It's no secret that this Factory Performance package borrows heavily from Japan's Integra Type R for inspiration. In fact, you could say that the entire cosmetic aspect of the car is a direct rip-off of the JDM R, with the exception of the handsome 17" 10-spoke Advan Kreuzer wheels.

From a functional standpoint, the tire size (225/45-17) is very close to the JDM Integra Type R's (215/45-17), and the suspension is designed by the same person (Makato Tamamura) who's responsible for the NSX's world-conquering chassis setup. That said, the suspension is supposedly not as "hard-core" as the real McCoy (this done to leave room for the inevitable addition of an RSX-R?), but I anticipate that few will feel shortchanged by the FP's handling. In the stopping department, instead of the crowd-pleasing Brembo setup of the JDM Type R, we have to "make do" with a simple pad/rotor upgrade of the brakes. Despite the modest nature of these upgrades, they offer significant improvements in braking performance.

I've already been hearing the collective groans for months: "Why don't they just send us a Type R already??", "My gaaawwd, $4800 is a LOT of money!!". Well, my only advice to these people is to keep an open mind until they get behind the wheel of an RSX with the FP setup, and REALLY drive it.