We stop at one of the stark white buildings and head inside. As is the case with much of our time in R&D, I'm told I can leave my camera equipment in the car. Inside, we see a fully automated lab that is conducting emissions testing. To simulate a mid-summer Los Angeles afternoon, there are dozens of high-output lights glaring down on the tester Accord. Because of the computerized technology, the tests can run day and night.
Next we're shown the awesome wind tunnel. Again, no pictures allowed, but we're given the chance to watch some testing on an NSX. We're also allowed to walk out into the windstream. Cross the yellow line, and I'm subjected to hurricane-force winds. A quick step back over the line and it's dead calm and dead quiet. Truly amazing. I offer to drive the NSX out of the tunnel; no one laughs.
And speaking of driving. We leave the wind tunnel and journey to the test courses. I look out the window of the Odyssey to see one of the most beautiful sights I've ever seen. Cindy Crawford holding a Newcastle? No, something even better. Sitting in an orderly row waiting patiently for an American journalist to bring them to life are a Civic Type R, an Integra Type R, an NSX Type S, and an S2000. I've had dreams like this before, and I usually wake up just as I reach for the door handle. Not this time.
What to do? Do I kiss Cindy Crawford before I grab the Newcastle? I'm out of the van, but my legs aren't working. I've reached critical mass. I'm in heaven, and my brain has overloaded. As a result, my limbs are no longer functioning. I'm suddenly pushed into action by the sight of my fellow journalists running for the cars, and Kurt's voice saying that we only have about 40 minutes with the cars. By the time I regain control of my motor skills, the Civic Type R is occupied, as is the S2000, and the NSX. Do I care? Heck, no. I'll settle for the Integra Type R. With the exception of the S2000, all the cars are right-hand drive. Two turns into the short road course and you would think I'd been shifting with my left hand all my life. Well, maybe not all my life. The Integra growls like an R should. Coupled with the fact that I can't believe I'm driving a Japan-spec Integra Type R in the middle of Honda R&D in Japan, it's Grin-Factor 11.
I see the other drivers pull off the course, so I pull in, too. We exchange cars, and I end up in the Civic Type R. Unbelievable. The Civic R rocks (See "Driving Impression: Civic Type R" below). Lap after lap, it never stops impressing. The other drivers are off again and I'm being flagged in by a course worker. I ignore him for two more laps. He finally walks onto the course to force me in (sigh). Next, the S2000.
Having already fallen in love with the S2000's looks from early press shots and its introduction in January at the L.A. Auto Show, I figured this car could perform marginally and still be a winner. The S2000's looks are nothing compared to its performance. On the straightaway coming off a sweeping left, I look down at the LED tachometer displaying 8,000 and change. I'm just about ready to back off the throttle when I remember that its 240hp max output comes at an incredible 8,300 rpm. So I stay in it and go for another lap around the short course. This time around, I pay attention to how neutral and well-balanced the car feels, especially in the turns. Into a corner hot and it stays the course with minimal complaint. The S2000 is one of those cars that easily gives you the impression that you're a much better driver than you really are. I bring the car in much sooner than I wanted, figuring that the course worker is getting tired of trying to wave me in again.