The high-performance Honda Civic Type R has received many improvements for the 2020 model year and has just been presented for the first time in Canada at the Toronto International Auto Show.

The Type R’s handling has gotten sharper, thanks to revisions to its suspension, while its steering system has been reworked to improve feel. As for the brakes, they benefit from new two-piece discs and brake pads, increasing their effectiveness in extreme driving conditions. The car’s front fascia was also redesigned, allowing more air to the engine and improving its cooling.

The turbocharged, 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine still produces 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, transmitted to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential.

We also get a new exterior paint colour this year, called Boost Blue. The cockpit boasts a new steering wheel wrapped in Alcantara, while the revised shifter and knob are said to shorten shift throws. The Honda Sensing advanced safety suite is now part of the standard feature list, a suite that the rest of the Civic model line already included.

Last but not least, an Active Sound Control system is also new in the 2020 Honda Civic Type R, which modifies the engine’s sound level inside the cockpit, according to the chosen drive mode.