Volkswagen started the whole hot-hatch segment but Honda perfected it and continues to do so. The original Civic Typer R blazed onto the market in 1997. Since then, Honda has sold five generations of cars. Each one improving the front-wheel-driven, front-engined car. The fifth-generation car famously took the record around the Nürburgring for a front-wheel-drive car but then lost it to the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R. Harsher than its Volkswagen competition, the Honda leans more into the hot part of the hot hatch label. The eleventh-generation Civic launched back in 2021. Now Honda's engineers will launch the faster Type R model. As ever this iconic hot hatch has big shoes to fill but so far all is well. With the return of the Integra to Honda's luxury division Acura, this Civic Type R could also form the base for the next generation of Integra Type R. As a result there is as much attention as ever on this little Honda.
The next and last Civic Type R is poised to be the perfect hot-hatch.
What's New On The 2023 Civic Type R?
This is not quite the right question to ask regarding the Civic Type R. Each generation of the car has built upon the legacy of the last. The FK8 Civic Type R which came to market in 2017, used a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo motor. Producing 316hp, this motor fell in line with the vast majority of hot-hatches in this price bracket. With the traditionally more upmarket and all-wheel-drive 2022 Volkswagen Golf R producing 320hp from a four-cylinder motor, Honda will likely keep power in the low 300hp region. However, the Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG S produces 421hp from the same displacement. A pre-production model broke a lap record at Suzuka back in March that belonged to a special track-focused version of the previous Type R. There is no doubt that this is a much better car. This generation of Civic Type R will more than likely be the last in the lineage of gas-engined hot hatches. With this in mind, Honda's engineers might treat the gearhead community with a little more power and push the limits of a front-wheel-drive car one last time.
With the eleventh-generation Civic as its base, this new Type R will carry the benefits of a modern hatchback. The current car comes as both a hatchback and a sedan. The design has squared off the exterior features and has entered the realm of BMW in many regards. Although the Civic is a budget car, the model still has phone connectivity and a digital dashboard, but its capabilities are a long way off the competing German marques. Interior quality has also progressed in the eleventh generation. The previous generation of Civic Type R was built on the base car's interior with an Alcantara wrapped steering wheel, aluminum shifter, bucket seats, and red highlights. The new car will do the same, even though it is a more sporting car, the Type R will retain the infotainment display.
When Will The 2023 Civic Type R Launch?
According to Honda, this new model will launch to the public in early July. Appearing at the 200 NTT INDYCAR SERIES between the 1st and 3rd of July at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. This track is in Lexington Ohio near the manufacturer's first plant in the United States. Honda announced that the intention is for the car to run demonstration laps of the circuit in a camouflaged livery. This might seem like a peculiar location for the Japanese brand to launch its new flagship car. Yet the brand has won 11 of the 16 races here since 2007. Likely to win at the circuit Honda hopes to associate the Type R with on-track performance.
Still running a camouflage livery this close to production could raise some alarm bells. After all the base car has sold for a year now, so the Type R can't be much different to this. Aside from an aero package and perhaps an outlandish spoiler, the Type R follows the design trend of the popular vehicle.
In spy shots, we can see that the Type R retains the big rear spoiler. To the rear of the car are three centrally mounted exhausts. Not fully unveiled the car's exterior does appear to be less aggressive than the FK8. At times this was a detriment to the vehicle losing buyers to the more subtle and conventionally styled German hot-hatch rivals.
Will The 2023 Civic Type R Have A Manual?
Volkswagen moved their Golf R model to only the DSG gearbox this generation. The Renault Clio RS adopted a flappy paddle set up in the middle of the last decade. Worryingly the current standard Civic comes with a CVT unit. However, Honda assures the world the Civic Type R will come only with a manual gearbox. According to the video announcing the Civic's new record at Suzuka, the car will have a manual. The video shows the driver changing gears, even if the cabin has had a blur applied in the editing process. Often online discourse claims that the only way to enjoy a car is with a manual transmission. Yet when it comes to purchasing the car most who actually buy a model get it the automatic version, just look at the Porsche 911 GT3 cars. However affordable and designed for pure driving engagement the Civic Type R revels in having a manual gearbox.
Source: Honda