Will 2023 Type R come in automatic?

The 11th-gen Honda Civic has been out for quite some time now. Although a big improvement over its predecessor, the latest Civic came under the scanner for its toned down looks. Although a lot more mature, the general consensus was it look plain-Jane and boring. Naturally, the same was expected to happen to the Civic Type R, because the previous Type R was absolutely radical and screamed for attention from every angle. But, we’re done speculating how it would look because the 2023 Honda Civic Type R is finally here! The toned-down looks coupled with the typical Type R treatment actually make for a car that’s pleasing to the eyes. Honda still hasn’t revealed everything about the car, and that includes the power outputs, but here’s everything else that’s known about the latest Japanese budget sports car.

The Most Powerful Civic Type R Ever!

That’s it. That is all we know so far. The company mentioned it is the "most powerful Civic Type R ever", but didn’t announce the power specs. The 2023 Civic Type R will be powered by a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The previous model made 306 horses at 6,500 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm. The Japan- and Euro-spec Type Rs made 316 ponies. So, even one horsepower more than 316 horses would make it the most powerful Civic Type R ever.

We had earlier speculated around 330 horses and over 300 pound-feet of torque, and we’ll stick with it for now. If we get figures in this range, then the latest Civic Type R would be more powerful than its chief rivals, the Volkswagen Golf R and the Toyota GR Corolla. The 2022 Golf R comes with a 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder engine that makes 315 horses and 310 pound-feet of torque. The GR Corolla, on the hand, makes 300 horses and 273 pound-feet of torque from its three-pot, turbocharged mill that displaces 1.6 liters.

Six-speed Manual Gearbox Retained

There were hushed talks about a two-pedal setup being offered, but those rumors have been quashed. The 2023 Type R will continue to come with a six-speed manual gearbox that powers the front wheels. The only reason these rumors even made it out there was because the Hyundai Veloster N and the Volkswagen Golf R come with dual-clutch automatic gearboxes. A dual-clutch setup was expected here to swoop in on the German and Korean’s customers. As for the manual gearbox, limited-slip differential and rev-matching will be offered as standard.

It Is Also The Fastest Type R Ever!

Honda has further hyped the 2023 Civic Type R by setting a new record. The automaker lapped the Civic Type R at the Suzuka Circuit and set a new record for a front-wheel-drive car. In April 2022, Honda set a new record by lapping the 3.6-mile Suzuka Circuit in 2:23.120 minutes. It narrowly beat the previous record of 2:23.993 minutes, set by the 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition.

Improved Aerodynamics

The automaker has worked on the Civic Type R’s aerodynamics to achieve a well-balanced downforce and reduce drag. This comes courtesy of a redesigned rear spoiler and rear bumper. There are front fender grilles and genuine air vents behind the front wheels, but there are also fake ones all around. Will we ever get rid of them?

No Word On The Suspension And Chassis Tweaks

The 2023 Civic Type R will not move to a new architecture, but is based on the reworked version of the outgoing chassis. It could be slightly stiffer and tighter for a better overall driving experience. However, Honda hasn’t thrown any light on this yet and we’re waiting for an official word on it. The only thing Honda said in this regard was, “Track-ready, Nürburgring-tuned and tested, Civic Type R's famously addictive driving feel is increased even further by enhanced suspension and steering performance.” It will also most likely continue to feature the dual-axis strut front suspension instead of the control arm that’s present on the Acura TLX. Since the Type R is a front-wheel-drive model, the dual-axis strut front suspension helps reduce the torque steer very well.

Maturing Styling With the Type R Treatment

As stated above, the understated looks of the 11th-gen Civic have made their way to the Civic Type R as well, but I see it as a blessing in disguise. The latest Civic Type R has gone from a loud, Lady Gaga-like radical, absurd styling to a smart sports car that will age well and offend a lot fewer people this time around.

Up front, the bumper has also been redesigned and it features a sportier honeycomb mesh grille. The flared fenders now complement the wider tires better than the preceding model. The Honda Civic Type R now comes with a three-tip exhaust setup with the center one being larger than the ones on the sides; an inverted setup compared to the previous Type R.

The 2023 Civic Type R will be available in five colors:

- Historic Championship

- Rallye Red

- Boost Blue

- Crystal Black Pearl

- Sonic Grey Pearl

Smaller Wheels, Wider Tires

This deserves a special mention because it will affect the driving dynamics of the hot hatch. Honda has decided to ditch the 20-inch wheels from the previous model in favor of 19-inch wheels. They still look slick and smokin’ hot, though. The CTR also comes with wider rubber this time around - 265/30 section Michelin Sport 4S summer. The contact patch on the previous model was 235 mm. The braking duties are taken over by Brembo, so the brakes will be as good as the outgoing model, if not better.

A Tech-Heavy, Sporty Cabin

Honda might have managed to keep the Civic sedate-looking from the outside, but the cabin is the complete opposite. It’s not about the layout, but the color choice. The cabin is upholstered in Red shade, and that includes the carpeting, too. The red bucket seats are upholstered in a suede-like material that creates a “high friction coefficient that reduces body slippage in high-G driving situations”. It’s not an interior that’s sprinkled with red and black to create a sweet, sporty vibe; no sir. Instead, it comes with a black dash, black door pads, red seats, and red carpets. There’s close to zero overlapping between the two. The honeycomb mesh detail from the outside is carried over to the inside. The dash features a serialized Type R plate as well. We still have our inhibitions about it, but we’d love to know what you feel about it.

The instrument cluster features an exclusive new +R driving mode that comes with a graphic engine rpm display, rev indicator lights, and gear position indicator at the top. The Type R comes with the Honda LogR™ data logger that provides real-time information on the mechanical movements of the vehicle. It also comes with a stopwatch to record lap times and the ability to share driving videos. Apart from this, the knobs, switches, and air vents are a straight lift from the standard Civic, and so is the nine-inch floating touchscreen that supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Arriving In Fall Of 2022

The 2023 Civic Type R prototype made an appearance at the Honda Indy 200 NTT INDYCAR SERIES weekend at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, in the first week of July. A couple of weeks later, the automaker has finally taken the wraps off it. However, we still don’t have all the specs and details about the car. Honda said that additional details on the 2023 Civic Type R will be provided closer to launch this fall.

Don’t Expect A Steep Hike

It comes as no surprise that Honda hasn’t revealed the price of the new Civic Type R. We expect it to start at around $40,000, which is a couple of thousand bucks more than the outgoing model’s starting price of $37,895.

FAQ

Q: Will there be a 2022 Civic Type R?

There will be a new Civic Type R coming out in 2022 as a 2023 model. It will be based on the 11th gen Civic.

Q: Will there be an 11th Gen Type R?

Yes, there will be a Type R based on the 11th-Gen. It has made its debut and is set to arrive in the fall of 2022.

Q: What is different with the Civic Type R?

The 2023 Civic Type R is based on the 11th gen Civic and will be toned down compared to the model it replaces. It will come with 19-inch black wheels with wide 265/30 section tires, taillights with horizontal strips, a huge rear wing, a vented hood, and winglets that are different from the model it replaces.

Will the 2023 Civic Type R have automatic transmission?

As before, the engine is paired exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission — an automatic is not offered. Honda says the flywheel is 18% lighter than before, reducing rotational inertia, sharpening engine response and enabling quicker engine rev matching from the automatic rev-matching system.

Will there be an automatic type R?

The previous Type R's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine will return in the 2023 model, and it will once again be paired with a six-speed manual transmission (the Type R does not offer an automatic).

Will the 2022 Honda Civic type R come in automatic?

We can also expect the arrival of a Honda Civic Type R manual, but there should be a dual-clutch automatic transmission option. For now, we only expect front-wheel-drive, but there are rumors of a hybrid AWD variant down the line.

Will the 2023 Type R be AWD?

It blends the R's AWD all-season traction with the Type R's momentum capabilities.