New Honda Civic Type R revealed

The seventh-generation 2023 Honda Civic Type R has made its hotly-anticipated global debut ahead of an Australian launch early next year.

Honda is still keeping many of the key details such as output and performance figures under wraps.

However, the Japanese brand has confirmed that it will be the fastest Type R ever and that its 2.0-litre VTEC four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine has been “further refined to achieve higher output and responsiveness to the upper limit”.

The previous Type R produced 228kW of power and 400Nm of torque. It stopped the clock from 0-100km/h in 5.7 seconds.

As before, the engine drives the front wheels only and is paired exclusively with a six-speed manual gearbox, the latter including rev-matching.

Honda says two of its key priorities during development was to create “the fastest FF (front engine/front-wheel drive) vehicle by refining and perfecting every aspect of driving feel” and to “achieve dynamics that make the driver feel ‘addicted’ to driving the vehicle”.

“In addition to achieving the ultimate speed, the development team strived to create a car that makes the driver become passionate about driving the vehicle,” the company said.

“To this end, a thrilling driving experience was pursued by refining driveability with highly-responsive handing and a throttle that reacts immediately to driver input, as well as by further advancing a feeling of control of the six-speed manual transmission and the rev-match control system.

“On the premise of ensuring highly-sophisticated design, aerodynamics was further advanced to achieve well-balanced downforce both front and rear and a reduction of drag.

“Moreover, the lightweight and highly rigid body contributes to the high stability of the vehicle at high speeds.”

Honda has also developed a new LogR data logging system for the Type R, which provides “real-time information on the mechanical movements of the vehicle and vehicle behaviour resulting from the driver’s input”.

With so many teasers having been released in recent months, the new Type R’s exterior styling holds little in the way of surprises, with the star of the show undoubtedly its huge fixed rear wing.

The front fascia is dominated by a gaping trapezoidal lower intake underlined by an integrated splitter which feeds into a pair of flanking air dams that supply the wheel-arches with a constant stream of cool air.

Above those are a set of narrow headlights linked by another trapezoidal grille (smaller and inverted).

Underlining its intent is a subtle vent on the bonnet, while the rear-end features triple exhaust outlets, an aggressive diffuser and more vents.

Rolling stock comes courtesy of large forged alloy wheels shod with super-sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S rubber, behind which lurks a set of red Brembo brake callipers.

Cabin highlights include vivid red bucket seats wrapped in a “suede-like” material to maximise grip in “high-G situations”, according to Honda.

In front of the driver is a red-stitched leather steering wheel and a configurable digital instrument cluster which reveals a 7000rpm redline and features a dedicated ‘+R’ display designed to deliver drivers all of the essential information they’d need when driving hard.

Further details of the new Type R will be revealed over the coming months ahead of its local launch early next year.

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