is 'softer'. To the majority of people it will feel just that in comparison with the 2001 model.

Your connoisseur of chassis though will tell you it is not softer, it's merely better damped and more dynamic.

Honda has also plumped for a torsion-based rear suspension set-up over an independent version.

This all makes this car an absolute phenomenon in the corners. It feels totally wired into the road in a way I've rarely experienced.

Lift off before an apex and the shift in the car's centre of gravity, which would have some of the lardier 'hot hatches' in the sector barrelling for the hedge bottom, is nowhere to be seen.

Not that you'll want to lift off. This 2-litre iV-TEC engine is naturally aspirated for a smooth power delivery.

It also has two camshafts. This the car's piece de resistance which is every petrol heads joie do vivre.

Essentially, operating on two cams gives you the best of both worlds.
On the one hand you can potter about in the way the Civic was previously renowned, or, you can floor it and when the red light illuminates on the dashboard you're on your way to unleashing the full 201bhp which comes screaming in at a peak of 7,800 revs.

Other performace hatches can only dream of such falsetto engine notes.
You'll hit 60mph in 6.6seconds and will be on your way to a top speed of 146mph. All this in tandem with a 31mpg combined fuel figure. Impressive eh?
Inside the layout is modern and funky and belies the car's £17,627 opening price tag.

You could and should opt for the GT version – £1,000 extra – for front fog lights, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, side curtain airbags, a lockable glovebox, power-folding door mirrors and automatic headlights.

If you love driving for driving's sake – you'll love this car.