As promised, Honda is providing more information on the 2023 Civic Type R. We still haven’t filled in all the data boxes, but we can at least confirm that the new Type R is indeed the most powerful yet to come out. factory. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine generates 315 horsepower (235 kilowatts) and 310 pound-feet (420 Newton-meters) of torque.
For the record, that’s a 9-hp, 15-lb-ft increase over the previous-generation Type R and its K20C1 engine, which is largely unchanged in the new model. It’s not a huge leap, but Honda emphasizes the tuning done to make the car more street-friendly. The higher peak torque is available at a relatively low rpm of 2,600 rpm to 4,000 rpm. The updated turbocharger features optimized turbine blades that create greater pressure with a wider range and more efficiency. The boosted grinder exhales through a largely straight exhaust, featuring an active valve that lets more gas (and noise) escape the system.
39 Pictures
What does this mean for performance? Sadly, that’s something Honda still won’t talk about, even though we know the new Type R holds the front-wheel-drive production record at Suzuka. It completed a lap in 2 minutes 23.1 seconds, beating the outgoing Civic Type R’s time of 2 minutes 23.9 seconds. Like the power upgrade, it doesn’t sound like much. But cutting nearly a second off a lap time at Suzuka requires over 9 more horsepower.
Honda tells us that the new Type R is a bit longer and wider than its predecessor. Its wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer and the front track is one inch wider. In the rear, it’s 0.75 inches wider and the suspension is completely retuned from the old model. It rolls on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, a noticeable improvement over the Continentals it wore from the factory. And although the wheel diameter is reduced to 19 inches, the tires are a little wider at the front.
At this point, we would like to tell you how much the new Type R weighs, as this is an essential specification for performance vehicles. Unfortunately, it’s too always a state secret with Honda. The previous-generation Type R weighed just under 3,100 pounds in Limited Edition, the version that held Suzuka’s record. Recently leaked information claims the new R weighs 3,153 pounds, but the leak also claimed 326 horsepower. It’s possible these are stats for Japanese-market vehicles, but we suspect the official weight will be somewhere in that 3,100-3,200-pound range.
Of course, the hot hatch made its visual debut in July, revealing a mature exterior and handsome interior. Red and black is the only color combination for the cockpit, and all Civic Type Rs shift with a six-speed manual transmission. Drivers benefit from an R+ riding mode as well as an individual mode that can be customized, and an improved Honda LogR data logger monitors and stores performance metrics in real time. Five colors are available at launch, including Championship White, Rallye Red, Crystal Black Pearl, Sonic Gray Pearl and Boost Blue.
Pricing is another piece of information that Honda still isn’t ready to divulge. This will come closer to the Type R’s official launch, scheduled for later this fall.
As promised, Honda is providing more information on the 2023 Civic Type R. We still haven’t filled in all the data boxes, but we can at least confirm that the new Type R is indeed the most powerful yet to come out. factory. Its 2.0-liter turbocharged engine generates 315 horsepower (235 kilowatts) and 310 pound-feet (420 Newton-meters) of torque.
For the record, that’s a 9-hp, 15-lb-ft increase over the previous-generation Type R and its K20C1 engine, which is largely unchanged in the new model. It’s not a huge leap, but Honda emphasizes the tuning done to make the car more street-friendly. The higher peak torque is available at a relatively low rpm of 2,600 rpm to 4,000 rpm. The updated turbocharger features optimized turbine blades that create greater pressure with a wider range and more efficiency. The boosted grinder exhales through a largely straight exhaust, featuring an active valve that lets more gas (and noise) escape the system.
39 Pictures
What does this mean for performance? Sadly, that’s something Honda still won’t talk about, even though we know the new Type R holds the front-wheel-drive production record at Suzuka. It completed a lap in 2 minutes 23.1 seconds, beating the outgoing Civic Type R’s time of 2 minutes 23.9 seconds. Like the power upgrade, it doesn’t sound like much. But cutting nearly a second off a lap time at Suzuka requires over 9 more horsepower.
Honda tells us that the new Type R is a bit longer and wider than its predecessor. Its wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer and the front track is one inch wider. In the rear, it’s 0.75 inches wider and the suspension is completely retuned from the old model. It rolls on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, a noticeable improvement over the Continentals it wore from the factory. And although the wheel diameter is reduced to 19 inches, the tires are a little wider at the front.
At this point, we would like to tell you how much the new Type R weighs, as this is an essential specification for performance vehicles. Unfortunately, it’s too always a state secret with Honda. The previous-generation Type R weighed just under 3,100 pounds in Limited Edition, the version that held Suzuka’s record. Recently leaked information claims the new R weighs 3,153 pounds, but the leak also claimed 326 horsepower. It’s possible these are stats for Japanese-market vehicles, but we suspect the official weight will be somewhere in that 3,100-3,200-pound range.
Of course, the hot hatch made its visual debut in July, revealing a mature exterior and handsome interior. Red and black is the only color combination for the cockpit, and all Civic Type Rs shift with a six-speed manual transmission. Drivers benefit from an R+ riding mode as well as an individual mode that can be customized, and an improved Honda LogR data logger monitors and stores performance metrics in real time. Five colors are available at launch, including Championship White, Rallye Red, Crystal Black Pearl, Sonic Gray Pearl and Boost Blue.
Pricing is another piece of information that Honda still isn’t ready to divulge. This will come closer to the Type R’s official launch, scheduled for later this fall.
