2020 Honda Civic Type R went through the knife sharpener

It took quite some time for Honda to finally bring a Civic Type R to the US, but when it did, Americans were left staring down one of the best driver's cars in ages.

It quickly launched itself to near-deity status among Honda fans and critics alike.

 So, where could Honda possibly go from there?

For the 2020 model year, the automaker did some nipping and tucking that, in nearly every way, somehow made this already-great hot hatch even better.

In the 2020 refresh, Honda enlarged the grille to let more air across an improved radiator for better cooling in high-performance situations, but that had the downside of reducing downforce, so the automaker also adjusted the front spoiler to make up for that.

Some new body-color pieces help break up the dark masses of monotony on the lower parts of both bumpers, but to be honest, most folks won't notice anything's changed outside.

While not every improvement could be seen as such, it's impressive how Honda managed to once again raise the bar with the 2020 Civic Type R.

Small tweaks give this five-door screamer even more agility, while new tech gives buyers more bang for their buck.

This car is going to be a hard act to top for a very long time.

Keep scrolling or clicking to check out even more pictures of the 2020 Honda Civic Type R!