Detailing a Reality TV Star: Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition

As passionate detailers at Auto Finesse, we always look forward to gathering staff from different departments at the Detailing Academy for a fun day of car care. In our latest Detailing Sessions video, we take you behind the scenes to show what went down on a very special car.

The Madcap Track Special

The FK8 Type-R is undoubtedly a car that divides opinions, but that's exactly what makes it so intriguing. This limited edition model may not be the typical car we feature, but regardless of whether you love or hate its bold, aggressive look, it's all about performance—and that's what truly sets it apart. In fact, it's the fastest front-wheel-drive car to ever lap the legendary Suzuka Circuit, and that's just the beginning. This "racing-focused" Civic is 47kg lighter than the standard model and comes equipped with Forged BBS wheels. It doesn't even have a stereo!

Only available in Honda Sunlight Yellow, just 20 units were released in the UK (100 globally), and they sold out within an hour. What's even more remarkable is that this car is owned by Honda UK itself, and it carries the serial number UK-001.

The Key Steps

This particular Type R Limited Edition has definitely seen some action—let's just say it’s been "enthusiastically used." If you've ever watched a Type R being pushed to its limits on TV or in a car magazine, chances are, it's this very car. And let's be honest, motoring journalists aren't exactly known for going easy on their test drives. From a detailer's perspective, this car's paint has certainly been through the wringer. Media cars like this are frequently washed and wiped down after each job, but not always in the most delicate way, especially when compared to how a true detailer would treat fresh paintwork.

However, despite all the abuse it's endured on track and under the camera's glare, this is still Honda's flagship model, so it has to look pristine for both photos and video. That’s why we’re giving it the full detail treatment it deserves (which you can check out in the video above). In this case, the key stages to focus on are decontamination, enhancement, and finishing. But first, of course, we’ll start with a thorough pre-wash and contact wash.

Decontamination Stage

The more a car is driven, especially in high-performance environments where multiple cars are pushed hard, the higher the likelihood of contaminants accumulating. What's important to note is that, in such environments, the concentration of harmful contaminants can also be much higher.

Consider this: a performance car that’s frequently used for track days or spirited road driving is more vulnerable to intense brake dust. This is essentially metal fragments being thrown onto the surface and embedding itself in the paintwork. Additionally, there's a greater chance of tar, sticky residues, road rash, and general grime being pressed into the exterior. This makes a thorough 3-stage decontamination process crucial to remove these particles before any enhancement can take place.

The first step in this process is applying Iron Out Contaminant Remover. This product reacts chemically with any ferrous metal particles, dissolving them so they can be safely rinsed away.

Once the metal contamination is removed, we can move on to ObliTARate Tar & Glue Remover. This powerful solvent-based formula dissolves sticky residues on contact, allowing them to be easily wiped away with a microfibre cloth. It’s important to note that after using ObliTARate, you should always re-wash the treated areas with Lather Car Shampoo. This step ensures any leftover solvents are neutralised, preventing them from interfering with the next stage of the process.

Finally, we reach the clay stage, where any remaining embedded particles and debris are lifted from the surface, leaving behind a smooth finish that's ideal for paint correction or enhancement.

When using a Clay Bar, it's essential to apply a suitable lubricant to ensure the clay can glide smoothly across the surface and capture any contaminants. For this, we recommend using Glide Clay Lube, the perfect product for the job.

Paint Enhancement

After a careful inspection, it was clear that only light correction was needed to address a few swirl marks and imperfections – this stage would mainly focus on enhancement. The key consideration in any paint refinement process is understanding the desired finish and the type of protection to be applied afterward.

For vehicles that will be ceramic coated, it's crucial to use a polish or compound free from waxes or fillers, ensuring the surface is prepared for proper bonding of the coating.

However, for this particular car, we opted for a wax-based protection, as nothing creates the warm, show-car look quite like Carnauba. In this case, the visual appeal is more important than the durability or ease of cleaning that a ceramic coating would provide. As a result, we used Tripple All-in-One Polish, which contains Carnauba wax and special diminishing abrasives, to enhance the paint.

Tripple effortlessly removes oxidation and light swirling, while cleaning and correcting the paint, leaving behind a protective layer of T1 Grade Carnauba. It's also safe for use on gloss plastic trims, which is perfect, given the ample trim on this car!

Finishing Up

The final finishing stages are arguably the most crucial for this job, as the finer details are what truly make a car stand out on camera.

While this car may endure heavy use, which typically calls for a durable ceramic coating, its primary role as a showpiece means it requires a user-friendly protection that not only looks fantastic but can also be easily reapplied during regular maintenance.

Radiance Carnauba Crème is the perfect solution. It delivers the glossy, wet-look shine of a hard wax but in a convenient cream form. Designed to provide a radiant finish and a slick surface, it helps repel grime and environmental fallout.

Application is incredibly straightforward. A few drops on a microfibre pad are enough to cover a whole panel, and you can apply Radiance to the entire car in one go. After allowing it to haze, simply buff it off with a fresh microfibre towel. It’s that easy, and Radiance offers up to three months of protection. We’ll be sure to leave Honda a bottle or two in the boot for their next shoot!

Other important finishing touches include quick tasks like ensuring the glass is streak-free using Crystal Glass Cleaner, and enhancing, nourishing, and protecting the rubber with Satin Tyre Crème.

One important area to focus on is the engine bay, because let’s face it, no self-respecting magazine or TV show would skip a shot of that turbocharged CTR engine, right?

While it’s not an old, greasy engine bay, it can still be dramatically improved with the right products. A quick wipe with Finale Quick Detailer to remove any dust and dirt, followed by a generous application of Dressle All Purpose Dressing, is all it takes to get this powerhouse looking fresh and polished.

The End Results

So, there you have it – those are the key areas that make this mighty CTR Limited Edition stand out from the usual detailing routine. Now that it's all set for its next big outing, be sure to check out the full process, including the interior, in the video at the top of the page.