The new Honda Civic Type R has been revealed, showing a rather less extreme styling take on the Japanese brand’s popular front-wheel drive hot hatch.
Update: Since this guide was published we have driven the latest Honda Civic Type R. Click here to read our full Honda Civic Type R Review
The previous FK8 model was launched in 2018 and won plaudits for being a great purist hot hatch, but divided opinion on its rather attention-grabbing, extrovert styling.
This new 2022 model gets slimmer headlights, smoother surfacing and an all-round more understated appearance. Yet it’s still unmistakably a Honda Civic Type R, from the red badging and Brembo brakes, to the unmissable wing that perches on die-cast aluminium stays.
Want to find out more? Read our guide to Honda Civic Type R Models Over the Years
The new Civic Type R sits on a heavily uprated version of its predecessor’s platform, but with a 35mm longer wheelbase and completely overhauled suspension geometry. Aerodynamic performance is key to the new car’s styling, too. The vent on the bonnet allows air in to cool the engine, particularly on high speeds, and is key to maintaining maximum performance from the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder in-line, turbocharged petrol engine.
Another vent behind the front wheel helps to prevent air pressure from building in the wheel arch, reducing drag, while the side sills are designed to help smooth the air flow and divert it away from the rear wheel arch. That distinctive wing and the rear diffuser both serve a purpose, too, delivering 100kg of downforce over the standard Honda Civic hybrid.
Performance and Handling
Honda has not confirmed the final performance details of the new Civic Type R, but it has said the car will be the fastest and most powerful Civic Type R yet.
The 2.0-litre turbocharged engine now has a new high-efficiency manifold and cooling jacket, as well as a redesigned turbo with new vane design to help improve efficiency. Power, the 0-62mph time, and top speed are all set to improve compared with the outgoing FK8 Civic Type R, which achieved 316bhp, 0-62mph in 5.7sec and a top speed of 169mph. Expect to see power output of around 350bhp, with the sprint time down to around 5.3sec and top speed up to over 170mph.
Watch our colleagues at PistonHeads get up close to the new Civic Type R:
The gearbox has also been tweaked to deliver a shorter throw, and the auto rev-match function now features even on downshifts from second into first gear.
Handling has been even more of a focus for this new Civic Type R. Weight has been stripped via a resin plastic boot lid and aluminium bonnet, the body is substantially stiffer than before, and the car rides on 19-inch alloy wheels (they are designed to give the illusion of being 20-inch).
Adaptive dampers are standard, as is multilink suspension at the rear, while the front dual-axis strut suspension is now 16% stiffer than before, complete with revised setup to account for wider 265-section Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres. Steering response is also updated to deliver more weight and response.
A new Individual drive mode allows the driver to independently adjust the engine, steering, dampers, rev-match and engine sound – which now features synthetic augmentation via speakers in the cabin.
Interior
Not a whole lot has changed for the Civic Type R’s interior. The red bits are now even redder, and there’s a 10.2-inch touchcscreen infotainment system that offers a variety of performance readouts including g-force and lap times, as well as the usual media and nav functions.
As with most of its rivals, including the Volkswagen Golf R and Ford Focus ST, the Honda Civic Type R is a five-door hatchback body as standard, and promises to be a usable family car as well as a purposeful track car.
Deeply sculpted, manually adjustable front sports seats offer masses of comfort and security, but do eat into rear passenger legroom a little. Those in the back also get suedette upholstery and more sculpted seats than in the standard Honda Civic, to offer more support in spirited driving.
Price and On Sale Date
Expect to see confirmed performance details for the Honda Civic Type R in September 2022, while sales will start in the UK in early 2023. Prices are yet to be confirmed, but we predict the new Civic Type R will cost from around £36,000.