Home » Here’s Our First Look At The 2023 Honda Civic Type R

Here’s Our First Look At The 2023 Honda Civic Type R

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How do you improve on excellence? The old Honda Civic Type R brought a level of cohesion usually reserved for high-end sports cars to the hot hatch segment, plus it brought the legend of Type R back to North America after a 16-year absence. In the case of the new 2023 Honda Civic Type R, it promises improvement via maturity, rounding off the old car’s Hot Topic aesthetics to create a more sensible super hatch.

2023 Honda Civic Type R
Photo credit: Honda

See, the old Honda Civic Type R looked a bit spiky and anti-social with its vortex generators, fender flares, red accenting, and faux-vents conspired to give the outgoing model the same appeal as bondage pants. It was certainly bold, but bold means polarizing here. In contrast, the new car almost looks like regular-ass traffic. Sure, it has a big rear wing and three anuses, but it doesn’t look like it crashed into AB Flug’s workshop.

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Vidframe Min Bottom
2023 Honda Civic Type R
Photo credit: Honda

Die-cut aluminum uprights slim down the rear wing’s visual presence, while special Type R-specific rear doors blend the bulged rear arches much better than on the old car. Up front, reasonably-sized grilles blend with a nice lack of faux-grille macho posturing to create a look bordering on understated. As expected, five colors are on tap: Championship White, Rallye Red, Boost Blue, Crystal Black Pearl, and Sonic Grey Pearl. Honestly, go for Rallye Red or Boost Blue. It’s nice not driving a greyscale car.

wheel and tire
Photo credit: Honda

As for the wheels, they feature familiar Y-spoke styling and are wrapped in 265/30ZR19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. Yes, we’re looking at smaller diameter wheels than the outgoing car and a fairly predictable jump to Michelin as a tire supplier. After all, Michelin’s Sport Cup 2s featured on the 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition. Weirdly, I’m not surprised to see Honda leaping down an inch in wheel diameter. Several owners reported sidewall roll and chunking issues on the old car’s stock tire setup when driven hard, not nice stuff for a track-focused hot hatch.

2023 Honda Civic Type R
Photo credit: Honda

On the inside, the new Civic Type R adopts some traits of the old Civic Type R. The front seats still look a bit overstuffed and blocky, although they’re still upholstered in red fabric. To be painfully specific, Honda has developed a new shade of red for this faux-suede upholstery, a move that was likely unnecessary but certainly not a detraction by any means. Hell, the interior comes with a notable addition – American-market cars will get red carpets for the first time. As a marker of Type R heritage, that has to count for something, right?

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2023 Honda Civic Type R
Photo credit: Honda

While the new Civic’s interior layout promises to be much nicer than that of the old Civic, it appears that the Type R still isn’t optimized for cold-climate drivers. Heated seats don’t appear to be on the menu, nor does a heated steering wheel. I mean really, how much weight do heated seats actually add? We’re talking about a handful of pounds for the heating elements, switches, and wiring. The Volkswagen Golf R and Hyundai Elantra N already have these creature comforts, so would it have killed Honda to chuck them in the Type R?

2023 Honda Civic Type R
Photo credit: Honda

Moving on to tech, the Civic Type R seems to offer some nifty gadgets. There’s a bespoke gauge cluster skin in +R mode with a pretty cool horizontal tachometer, while the standard infotainment system is a nicely-sized nine-inch touchscreen. There appear to be Type R-specific infotainment applications with performance read-outs, although the press release neglected to go into further detail. A Bose stereo does appear to be on tap, promising a decent improvement in audio quality over the somewhat crappy stereo in the old Civic Type R. If this is anything like the Bose stereo in the standard Civic, and I see no reason for substantial differences, it’s reasonably acceptable. Distortion levels aren’t great, the sound signature isn’t massively fun, but it should keep up with other C-segment premium audio systems.

2023 Honda Civic Type R
Photo credit: Honda

Moving on to the Civic Type R’s powertrain, there’s a two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine on tap mated to a six-speed manual transaxle driving the front wheels. Feeling brave today, aren’t we? Look, it’s okay if much of this powertrain is carryover because it was brilliant in the old Type R. Apparently some revisions have taken place to make the engine “even more powerful and responsive.” That sounds brilliant, but details and effects are yet to be seen. What can definitely be seen is the massive amounts of carbon fiber slathered all over various engine bay components. It certainly looks lovely, but I can’t help but wonder how much weight these fancy reinforced plastic bits really save over more garden-variety plastics.

Triple exhaust tips
Photo credit: Honda

So, what else can I tell you about the new Honda Civic Type R? Not much, I’m afraid. See, Honda hasn’t released power figures, curb weight, gear ratios, or anything at all that really matters to enthusiasts. In fact, I’ll provide a link to the whole press release just so you know I’m not making anything up here. What’s a claim of “most powerful Type R ever” without any figures to back it up? We’ve known what the new Civic Type R would look like for ages, we’ve known what would power it for ages, now’s the time to dredge up some figures and unveil a bloody car.

2023 Honda Civic Type R
Photo credit: Honda

According to Honda, more details on the 2023 Civic Type R will be available closer to autumn when the Type R’s expected to go on sale. I hope that not only are the figures good, but that Honda has a damn good reason for holding out this long on releasing them. As long as the new car still drives brilliantly and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg more than the old car, I’m alright with holding off. However, the Hyundai Elantra N is absolutely brilliant and stickers for just $33,245, so Honda will have to work really hard to justify any price delta.

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SlowCarFast
SlowCarFast
1 year ago

Are those images of the rear both renderings? Because I can’t for the life of me figure out how that hatch is supposed-to open. (Is the C-pillar made out of rubber?)

RC Mil
RC Mil
1 year ago

The cost of purchase prevents me from serious consideration of this or the previous design.
I prefer the full zoot appearance.

Isis
Isis
1 year ago

The Integra is available in yellow. . . I’ll hold out for when they put this powertrain in one. That one better be available in yellow too.

Fix It Again Tony
Fix It Again Tony
1 year ago
Reply to  Isis

WAS. No yellow in 2023.

MoistSwede
MoistSwede
1 year ago

Hah! I much prefer the new design to the previous gen, but I’m old and never played with gundam. I think Honda does a universally bad job when they attempt any “edgy” styling for the NA market. I suspect gray beards will end up being a significant slice of buyers. That slice would be even bigger if they offer a wing-delete option. Probably a smart business move considering the likely premium over the Elantra N.

Tim R
Tim R
1 year ago

I’m looking forward to the Integra Type R version of this, hopefully without the spoiler. The new Civic R looks much better, but I’d still feel awkward at my age (old) driving this around town.

Fix It Again Tony
Fix It Again Tony
1 year ago

“massive amounts of carbon fiber”
I think those are most likely CF patterned plastic like on the FK8.

Clusker Du
Clusker Du
1 year ago

Wow! Talk about pendulum swings. Honda went from decapitated Gundam head to… half-melted ice cream sandwich? While the outgoing Type-R’s style definitely wasn’t for everyone, at least it had presence and drama. This new Type-R is too refined (for my tastes at least). And that wing looks like an afterthought – maybe if it didn’t have the struts and mounted directly to the hatch? I wonder it it would look better in Racing Blue?

Adam
Adam
1 year ago
Reply to  Clusker Du

I dont know. This new Civic design is a lot more in line with the 90s hey day than the 10th gen was. In general 90s Japan cars were pretty subdued. It was the aftermarket kits that made them all crazy. I really like what they did here, wing included and I think the target audience will receive it well.

Gilbert Wham
Gilbert Wham
1 year ago
Reply to  Clusker Du

My daughter described the previous gen as ‘like a Deception’s shoe’.

Gilbert Wham
Gilbert Wham
1 year ago
Reply to  Gilbert Wham

*like a Decepticon’s shoe.
Fuck you phone. *Fuck* you

Ben
Ben
1 year ago
Reply to  Clusker Du

It’s funny because I actually think this one looks more ridiculous than the previous one in some ways. The last gen leaned into its wild styling, this one looks like they tacked a huge wing on a non-descript sedan. It’s extremely jarring if you ask me.

Stryker_T
Stryker_T
1 year ago

as boring as the regular version is I’m surprised this one looks as nice as it does.

David Fernandez
David Fernandez
1 year ago

The car looks good, but that wing needs to go in the bin.

They need to start from scratch on that one.

OldJackBurton
OldJackBurton
1 year ago

Agreed. It looks like it was bolted on as an afterthought

Estate Car
Estate Car
1 year ago

At least it’s significantly less ugly than the previous generation.

Marshall Knutson
Marshall Knutson
1 year ago

Can anyone think of another car that took such a drastic styling departure from the previous generation?

Joshua Brewer
Joshua Brewer
1 year ago

People said that about the generation before as well.

StillPlaysWithCars
StillPlaysWithCars
1 year ago

Can’t wait for the $60,000+ “market adjustment” pricing on these!

BobWellington
BobWellington
1 year ago

It looks so much better than the previous gen, though that’s not really a surprise.

MATTinMKE
MATTinMKE
1 year ago

As a 2019 Civic Si owner, I find this generation much better looking. Is the wing removable? I think I see exposed bolts…

DubblewhopperInDubblejeopardy
DubblewhopperInDubblejeopardy
1 year ago
Reply to  MATTinMKE

I am keeping the wing when I order mine. It is not that bad from my perspective.

Adam
Adam
1 year ago

I’m pro wing as well. I mean its still a type R. Its not supposed to be classy.

Have you called around seeing if anyone is taking orders yet? You may have missed them already for first year allocations? As much as I want one I dont have space for another car without giving one up and I really want to focus on getting a 65+ Corvair. I’m hoping to sucker a dealer into a test drive but Im not optimistic Ill ever get that chance.

Adam
Adam
1 year ago
Reply to  MATTinMKE

I’ve seen some up close shots and the only bolts I have seen are the underside of the wing. The risers have hidden fasteners through the decklid and I haven’t seen anything from the underside to know if they put material over them or not. It would be a nice touch if they had a cutout there but I wouldn’t count on it. You’ll probably have to remove some finish panel to get to them.

DubblewhopperInDubblejeopardy
DubblewhopperInDubblejeopardy
1 year ago

I am still picking the Type-R, no matter how many positives you write about the Hyundai.

JTilla
JTilla
1 year ago

The hyundai is too fucking ugly. That front end is so hideous I have to wonder what the designers were thinking. People say the old type r was ugly but it is a super model compared to that hyundai.

Iain Delaney
Iain Delaney
1 year ago

The previous Type R was $45K Canadian, which is just stupid. They can’t price it lower, so the Elantra will end up being a fair bit cheaper.

FUCK YOU
FUCK YOU
1 year ago

A non-reveal reveal. The most substantial thing we learned here is the wheel and tire size. Disappointing, Honda.

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