Honda’s Hot Hatch Gets Hotter
This hot hatch is getting hotter, as the 2023 Honda Civic Type R will be the most powerful Civic ever. Honda invited the automotive press to the Hawthorne Jet Center in Southern California in mid-July to pull the sheet off the new Civic Type R. Exciting as the reveal was, Honda was a bit light on technical specifications, so this is what we know so far.
- 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder
- Performance numbers were not announced, but the current Type R is good for 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque
- 6-speed manual transmission with rev-matching
- Longer, lower and wider than the current Type R
- 255/30ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport+ tires
- Track-ready suspension
- Lightweight rigid body
- Redesigned front bumper, rear spoiler and rear defuser, new flared fenders, reshaped rear bumper with three exhaust outlets
- Five exterior colors: Historic Championship White, Rally Red, Boost Blue, Crystal Black Pearl, and Sonic Grey Pearl
- All new interior design with red seats, carpet and trim
- Suede-like seat fabric to reduce body slipping
- The new +R drive mode has a meter that provides the driver with instant information, including a graphic rpm display, rev indicator lights and gear position indicator
- The Honda LogR data device provides real-time driving information
- Lap stopwatch
- The ability to share driving videos
Pricing and Availability
The 2023 Honda Civic R Type will go on sale in fall 2022. Pricing has not been announced.
Observations: 2023 Honda Civic Type R
Clean Fleet Report wishes we could tell you more, but like us, you will have to wait a few more months to learn about what looks to be a great handling hot hatch. Until then, we have included photos from the reveal event for a look at how a couple hundred members of the press were introduced to the all-new 2023 Honda Civic R Type.
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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Honda.
The more somber Civics we’ve tested:
Road Test: 2022 Honda Civic Sedan Touring
Road Test: 2020 Honda Civic Sedan
When will they make it electric?
My Model 3 has 450 Hp, 4.2 to 60…but costs much more to buy, also $7 to go 300 miles.
@E.A. Swenson,
You hit it right on the money–how much is that electric HP worth? We wouldn’t imagine cross-shopping the Type R and anything from Tesla, but you make some interesting points. Maybe we’ll have to wait to see if there’s a Type R Electric with the upcoming Honda Prologue or one of its other EVs just over the horizon. We’ll keep you posted when we see something that fits the bill. Of electric cars on the market right now, you might want to check out the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT. It’s quite a bit bigger and pricier than the Type R, but it’s a fast, sweet ride. –ed.