Honda Civic Type R primed to go electric
EV ruled out, but Honda’s just-revealed Civic Type R hot hatch ripe for plug-in hybrid powertrainHonda is primed to carry out a major overhaul of its new 2023 Honda Civic Type R to meet upcoming stringent emissions regulations.
Despite unwrapping the new-generation FL5-series Honda Civic Type R just last week, which features an even more powerful 2.0-litre VTEC four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine, overseas reports suggest Honda is already plotting an electrified version.
Ruling out the possibility of an all-electric version, Honda Motor Europe technical advisor Ko Yamamoto confirmed to British outlet Autocar that a plug-in version could be on the way to tackle pressing issues like the upcoming EU7 emissions regulations due in 2025.
“I wouldn’t exclude electrification. We can’t do a pure electric powertrain on this platform, but I imagine it can take up to a certain level of plug-in hybrid,” said Yamamoto.
“Electrification is just another technical measure, like VTEC or a turbo, or multi-link suspension.”
Previous rumours suggested such a plug-in version of the Civic Type R might finally introduce all-wheel drive, with a rear axle potentially driven solely by an electric motor.
But Honda Europe’s tech boss was quick to rule that out, pointing to the added weight.
Admitting it was technically possible, Yamamoto said: “It’s not even necessarily quicker, but it is heavier.”
That suggests Honda could be developing a stripped-out, lightweight PHEV version of its turbocharged VTEC that will incorporate an electric motor within its transmission.
No timeline was given when the electrified powertrain will be introduced, but it’s thought it will pre-empt the new Euro emissions regs with the plug-in hot hatch introduced in 2025.
Meanwhile, the seventh-generation (non-hybrid) Honda Civic Type R is set to touch down in Australia early next year.
No details have been released on performance or pricing, but expect a significant improvement on the previous 228kW Type R that could sprint from 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds.
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