The Honda Civic Type R is arguably one of the top hot hatches you can buy. With a supercar-like performance, it's packed with enough power to make your daily drive around the Phoenix, AZ area exciting. Even though they're already known for producing high-performance cars, the Japanese brand wanted to rework their Civic Type R and make it even better than before. The new model has a lighter body, a powerful 306hp engine, and a whole new look. The new car will likely start just under $40,000 when it hits the market in 2023.
What's New for the 2023 Honda Civic Type R?
The 2023 Honda Civic Type R is a new car model that has just started to be sold. Like any other new model, it comes with several improvements and innovations that should please even the most demanding customers. The 2023 Honda Civic Type R will be equipped as standard with Honda's latest infotainment system, running through a 9.0-inch touchscreen. Further, it will include Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless smartphone charging.
Trims & Features
The Civic Type R has long been one of the most popular hot hatches on the market, and the 2023 version is no exception. Available in three trims-the FK8, FK9, and R-the Type R is available with a turbocharged and direct-injected 2.0-liter inline-four that produces 306 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The engine comes hooked up to a six-speed manual transmission, as well as a limited-slip differential that helps it get from zero to sixty in about five seconds flat. The driver will choose between two drive modes: Comfort mode, which makes for a more compliant ride, or Sport mode, which tightens the suspension and steering for better handling on more winding roads.
Horsepower
The 2023 Honda Civic Type R is powered by a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine capable of generating one horsepower per cubic inch. The engine is mated to a six-speed transmission with paddle shifters and a wide ratio range. The transmission was designed specifically to handle the engine's high torque output, which Honda estimates at around 295ft-lbs at 3250 RPMs [0-60 estimated at under 5 seconds]. The engine also features an advanced variable valve timing system which allows it to run efficiently on regular or premium fuel.
Safety
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has ranked the Honda Civic Type R as one of the safest American roads. This ranking was given due to the vehicle's innovative front impact protection system, designed to help protect frontal occupants in a vehicle collision. The Civic Type R's frontal structural design helps absorb energy in a crash, minimizing injuries and damage to the vehicle itself.
Visit Us in Phoenix, AZ Today
The all-new Honda Civic Type R is the reimagination of a generation to change the expectations of what a performance car should be. Whether you come to us at our dealership in Phoenix, AZ, or online, we look forward to helping you achieve your dream of owning one. If you have any questions about the vehicle or financing, please don't hesitate to reach out to us. We can't wait to hear from you soon.
Aug 31, 2022 at 9:00pm ET
As promised, Honda is dishing up more information on the 2023 Civic Type R. We still don't have all the data boxes filled in, but we can at least confirm the new Type R is indeed the most powerful ever from the factory. Its turbocharged 2.0-liter engine generates 315 horsepower [235 kilowatts] and 310 pound-feet [420 Newton-meters] of torque.
For the record, that's an increase of 9 hp and 15 lb-ft over the previous-generation Type R and its K20C1 engine, which is largely unchanged in the new model. It's not a huge jump, but Honda emphasizes the tuning done to make the car more streetable. The higher peak torque is available at a relatively low 2,600 rpm through 4,000 revs. The updated turbocharger features optimized turbine blades that create greater pressure with a wider range and more efficiency. The boosted mill exhales through a largely straight-through exhaust, featuring an active valve that lets more gas [and noise] escape the system.
Gallery: 2023 Honda Civic Type R
What does this mean for performance? Sadly, that's something Honda still doesn't want to talk about, though we know the new Type R holds the production front-wheel-drive record at Suzuka. It turned 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 clipping nearly a second off a lap time at Suzuka requires more than 9 extra hp.
Honda tells us the new Type R is a bit longer and wider than its predecessor. Its wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer, and the track at the front is a full inch wider. At the back it's 0.75 inches wider, and the suspension is completely retuned versus the older model. It rides on Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, a notable upgrade from the Continentals it used to wear from the factory. And though the wheel diameter is down to 19 inches, the tires are a bit wider in front.
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At this point, we'd love to tell you how much the new Type R weighs, as that's a critical specification for performance vehicles. Unfortunately, that's also still a state secret with Honda. The previous-generation Type R weighed just under 3,100 pounds in Limited Edition trim, the version that held the Suzuka record. Recently leaked information claims the new R weighs 3,153 pounds, but the leak also claimed 326 horsepower. It's possible these could be stats for Japan-market vehicles, but we suspect the official weight will be somewhere in this 3,100 to 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 gears with a six-speed manual transmission. Drivers get an R+ drive mode as well as an Individual Mode that can be customized, and an enhanced Honda LogR datalogger monitors and stores real-time performance metrics. Five colors are available at launch, including Championship White, Rallye Red, Crystal Black Pearl, Sonic Grey Pearl, and Boost Blue.
Type R News:
Pricing is another bit of information Honda still isn't ready to divulge. That will come closer to the Type R's official launch, slated for later this fall.
Source: Honda