The Tokyo Auto Salon is essentially Japan’s SEMA show, a conference showing off the latest and greatest in the automotive aftermarket. It’s enough of a landmark event that major automakers get in on it, and Honda may have been the surprise of the year. It wheeled out a fully camouflaged prototype called the Civic Type R HRC Concept. What does HRC stand for? Honda Racing Corporation. Details on this spicier Type R were scarce at the turn of the year, but Honda’s now gone and released a video showing a little bit more about how the sausage is made.
The existing Honda Civic Type R is already one of the quickest front-wheel-drive cars on sale. We’re talking 315 horsepower, adaptive dampers, a close-ratio six-speed manual transaxle with a helical diff, a functional wing … everything needed to run with the front of the front-wheel-drive performance car pack. However, it’s no longer the king. Last month, the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50 claimed the Civic Type R’s title of the fastest front-wheel-drive car around the Nürburgring Nordschleife, so it’s safe to say that Honda’s timed development of the Civic Type R HRC well. Granted, the marque’s calling the Type R HRC a concept for now, but Honda has a long history of barely-disguised production cars being shown off as concept cars.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Honda built and tested several Civic Type R HRC prototypes in this video, and some of them don’t have nearly the same level of camouflage as the Tokyo Auto Salon show car. This means we get a better look at the changes, and some of what we can spot is significant.
While it’s all wrapped up in camouflage, even this dazzling pattern can’t hide the wild aerodynamic elements on the front fenders. The current Civic Type R won some praise for dialing back its visual boldness over the previous model, but not everyone’s a fan of visual restraint. Also, check out the additional sculpting on the front bumper. Now those are some winglets.
Complementing the heavily revised front clip, this thing features a visibly different rear wing than the standard model, with traditional end plates instead of the regular Civic Type R’s wing’s tapered design. This should increase efficiency by keeping flow further separated over the high-pressure and low-pressure sides of the wing, and it just looks proper.
While power changes aren’t confirmed, a close-up of an HRC-branded intercooler suggests that there’s something going on under the hood of this next-level Civic Type R. At minimum, a larger intercooler should help prevent heat soak on track, but anyone who’s played with turbocharged cars before knows that greater intake air cooling capability can usually handle more boost than standard.
Around back, Honda treated viewers to a close-up of a triple-tipped Akrapovič exhaust system. Given how Akrapovič is known for building lovely-sounding things out of titanium, don’t be surprised if this setup serves up measurable weight reduction while uncorking that turbocharged inline-four’s growl.
Perhaps most curiosity-piquing is this tidbit of dialogue in the promo video: “It feels racier. Response is quicker. The whole car feels more rigid. It’s way better.” Not only does this suggest real powertrain tweaks, it also seems to hint at revisions under the skin. They could be suspension modifications, additional bracing, or perhaps a combination of the two. We won’t know until Honda takes the wrap off for real.
Mind you, there is one wildcard item here: The Civic Type R HRC might not be a turnkey car as such. Going by Honda’s Tokyo Auto Salon teaser, it’s likely at least some of these tweaks will be available as standalone parts for existing Civic Type Rs, potentially with a whole package being available in the same vein as Manthey Racing’s Porsche packages. Those still count for Nürburgring times, so maybe it’s indeed the move. Either way, expect to learn a whole lot more later this year.
Top graphic image: YouTube/Honda
I’ll be in my bunk.
I am not a fan of visual restraint. Gimme.
When I see a headline like “the Civic Type R is getting faster” I actually read it as “the Civic Type R is getting more expensive”. And it is already $50k.
I get that many people really like the CTR, but geez how much more expensive can this car really get? I feel it has already priced itself out of the market. If I was looking for a fun car and had $50k to spend, the CTR would be waaaay down on my list.
A younger me would love one of these without the rear wing. I just hate the look.
I’ve gotten up to 110 mph (in a friend’s parents MB 450 SEL in high school and my own ’86 Accord a dozen years later). I guess at those speeds, some aerodynamics come into play. For me, the difference was in the suspension. The MB soaked up stuff that made for more concerning events in the Accord.
That was a long time (four decades) ago. I think I’ve hit 95 in my current (’17) Accord and that was only briefly on a two-lane pass in Texas.
So that was all essentially straight-line stuff. Going around corners is a different thing and I have to wonder whether the aerodynamic frippery really makes much difference going around the corners that us mere mortals do.
Young me made the tires on my Datsun 510 wagon and Peugeot 504 howl. Even avoiding errant drivers, I don’t think I’ve come close in my current car. I really want to take it to a track day, just to see what it’s capable of.
As a news photographer, I got to spend a day shooting a story about a pursuit training program at Nelson Ledges and the instructor, driving a cop spec Caprice Wagon could reel in any of his students in their Ford Interceptors. This was all pre-PITT maneuver stuff. That wagon looked like an Orca, but well driven, it was quite capable.
Watching YouTube pursuit videos, I come away impressed with what some of these LEOs are capable of doing in heavy Chargers and Explorers. And how rugged some of the cars they are pursuing (stolen Hyundais, Toyotas, etc.) can be damaged and keep eluding.
Also big wings bring out the worst in the drivers around you. I used to have a WRX STI and I swear the wing made everyone want to race me. Didn’t matter if it was a 25 year old clapped out Honda Civic, a Mustang GT, or even BMW M3s.
needs a bigger wing!
I think it’s lovely they chose to honor Hillary Rodham Clinton in this way.
Out of all our presidential candidates she was absolutely one of them
Ha! It is Pride month in America, so maybe it’s Human Rights Campaign.
One of the most regrettable ones. Imagine a world where it was Bernie who got the nod as the Democratic presidential candidate. Now imagine it if Bernie had won.
If gas was the same price now if Bernie had won, I have to believe the extra $ would be going towards more beneficial programs than messing around in Iran.
I’m sure that Bernie’s voice would be nearly as annoying as Trump’s on a daily basis, but wouldn’t contain nearly as many lies or gaslighting.
I have a ’24 Type R. It’s more than fast enough stock, but many owners didn’t wait for HRC and already tuned them. Tons of aftermarket support.
The Type R is fun to drive at all speeds, with precision missing in other brands. Also 30+ mpg with today’s fuel prices isn’t bad.
dude i got 33mpg in my 2008 honda fit 30mpg in a type r is crazy.
Eh, a ’17 Accord V6 can get nearly 40 mpg on the freeway. Ask me how I know.
I’m sure a Type R could too, if driven at only 5 over. Like I do. Usually.
I think all of the 300+HP ~2.0 liters can get over 30 MPG, such as my little 2 series (up to 33-37 MPG). It’s part of what I liked about this little car. I can be fun or it can be a bit more sensible.
Sure, I’m glad it (might) exist, but they gave up on selling EVs in America for this?
The Gen11 Civic was heavily restrained styling over the Gen10.
I hope Honda fixes their pendulum.
…and continues in the right direction, rediscovering stylish elegance vs the cheezy vulgar kitch abomination the 10gen’s R design was.
Maybe some day they’ll reach CRX or Prelude level, or even a 5th gen Vti elegance. You never know.
Exactly. No need to shout. Just impress with subtle competency.
If the Type-R doesn’t look like the RX-78-2 or GAT-X105, is it even a Type-R?
Thank you for putting model numbers on the things the 10gen reminded me of 😀
Just be glad it’s not inspired by the GQuuuuuuX. I loved that show, but that design is not for everyone. The GFreD, though, has a delicious color scheme.
Maybe the next one will look like Eva Unit-01. If it came in purple, that would be compelling lol
Considering Honda probably could have reclaimed their FWD ring record by throwing some lightened wheels and some carbon fiber bits on the current Type R, I respect they seem to be putting more effort into this than a few bolt-ons for the likely egregious price premium.
Hot Hatchback is my favorite segment, but this does nothing for me. This feels like it defeats the ethos of the hot hatch which is cheap, practical fun. I’m getting “This is our FWD GT3 RS” and it leaves me cold. I don’t need the stickiest rubber and racing brakes, just something with a bit more than the standard civic.
I’d love a hot Civic hatch with a 2.0T and a stick for $5000 more than the top trim Civic but this isn’t going to be that. It’s going to be at least $20k-$30k more and that’s honestly just not compelling for a warmed over compact hatchback.
I think in its base guise or as the Integra Type S it’s still a very appealing, if expensive, car…but even before these inevitably get slammed with markups they’re going to cost as much as some serious rear wheel drive competition. You’d have to really, really like Honda to pick a FWD hot hatch over a CT4V BW, IS500, M340i, etc.
That’s the herd of elephants in the room isn’t it? I’m definitely not buying a Civic of any capacity over a manual Blackwing or any V8 RWD sport sedan.
You’d have to stretch the budget by a good bit to get a new manual CT4V Blackwing, or any other V8 RWD sport sedan.
Now I understand the used side of the equation, but you can get a used FK8 Type R for under $30k now. The FK8 and FL5 drive almost identically too.
Yeah but then you’d have to be seen driving an FK8
I’m not to concerned what other people think about what I drive. Overwhelmingly people think it’s either cool or it’s a nothingburger. People don’t actually care what you drive unless you are driving around like a twatwaffle disturbing the peace.
This. Talking apples to apples you’d need to be thinking $50k max. CTR can be obtained at MSRP pretty easily now for those willing to go out of the way a bit.
For people who need practicality but not necessarily an AWD snow rocket I don’t see anything beating it. It’s nuts what you can do with that hatch.
The original comment is fair though. I really don’t consider the FL5 a “hot hatch” based on price point alone, but even really its size. I mean it’s bigger in all dimensions than an E46 M3. It’s a GT car.
Couldn’t agree more. I am also “not the target audience” for a GT3RS, so there’s that.
I find myself enjoying more slower / less grippy cars lately.
Honestly, maxing out a slower car is much more appealing. It can be used daily, it won’t rattle your brain over the wonderful roads we have in America, and you can actually use 90% of the power without losing your license and spending a night in jail.
The constant need for more horsepower and track times, while disregarding the reality on the ground, is a complete turn off to me, and I could not be less impressed by them.
The other day I took the Clio on some country roads and I must admit that I, maybe…, enjoyed it more than the A110…
Part of it was the no need to be sporty or fast, just a car flowing nicely in the corners at approchable (and low) speeds.
And the A110 wasn’t an intimidating car at all.
The most fun car I’ve ever driven was my wife’s 2014 Chevy Spark 5MT. 84 hp of flooring the car everywhere we went and never breaking any laws.
Huzzah! 😀
the type R has the adaptive suspension so it can do “comfort commuting” and “aggressive body control” with the flip of a switch.
I did not know that, how well does it work?
Havn’t driven it personally but since the type r was released that has been the biggest selling point reviewers have mentioned is it’s not just “one thing” its the comfortable commuter, and the track toy.
I feel like what you’re describing is the Si (minus the 2.0) while the Type R is the unrestricted throw everything we can at the car to make it faster than it should be.
The Si used to be in that arena but now the Sport Touring is more powerful, more expensive, and has more features. I’m talking more like an upper GT trim to bridge the price gap between the fully loaded Sport Touring and the Type R that’s almost $20k more.
In Porsche 911 Terms:
Carrera T – Civic Si
Carrera S – Sport Touring
Carrera GTS – (insert here)
GT3 and GT3 RS – Type R and Type R HRC
My biggest beef with the Si is that it’s not a hatch. So it’s immediately less practical as a vehicle.
The Integra becomes the only way (bar the CTR) to get an LSD in a hatch, and that sadly bumps the price of entry.
Fair enough, I’m pretty sedan obsessed so I keep forgetting the hatch part of hot hatch 😀
The fact that a new manual Integra with the differential is nearly $40,000 is egregious.
Sounds like there is space for Honda to get the Civic Hybrid hatch, slap some stickier tires and a retune on it, and call it the Hybrid Si hatch.
I think Honda is forcing the Prelude into that slot sadly.
There are too many storied nameplates that have fallen by the wayside – can we please just keep the Si manual-only?
Even used they are still close to MSRP. The hot hatch you want is the GR Corolla. Cheap basic interior with some nice seats and 100 horses pouring out of each cylinder. Just ignore the cost to replace the clutch or brakes and it’s perfect.
What I really want is a GTI but with Honda or Toyota build quality/reliability
civic Si is 32k type R is 47k. I’m not sure whre you are getting your numbers
The $20-$30k is what I’m guessing this HCR version is going to go for over the Sport Touring/Si trims. $60k seems like what they would be going for before the inevitable ADM.
Still a $15k delta between performance trims on a car with an average price in the $30s is crazy. I’d be happier with a $40k model underneath the Type R with a 2.0T
I mean we can all WANT cheaper options but you can want in one hand and shit in the other and see what fill up first.
I really like the new Type R, but I do think it looks too subtle and restrained. It needs some modifications like this to stand out a bit more. As it is now it just looks too much like the standard hatchback, which is a great looking car but doesn’t match the Type R.
Cool! I can’t wait for it to retail for $60,000, for Honda dealerships to then charge $80,000 for it, and for JDM bros to line up around the block to get into bidding wars to see who gets to finance it on 84 month loans.
…if you want to be able to brag that MY TYPE R IS BEST TYPE R you’re way better off just buying a stock one and modding it yourself. The aftermarket for these cars is friggin YUGE and IMHO doing your own mods fits the ethos of this car way better than paying a huge ADM for a factory tuned one.
The price on these is already killer. And with every new Type R or Golf R or special edition GTI or whatever gets announced, all I can think is that Subaru would be crushing it with either (or both) a bit more power in this generation of WRX or a $40k starting STi.
(not saying the current WRX doesn’t have enough power, just that they have failed to generate excitement by keeping the power levels stagnant and adding all that cladding)
I genuinely don’t think ‘lack of’ power on the WRX is it’s it’s downfall. I think it lacks refinement (and, obviously, needs to be a hatchback)
I do, however, fear Subaru will bring back the STI as an $80k unobtainable model that makes little-to-no-sense just to get a few more ponies and make it a far less pleasant place to be for regular driving.
I would be far happier if they offered the same regular plain-ol WRX with a hatch, and a little bit more noise insulation so I could happily drive it as a regular car.
This is a solid take – I think the Type R swung a little too far to restraint when going from 10th to 11th gen and needs some aggressive bits like shown here. I appreciate the “factory” attempt at changing that, but I agree that modding your own fits the car.
I haven’t looked at the aftermarket options (why would I, I don’t own one lol) but if they have stuff that looks more aggressive while still looking factory that would be a great option. My worry would be how often tack-on aftermarket stuff looks like tack-on aftermarket stuff.
IMO the aftermarket stuff looks super tacked on and terrible on the 11th gen. The Mugen kit gives it the Crismon Chin look. (I own a 10th gen and it is peak Honda tacky, but the aftermarket for it too is terrible)
That’s kinda what I expected.
Tenth gen looks “Honda tacky” but since it’s all factory I think it pulls together really well and looks good. I saw a beautiful S2000 this morning but the look was completely ruined by an aftermarket hood. The part itself looked well-made and high quality, but it just did not match.
I get an itch now and then to throw something at my Mazda3 to spice it up a bit, but there’s nothing in the aftermarket appearance-wise that doesn’t look tacked on.
Wheels are the best way to spice it up without going too tacky. Just gotta find the right size and offset to work.
I SHOULD be the target market for a Type R, I’ve owned 3 Civic, have former Ricer Bonafides, and make enough to afford this. Just because i CAN afford it, doesn’t mean I will pay this for a vehicle, and the first gen was too boy racer for me at my advanced age. I already think the wing on my 9th Gen Si is a bit much, I feel like driving a Type R in your 50s screams that you’re trying real hard to be something….
Unless you’re actually racing it, which I don’t have the time for so.
With my friends we describe those as “too Nurburgring”. I have grown out of Nurburgring cars…
That’s brilliant! I’m stealing that. “Too Nurburgring” is spot on.
James May was right all along
Captain Slow sure seems to be the sensible one of the bunch
I’m a mid 30s professional who’s married with a kid. I’m the target demographic for a lot of these products and currently own one (a Kona N). I find the current, more understated CTR to be fairly appealing but I also think it’s overpriced at MSRP.
Same with the Golf R. I’m not paying nearly $55,000 out the door for a hot hatch. Once you’re sneaking into the price realm of luxury rear wheel drive sport sedans that’s what I’d gravitate towards. I think manufacturers have gone way too far with the hot hatch tax. Even a fairly barebones 330i drives better than any of these front wheel drive platforms…and I’d know, I’ve driven a GTI, Golf R, Elantra N and a current gen 3 series.
I do suppose if you’re a manual diehard that closes the gap a bit but (ducks) I’m not.
I wholeheartedly disagree with you that a base 330i drives better than a CTR. The BMW is a lifeless shell of an appliance, the Civic has that motorsports bred purposeful feel through it. Old BMWs drove great, the current BMW is soulless.
I should’ve clarified that I ment it was better than any of the FWD stuff I’ve driven. The way I worded it implied that it included the CTR which is my bad. I have not driven a CTR because I’m worried I’d come home with it and have a lot of explaining to do.
Anyway I don’t agree re: current BMW. I think the 330i is a fun and playful car and my dad’s X5 drives incredibly well for what it is. The steering, however, is a real downside and if steering feel or a manual are your top priorities then I’d understand avoiding the roundel. They really do need to go back to the drawing board with their EPS racks…
There is domething inherently balanced about an FR layout that an FF car, no matter how brilliant it is, just cannot match.
The SUV craze and hunt down on the car, speed and driving pleasure have also made them almost redundant.
Meh, age is just a number, I’m in my late 40s and still prefer the boy racer stuff. When I traded my BRZ in on a GR Corolla last year I thought about the CTR, but my wife really wanted a hatch and I kinda like how goofy the toyota is… Don’t think I’ll be graduating from technically a grown up to a genuine adult any time soon.
The CTR is a hatch
Not hatch shaped enough, I guess. Perception, in this case, is reality.