Typically, you wouldn’t consider the Honda Type-R a direct rival for the BMW M135i for a number of reasons. However, considering the figures the new model is bragging with, some people stopped for a moment and gave it a thought. What if the Type-R could take on a BMW and, furthermore, what if it would take on it in a straight line? Could a drag race between them be won by the Japanese?
At a first glance the answer would be no. The BMW M135i has more power with 326 HP coming from under the hood thanks to its 3-liter turbocharged straight six. Furthermore, the same rings true for the torque figure, the M Performance Automobile claiming 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) of torque are being sent to the rear wheels (in this case). The Honda fights back with less weight though.
Under its bonnet a 2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine is making 310 HP and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque, numbers slightly down from what the BMW is claiming. However, the Japanese hatch is lighter on its feet and when it comes to power/weight ratios, they couldn’t be any closer. The Honda has 225 HP/ton while the BMW sits a bit better at 228 HP/ton.
However, a number of other facts play a key role here as well. They include the transmission that has to be able to put all that power down and the skill of the driver as both cars here use manual gearboxes. Furthermore, as the guys from Evo suggest, the fact that the BMW is rear-wheel drive is an advantage here as the weight shifts towards the rear wheels at launch, adding some much needed grip to the mix. The Honda, being front-wheel drive, is at a disadvantage here in this regard, enough to make the difference in the end.
