Honda's street racing Civic Type R goes white-hot as the Championship Edition roars in.

Based on the existing Type R hot hatch ? which is still offered in the traditional Milano Red and Nighthawk Black paint finishes only ? the new derivative gets a unique Championship White exterior colour.

But that's just for starters.

Chief among its special features is the standard limited-slip differential, which underscores the performance potential of the Type R and allows the driver to attack corners with greater confidence.

Other standard features unique to the Championship Edition version include both an iPod USB connector and a mini-jack auxiliary audio input for non-Apple devices, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a tyre deflation warning system, rear-mounted park distance control, and impact-sensing door locks.

For petrolheads, the Championship Edition's limited-slip diff will be the most telling improvement over the standard version. Usually the preserve of racing and rallying machines, the so-called LS diff improves traction by limiting wheel spin when cornering hard, at high speed.

The result is a sharper, more resolute turn-in action, linked to an ability to carry speed through corners without losing grip and falling prey to potentially terminal understeer.

The remainder of the mechanical package remains identical to that of the standard Civic Type R. A free-revving 2.0-litre i-VTEC engine delivers 148kW and 193Nm to the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox.

Like the standard Type R, the Championship Edition sprints from standstill to 100km/h in 6.6 seconds, and has a top speed of 235km/h. Combined-cycle fuel consumption comes to 9.3l/100km, while the CO2 emissions rating is 219g/km.

Music fans will be particularly pleased about the inclusion of both an iPod USB interface, and an analogue stereo auxiliary audio connection in the Type R Championship Edition.

Usually an added-cost extra in similarly positioned rivals, the two connections allow the seamless interface of personal music collections on iPods and other MP3 players with the Type R's integrated sound system.

Enhanced convenience and safety is provided by the new auto-dimming rear-view mirror, which prevents traffic approaching from behind from blinding the driver by automatically dimming the mirror. Also new are rear parking sensors to assist the driver when reversing.

Safety is also at the core of two additional systems introduced exclusively on the Type R Championship Edition. A Deflation Warning System has been included, which informs the driver if the tyre pressure on one or more tyres is too low. In addition, impact sensors have been fitted to all door locks, which will unlock the doors in the case of an accident, allowing the occupants of the vehicle to exit safely.

Pricing: Honda Civic Type R Championship Edition: R299 900