Tuesday 12th July 2022

Civic Type R previewed ahead of debut next week

Honda is finally on the home stretch when it comes to the job of replacing its best car

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Honda doesn’t get to work itself up into a performance-based lather very often these days, so we’ve forgiven it for what seems like a turgid build-up to the new Civic Type R. Of course, even if it was also building and selling its own version of the Ariel Nomad we’d probably forgive it anyway, because  the departed CTR was as good as modern front-drive, petrol-powered hot hatches get - and because no one is likely to invest additional money in making them better at this point, there’s a very real chance that the new CTR might come to represent the peak of the genre. Which is some thought. 

But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. The news today - accompanied by pic and short vid - is that Honda will officially reveal the car in nine days time. The firm calls the teaser image its ‘first’ but of course we’ve seen umpteen shots of it barrelling around test tracks and proving grounds; this one is only the first insofar as the camouflage has been removed. Although obviously it tells us precious little more about the new model, other than the fact it will be wearing the traditional badge. 

The initial impression in the office is still the same: it will be moderately better looking than the car it replaces (because Honda has clearly moderated some of the bits which proved divisive last time around) and is almost certain to include the same basic formula underneath. Away from the R badge the latest Civic has been electrified, but the firm has already indicated that the turbocharged VTEC unit remains unsullied by hybridisation. Whether or not it has gained any additional power is still to be seen. 

What is not in doubt is the model’s capacity for mixing it up on a circuit. Honda has already confirmed that the new version earned the lap record for front-drive cars a Suzuka back in the spring - and since then it has been seen pounding round the Nurburgring ad infinitum, presumably with the intention of claiming that title, too. At any rate, it makes next Thursday a good date for the calendar. Although why Honda didn’t opt for today is something of a mystery, given it is 50 years to the day (July 12th, 1972) that it started selling the Civic in its original format. Time flies, eh? 

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• 2021 Honda Civic Type R | PH Review
• New Civic Type R breaks old Type R lap record

[whp1983]

Looking forward to this, such a good drive previously so new one should be at least the same.

I liked looks of outgoing model too…. If you’re Going to go full Japanese may as well go bonkers!

[Limpet]

If anything can tempt me out of my i30N.... Excited to see this.

[Zero7]

Limited numbers only

[Wab1974uk]

If the performance remain similar, and the looks toned down, they should be onto a winner.

[spikyone]

whp1983 said:

Looking forward to this, such a good drive previously so new one should be at least the same.

I liked looks of outgoing model too…. If you’re Going to go full Japanese may as well go bonkers!

Same here. If you want something that looks civilised, buy a Golf or an i30N. The old CTR was a breath of fresh air. Looks-wise, I much prefer it to the images I've seen of the new one.

[British Beef]

The most relevant and anticipated sports car of 2022?

(after the Lotus Emira of course!!!!)

[LuS1fer]

Dear Honda
3 rear belts please.

[Nersha]

Zero7 said:

Limited numbers only

Source on this ?

[Wadeski]

It will be interesting to see if our (PH collective) opinions reflect sales performance - we (myself included) wanted same performance but with less challenging looks...lets see what the market thinks!

[alex_2015]

spikyone said:

Same here. If you want something that looks civilised, buy a Golf or an i30N. The old CTR was a breath of fresh air. Looks-wise, I much prefer it to the images I've seen of the new one.

I hear you.
I'll keep the FK8 CTR and won't go for the new one. For the very same reasons. The current one looks special, it has that exotic look.
Yes no doubt the new one will come with improvements here and there (cooling, handling, suspension). But I'm not going to waste money and time to get a new one, add accessories, ceramic, etc. Plus mine does not have GPF which is a bit better for exhaust tone.

That scarcity rumor comes from Civicx members according to which some dealerships allegedly said there will be aprox 600 cars allocated for the whole Canada during 3 years. Whether it's true or not I don't care. I'm not in the scarcity chasing game. They can keep it if they play that. Like it's a FXXK Evo or something.

The new one and quite a few other enthusiast cars will be interesting in 10 years time. If I can get an interesting deal for a clean one. Otherwise not.

Edited by alex_2015 on Tuesday 12th July 13:56

Edited by alex_2015 on Tuesday 12th July 13:57

[dibblecorse]

I love CTR's, but having an artificial left kneecap manuals are a no no for me and long term ownership, and I know an auto will dull things by a few percent, but an auto CTR with a decent PDK'esque box would be lovely for me.

[thecremeegg]

I need a plug-in hybriod version for BIK purposes please Honda!

[EK9_CTR]

Tempted to shift my FK8 for this new FL5. I wonder how much better it will be than the FK8.

Hopefully there's a healthy number coming to the UK and we don't have stupidly inflated prices.

[macdeb]

Well, it can't possibly look any worse than the last one, can it? Looked like a 12 year old drew it. Oh, and please
Stop the obsession with fake vents.

[PistonTim]

Still looks very much camouflaged or at least pattern wrapped in those moving shots?

[alex_2015]

macdeb said:

Well, it can't possibly look any worse than the last one, can it? Looked like a 12 year old drew it. Oh, and please
Stop the obsession with fake vents.

At least it looks different, exotic. Unlike other dadas cars that look all the same.
And you can find fake vents and appendixes all over the price spectrum.

[Sion111R]

Just a blatant excuse to post this - but I hope this new model takes some cues from the FD2R.

[redroadster]

Liked old one and looking forward to seeing this unveiling, let's hope price does not nudge 40k....

[blearyeyedboy]

alex_2015 said:

At least it looks different, exotic. Unlike other dadas cars that look all the same.
And you can find fake vents and appendixes all over the price spectrum.

Except it limits who buys your cars, which is why the Sportline was created. (I for one welcome the toned down spoiler and the more sober interior; I couldn't live with red seats...)

Take the previous generation Leon Cupra as an example- you could buy a discreet one or you could buy a batst crazy one with orange wheels.

Not dissing those who prefer their cars to be extrovert but manufacturers can just give people the choice. No reason you can't enjoy the stylised bits while I can tick a box saying "delete spoiler". There's room for both.

The EP3 didn't have massive spoilers, and didn't need them to impress.

[alex_2015]

blearyeyedboy said:

Except it limits who buys your cars, which is why the Sportline was created. (I for one welcome the toned down spoiler and the more sober interior; I couldn't live with red seats...)

Take the previous generation Leon Cupra as an example- you could buy a discreet one or you could buy a batst crazy one with orange wheels.

Not dissing those who prefer their cars to be extrovert but manufacturers can just give people the choice. No reason you can't enjoy the stylised bits while I can tick a box saying "delete spoiler". There's room for both.

The EP3 didn't have massive spoilers, and didn't need them to impress.

Fair enough your argument. Ability to configure is part of the solution. But I was referring also to the overall body lines of the hatch base. It's different, has more personality than other cars. You can say from a distance it's a civic 10th gen. Unlike the vast majority of compacts. Like in the 80s, 90s when cars used to look different. Look at the new design language of Audi, they went from bland in that direction too with a more angular design giving clues to the 80s Audi models.

Edited by alex_2015 on Wednesday 13th July 07:48