When you hear the name “Civic,” it’s easy to think of a fun, responsive, and fuel-efficient car with clear driving dynamics. The model has been made for 50 years, and since it first came out in 1972, it has sold almost 30 million units. Civic is the longest-running nameplate and the model that has won the most awards since Honda started making cars. Since its first generation, the Civic has had a number of different body styles and engine configurations. These include a 3-door hatchback, a 5-door hatchback, a 5-door wagon, a 4-door sedan, and a 2-door coupe, though their availability depended on the market. Honda fans could also choose from different body styles and performance versions of the regular Civic model Honda Civic Type R.

Honda  Type R Civic

If you follow Honda, you may have heard about the “TYPE R” badge. According to Honda, “R” stands for “racing,” and it was first seen on one of the famous Honda NSX Sportscar models in 1992. Later, it was put on the Honda Integra, which was also sold in North America under the Acura brand. The 6th-generation Accord also got a Type R badge. But the “R” is more closely associated with the Civic than with any other Honda model, and we can say that it is now only used on the Civic.

A Look at the Generations

The first model was based on the 3-door hatchback 6th-generation EK9 Civic. The second generation Type-R, which was also a 3-door hatchback/EP3, was based on the 7th generation Civic. The third generation Type-R Civic was based on the eighth generation Civic and came in a 4-door sedan/FD2 (only in Japan) and a 3-door hatchback/FN2 (everywhere else).

The 4th generation Type-R was released at the same time as the 9th generation Civic. This time, it was a 5-door hatchback/FK2 model. The latest Type-R, the 5th gen, is based on the 10th-generation Civic, which has the chassis code FK8. “CTR,” which stands for “Civic Type-R,” changed with each generation, but its main DNA, which is known for being light, having a lot of power, handling well, and being fun to drive, stayed the same and kept getting better.

Official Launch

With the release of the 11th generation Civic, it was clear that people would start talking about the next generation of the CTR, and prototype cars were seen in Europe and Japan. After many hints, Honda officially showed off the next generation of the CTR today. This was part of a celebration for the 30th anniversary of the Type-R badge and the 50th anniversary of the Civic nameplate. The 6th generation Civic Type R, which has the chassis code FL5, is based on the Civic hatchback body style, but this time it is the 11th generation Civic hatchback. By the way, car fans are much more excited about a new model this time because the Toyota GR Corolla was just released. Let’s talk about it.

Honda Type R Civic

Honda’s new generation came out at the same time in Japan and North America. This was done with the help of an online video and some press release photos. Most of the technical details aren’t known yet and won’t be until later, maybe in the fall of 2022. Honda says that the new Civic Type R is the most powerful Type-R model in its 30-year history. It is also designed to be exciting to drive on both the road and the track. The CTR is based on the 11th generation Civic hatchback, but both the inside and outside of the car are unique.

Exterior

The old CTR was criticized for having a “boy racer” look and a lot of fake exhaust vents, but the new model is more subdued on the outside and has a more practical look. Compared to the last generation, the new CTR is wider, lower, and a little bit longer. This gives it a more muscular and sporty look. Aerodynamics are also made better by making the downforce and coefficient of drag better.

On the front, the CTR has a more sporty and aggressive bumper than the standard hatchback. It also has a honeycomb grille with a Type-R badge and a new air extractor on the hood to let hot air out of the engine bay. The Civic sedan and standard hatchback still have the same LED headlights we’ve seen on other cars. Like the last generation, this one has a side sill behind the front wheels to let hot air out and keep the brakes cooler. The front and back fenders of the CTR are wider and bigger than those of a regular hatchback, which adds to the car’s overall look. The standard hatchback and the CTR both have LED taillights on the back, but the CTR has a slightly different bumper with vertical vents that have reflectors and a lower diffuser valance with three exhaust pipes, just like the last generation.

And since this is the Civics’ performance model, you can’t miss the Type-R badge and spoiler. The 265/30/R19 wheels on the new generation are smaller than the 245/30/R20 wheels on the previous generation, but they are wider and still have the same Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance. In official photos, the brakes have four pistons and red calipers. The regular hatchback has a sunroof, but the CTR doesn’t have one. This is likely to keep the curb weight down.

Interior

Like the outside, the interior of the new CTR comes from the regular Civic hatchback and is similar to the interior of a sedan. But again, there are things that only the Type-R has. As is typical for a Type-R, the seats will be made of red suede, and the door panels, centre armrest, and steering wheel will all be stitched in red.

The headliner will still be black, but for the first time in the US, there will be red carpet mats. These were available in other markets before, but not in the US. Like the last generation, the gear knob is made of polished metal, and the center console and leather-wrapped steering wheel are made of metal with an anodized finish.

Again, to get rid of extra weight, the seats will have to be adjusted by hand, and they won’t be heated, even though these features are available on some standard hatchbacks.

On the air vent on the passenger side, there will be a metal plate with the Civic Type-unit R’s number. In the last generation, this plate used to be on the center console. There is a 10.2-inch, fully digital instrument cluster that can be changed and has a Type-R-specific interface.

In a R+ driving mode, the driver can choose between digital gauges that look like dials or ones that look like horizontal bars. Like the regular Civic hatchback or sedan, there will be a 9-inch LCD infotainment screen that can connect to your cell phone. But the Type-R has its own features, like the Honda LogR, a data-logger that is useful on the track. This can record lap times and share other information about the engine, as well as information about the car’s suspension and other parts.

Mechanicals

This was the part that fans were most interested in, but Honda didn’t give any performance numbers. Honda did say that the new model will have a 2.0L turbocharged K20C1 engine, which is the same engine as the last generation but with some improvements. It also has a 6-speed manual transmission with a rev-matching system, which is similar to the last generation but has been improved. Honda didn’t say how much power it has, but they did say that it is the most powerful Type-R model ever made.

For European, Japanese, and other right-hand drive markets, the previous generation with the same engine and transmission made 316hp and 400Nm of torque, while the North American model made 306hp and the same 400Nm of torque. So, we can guess that the new generation will have more than 316 horsepower, and some rumours say it will have around 320 horsepower. Again, the exact numbers won’t be known until later this year. Type-R will only have front-wheel drive (FWD), and Honda promises to improve the performance of the suspension and steering. Honda says that the new model is lighter and has a more rigid frame than the last generation.

We think the new model will be better, and Honda confirmed that the new Type-R set a new record for a production front-wheel drive car at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, which is where the Formula 1 Japan Grand Prix 2022 will be held. The new car has also been tuned and tested at the Nurburgring.

Don’t forget that the last generation also set a front-wheel record at Nürburgring by finishing a lap in 7 minutes and 43.8 seconds. But Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R beat it [7 minutes 40.1 seconds]. The Lynk & Co 03 Cyan beat Renault’s record by finishing the lap in 7 minutes 20.14 seconds, even though this was a one-off car and not part of a series. At Nürburgring, we don’t know if Honda will try to set a new record.

Price and Release

Rallye Red, Racing Blue Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Sonic Grey, and Championship White will be the colors for the outside. It doesn’t have a price yet, but it will probably start at around $40,000 in the US.

Lastly, the new CTR will be available later this year as a model year 2023. It will be made in the United States and Japan, and it will be sold in both countries and around the world. The last generation was only made at the Honda Swinton plant in the UK, but Honda has since closed that plant and moved production of many Honda models, including Type-R, to other places.