Yahoo Autos 2023 Honda Civic Type R revealed, adds beauty to the brawn
This marks the intersection of two important milestones in Honda history. First, it's the 30th anniversary of the "R" moniker, which first appeared on the 1992 NSX-R, a Japan market-only race-oriented variant of the NSX supercar. Second, it's the 50th anniversary of the humble Civic, which established itself as a household name with a reputation for reliability, fuel efficiency, and overall user friendliness.
Put the two together and you get the Honda Civic Type R, which has just debuted in its sixth generation. It's almost incongruous that the NSX and run-of-the-mill Civic hailed from the same company, but dig a bit deeper on the Civic and you'll see iterations that weren't your run-of-the-mill grocery getter. Generations with double-wishbone suspensions, variable valve timing, and ultra-low cowls intentionally designed for maximum visibility belied what was, ostensibly, a sensible competitor to the Toyota Corolla or Chevy Cavalier.
Honda is still keeping mum on the 2023 Honda Civic Type R's specs. The only hint at what lies beneath a new skin is a claim that it's the most powerful Honda-branded vehicle ever offered in the U.S., and that it's the most powerful Type R model ever made. That would imply that its 2.0-liter turbocharged four will produce more power than the 306 horsepower that the last CTR possessed and, technically, even more than the 316 horsepower that this previous generation made in Japan and Europe.
It has already demonstrated this power on Honda's home turf, setting a new lap record for a front-wheel-drive car at Suzuka Circuit. A record, incidentally, that it wrested from the previous Civic Type R Limited Edition.
Beyond the undisclosed power, Honda says the 2023 Civic Type R will come with an improved six-speed manual transmission and rev-matching system. It will also sit longer, lower and wider than before, with wider tires as well.
That's all Honda is willing to reveal in terms of hardware for now. But what we can see for ourselves is that the 2023 Civic Type R wears a sexy new suit that is both sharp and purposeful. Gone are the predecessor's faux vents and busy lines, distractions that sidetracked what an excellent driver's car it was. Sleek lines are complemented by integrated aero to create a tight, visually appealing package.
