After many months of teasing and the internet buzzing with camouflaged spy shots, Honda has taken the wraps off the 2023 Civic Type R. The new Type R repeats the basic formula of previous versions in that it strips away unnecessary items and focuses on pure performance, but it does so in a much more mature wrapper. Based on the new-for-2022 eleventh-generation Civic Hatchback, it shares that car’s handsome looks and improves on them; and it will offer a big jump in speed over the Civic Si.
The most powerful car the brand has ever sold in the United States, the new Type R will pack 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, up from the previous Civic Type R’s 306 hp and 295 lb-ft but, thanks to emissions regulations, a little less than the Japanese-market Type R. That car will get 326 hp but an equal 310 lb-ft.
Back in April, a thinly-disguised Civic Type R prototype set a lap record for front-wheel drive cars at Japan’s challenging Suzuka circuit and hit 143.5 mph down its long back straightaway and beating the old record, set by the previous-generation model, by almost a full second. Though the chassis and styling are new, the 2023 Type R will use an evolution of the previous model’s 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, but Honda has redesigned the intake and exhaust systems as well as the turbocharger for better breathing.
In a move likely to please traditionalists, for now the only transmission choice will be a six-speed manual with rev-matching technology, as on the previous Type R. Modern dual-clutch automatics may shift faster on the track but manuals are more fun, and no previous Type R has offered an automatic.
Although only imported to the U.S. since 2017, the Type R’s lineage goes all the way back to 1997, when the first Japan-only version debuted. The Type R name itself celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, as it was first applied to stripped-down Japanese-market versions of the original Honda (nee Acura) NSX in 1992. Those cars, and the 1995 Integra Type R which followed, were intended for club racers and stripped of extra weight and features like radios and sound deadening material.
The 2023 Type R follows in their footsteps in that it will be lighter and much faster than the regular Civic, but it’s also a much more subtle design than the previous model.
The New Style
Honda seems to have paid particular attention to criticism of the last Civic’s styling and in particular, the collection of strakes, spoilers, fake scoops and flared angles that characterized the 2017 to 2021 Civic Type R. They did look boy-racer-ish, but there wasn’t any mistaking it for anything else on the road.
There’s still a big wing, an aggressive chin spoiler, side skirts and flared fenders, but the whole design is more harmonious, not to mention longer, lower and wider. The big wing and flared rear fenders (which require different stampings than the regular Civic) also add some nice visual heft to the bob-tailed Civic Hatchback. As with the previous generation, the new Type R will come only as a hatch.
Inside, the bright interior color options remain, highlighted by a bright red version in Honda’s debut cars. The interior materials are altogether nicer, however, and the seats shod in a suede-like material with a high friction coefficient, just in case the aggressive bolstering doesn’t keep you in place while turning hot laps of your own at your local track.
The Type R largely shares the regular Civic’s dashboard and systems, which are some of the nicest in its class. That includes a digital driver’s display and a 9.0-inch infotainment screen, as well as the pretty mesh grille over all the HVAC vents. But there are some extras, including a new +R driving mode that displays a variety of engine information in real-time and a customizable lower display area. The Honda LogR data recording system from the previous Type R will also return.
When Will the 2023 Civic Type R be Available?
Honda hasn’t officially confirmed when the Civic Type R will go on sale, but we suspect that cars will begin to arrive at dealerships in October or early November of 2022, pending supply-chain disruptions.
How Much Will the 2023 Civic Type R Cost?
Exact pricing won’t be released until closer to the Type R’s on-sale date, but based on past Type R’s and Civics, we spect it won’t be too much more expensive than the old one, so likely a hair under $40,000. The big difference will be that it will face different competition.
While Hyundai’s Veloster N will cease production shortly before the new Civic Type R goes on sale, Toyota’s new GR-Corolla promises a 300-horsepower, tire-smoking, wide-body challenge at what may end up being a slightly lower price. The new Type R will also have to contend with the Hyundai Kona N and Volkswagen’s freshly-redesigned Golf R. As it turns out, Hot hatches aren’t dead after all.