Honda has unveiled the 2023 Honda Civic Type R, the latest generation of its high-performance car. It’s the sixth generation Civic Type R, and it’s shaping up to be even better than before. It has a more conservative appearance than its overly stylized predecessor, but it is more exciting to drive. The FK8 Honda Civic Type R is one of the most powerful front-wheel-drive hot hatches on the market today, based on the tenth generation Honda Civic hatchback.
Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbocharged VTEC power unit inherited from its predecessor, the FK2 Honda Civic Type R. The power unit’s performance figures are largely unchanged, but with improved turbo management that reduces turbo lag.
2023 Honda civic Type R Exterior
A Honda Civic hatchback on steroids, that’s how the new Honda Civic Type R’s exterior design is comparable to a Honda Civic. A blacked-out grille, a Type R insignia, and a red Honda label can be seen up front, but other than the headlights, which are clearly shared by both vehicles, the remainder is almost entirely unique to the Honda Civic Type R.
A scoop on the bonnet, which supplies air to the turbocharged engine and aids in cooling, is offered. The side air intake takes air around the wheel and functions as an air curtain before entering the vents behind the wheel, minimizing turbulent air generated by the wheel at high speed. The massive front lower air intake directs air to cool the intercooler.
A strangely designed roof spoiler with additional fins, known as the vortex generator, is positioned just behind the radio antenna on the roof that has shark fins. Despite how absurd they may seem, the vortex generators work by pushing air toward the enormous back wing, further enhancing the aerodynamic downforce and stability of the vehicle.
The Honda Civic Type R has recognizable crab-claw taillights as well as asymmetric exhaust pipes that dominate the rear end. Gas exit ports are located in the larger side outlets, while the center pipe controls exhaust noise.
2023 Honda civic Type R Interior
The familiar tenth-generation Honda Civic sedan’s interior is mostly carried over into the Honda Civic Type R’s cabin. The interior is comparably more subdued with a few sporty accents exclusive to the Honda Civic Type R, in contrast to the extravagant exterior.
Red and black dominate the interior design. The digital instrument cluster, red-contrast dashboard with carbon-fiber-like trims, red-stitching on the steering wheel, and red Type R sport seats with integrated headrests are just a few of the components that received special Type-R treatment.
Beautifully crafted and ergonomically placed for a spirited drive are the alloy shift knob, leather-wrapped steering wheel, and alloy pedals. The fact that the seats hug you just so and are cozy enough for daily use certainly helps.
The Honda Civic Type R is without a doubt the most practical vehicle among its closest competitors because of its class-leading 420-liter cargo, roomy interior, foldable 60:40 split rear seats, and correct 5-door design.
Infotainment and features
The interior of the car features the well-known 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8-speaker audio system, a fully digital three-part instrument cluster, touch panel dual-zone climate control, and a multi-function Type-R sport steering wheel wrapped in leather.
Engine, Power, and Transmission
The 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged engine that powered the Honda Civic Type R’s predecessor produces 400 NM of torque at 2500 RPM and an astounding 310 PS at 6500 RPM. It takes 5.8 seconds to go from 0 to 100 km/h and has a top speed of 272 km/h.
With VTEC variable lift now on the exhaust camshaft, the engine’s mono-scroll turbocharger produces 1.5 bar of boost pressure and helps minimize turbo lag. Additionally, unlike a naturally aspirated VTEC engine, it lacks VTEC variable lift on the inlet camshaft, therefore the FK8 Honda Civic Type R no longer has the characteristic VTEC kicking-in feel.
The car’s driving dynamics are changed by the three possible driving modes, Comfort, Sport, and +R mode. Every time you turn the ignition key in the Honda Civic Type R, Sport mode is selected by default, and this is sensible. While +R mode, according to Honda, offers the maximum control on the circuit, it also offers a more aggressive rev-matching on downshifts (which can be manually switched off), among other things. Comfort mode mutes the exhaust noise while traveling at a highway speed.
A six-speed close-ratio manual transmission transfers power to the front wheels. The engine is quicker to rev and more responsive as a result of the redesigned single-mass flywheel in the gearbox system, in large part due to the reduction in clutch weight. Additionally, there is an auto-rev match feature that blips the throttle during downshifts.
Safety and Driver assistance features
The Honda Civic Type R has six airbags, front and rear seatbelts with emergency locking retractors, vehicle stability assist, an anti-lock braking system with electronic brake distribution, and a security alarm with an immobilizer as standard safety features. Additionally, it has driver assistance functions like Hill Start Assist, Brake Assist, and Auto Brake Hold (ABH) (HSA).
2023 Honda Civic Type R Price
The new Honda Civic Type R will be put on sale in Europe. However, Honda hasn’t disclosed the price and anticipates it to be higher than the current £33,000 model.
