Why the Honda Civic Type R is cool - Reason no. 1: it looks hard

Take one look at the Civic and you know exactly how it's going to drive. Where the hot hatch class has moved towards cool, chic sophistication over the past couple of years, the new Type R has all the subtlety of a road accident. It's a thoroughly modern interpretation of the lairy, hairy hot hatches of yesteryear.

Where the Mini Cooper S is all love-me-love-me cheeky exuberance, and the Golf GTI reeks you-can-take-me-anywhere classiness, the Civic has the tense, quivering malevolence of a clenched fist - with H.A.T.E tattooed on the knuckles. Children run, weeping, into their mothers' arms in its presence, teenagers can't help but utter 'whoah' as it prowls past; grown-ups risk spinal disc damage as they crane for a better view.

The onslaught continues inside, too, where the huge bucket seats vie with the titanium gearlever and 8000rpm redline for visual supremacy. You'll spend a fortune on glass cleaner, because your side windows will be forever smudged with greasy hand and noseprints as bystanders strive to see inside.

• To read an in-depth test on the Type R, click here.