2023 Honda Civic Type R: First Track Drive

They say to by no means meet your heroes. Put somebody on a pedestal and so they’ll solely disappoint you, so by maintaining your distance you possibly can stay in your brightest fantasies reasonably than heartbreaking actuality. Of course, this isn’t at all times true – I’ve met the previous-generation FK8 Civic Type R, constructed from 2017 to 2021, and the actuality of that automobile greater than matches the dream.

What’s extra regarding is watching your heroes age. After all, what’s extra terrifying than the unknowable future? As the years and generations go by, will your dream automobile barrel ahead unimpeded? Or will it step again, fade from public life, and let the nice instances dance throughout its thoughts? With a Civic Type R key in my hand, and 6 laps of Harris Hill Raceway forward of me, I sought to search out out.

Full disclosure: Honda shipped me out to Austin, Texas for the Formula 1 US Grand Prix. The firm paid for my airfare, lodging, transportation and meals, and organized for the attending journalists to satisfy a number of F1 drivers. Also, Pierre Gasly kicked my total ass at ping pong. Oh, and Honda let me take six laps round Harris Hill within the new Civic Type R.

What’s New About the 2023 Honda Civic Type R?

Most notably, the chassis. The new FL5 Type R rides on the11th-generation Civic platform, making it longer, wider, and stiffer than the outdated FK8. After driving this chassis within the new Civic Si and Acura Integra, I’ve sufficient seat time to make a closing judgment: it’s unequivocally good.

Of course, there’s extra than simply the chassis distinguishing the FL5 Type R from the FK8. The new Type R makes use of the identical 2.0-liter engine, nevertheless it’s been upgraded with a brand new turbo, giving it 9 extra horses and 15 extra lb-ft of torque. That means 315 horsepower, peaking at 6,500 RPM, and 310 lb-ft holding flat from 2,500 all the way in which as much as 4,000 RPM.

That engine’s sound reaches the skin world by a revised exhaust, now that includes an electronically-actuated valve controlling the circulate by the middle of its three ideas. Honda claims the brand new Type R is quieter than the outdated one with that valve closed, however louder than earlier than with it open – a welcome change from the outdated automobile’s single understated tone. Inside, Honda claims extra engine sound no matter drive mode.

The FL5 Type R has a bigger grille and hood vent, to fight the earlier automobile’s on-track cooling points. The steering system was re-engineered with loads of new components, which Honda says ought to deliver extra front-end really feel to the driving force’s arms.

What Are the Specs?

In customary trim, the FL5 Type R comes with 265/30-19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, although my take a look at automobile had the dealer-upgrade Pilot Sport Cup 2s in the identical measurement as a substitute. The Type R is, as at all times, accessible solely with a six-speed guide transmission – the identical gearbox because the FK8, upgraded with a lighter flywheel and faster digital rev-matching. The outdated automobile’s helical limited-slip differential is again, as are the four-piston entrance Brembos – which, in some way, really feel much more confidence-inspiring within the new chassis.

The final quantity value mentioning is the value: $42,895, plus $1,095 in vacation spot charges. If you’re trying to shell out that sum, you are able to do so tomorrow – the Type R formally goes on sale on October 28.

How Does It Look?

The earlier Type R was, in a phrase, divisive. Some folks thought it seemed over-styled and dumb, like a Gundam, whereas others thought it seemed attention-grabbing and imply, like a Gundam. For my half, I disliked the FK8 on launch however grew to adore it after seeing the automobile in individual. The new Type R is subtler, much less out-there, however no much less aggressive than the outdated one.

Most of the physique panels on the Type R are distinctive, from the vast entrance fenders and vented hood to the diffuser out again. Only the lights, entrance doorways, roof, rear hatch, and glass are shared with the bottom Civic – even the rear doorways needed to be widened to circulate into these flared rear fenders. There’s no mistaking this Type R for the standard Civic.

How Does It Drive?

This is, in fact, the large query. The final Type R supplied an unimaginable driving expertise, and the current-generation Civic Si is a large enchancment over its predecessor. Does the brand new Type R observe the identical pattern, outdoing its previous self?

Kind of.

The final Type R was unimaginable in simply how manic it was. It always pushed you to go quicker, flip more durable, brake later. It was a foul affect, in the easiest way, at all times goading you on.

The new one, in contrast, is extra composed – it’s grown up, starting to take itself a bit extra significantly. This makes for a driving expertise that’s much less raucous, extra targeted. The new automobile is quicker round a monitor (a minimum of, round Suzuka), and extra secure and composed regardless of my less-than-stellar inputs.

But this focus comes at a price: the brand new Type R lacks a number of the pleasure of the outdated automobile. The steering is extra numb than the prior era at commuting speeds, solely waking up as soon as you progress from Exceeding the Posted Limit to Reckless Endangerment. The automobile is most at residence on monitor.

The FL5’s wheelbase is sort of an inch and a half longer than the FK8’s, which makes for each advantages and detriments. On the straights, it’s planted and composed, however like its little brother it may well’t disguise the additional measurement when taking a decent nook.

That’s to not say the brand new Type R isn’t entertaining. While the entrance finish might have misplaced some emotion, the rear has gained it in spades. This automobile desires nothing greater than to rotate, diving into apexes below braking with conviction that some rear-wheel-drive sports activities vehicles can solely dream of. Bring your BRZ, your Miata, or your Focus RS, and let the Civic Type R present all of them what it means to show in.

The energy is strong; it doesn’t really feel significantly stronger than the outdated automobile, and the numbers replicate their similarities. Like to the final era, you’re handled to an enormous swell of low-end torque that carries by into the right quantity of top-end energy. The new automobile does appear to expire of steam earlier than redline, and a take a look at Honda’s dyno chart exhibits that peak energy confirms it – peak energy comes at 6,500 RPM, then drops off because the needle approaches redline.

In all, the brand new Civic Type R remains to be a pleasure to drive. It might tone down the frenetic entrance finish I liked a lot within the final automobile, however balances that out with a wildly entertaining rear axle. Of course, the Michelin Cup 2 tires play into the brand new character, however the 2023 automobile nonetheless feels meaningfully totally different from the prior one.

How’s The Interior?

The Type R’s inside is a good place to spend your time, with all the correct contact factors in all the correct locations – made out of all the correct supplies. The seats, already a benchmark within the FK8, have been improved with higher lumbar help and a barely revised form. They additionally characteristic the Type R emblem embossed within the headrest, a splendidly dorky element that I now need in each automobile.

The shift lights on the sprint, conspicuously absent from the U.S.-spec Civic Si, make a triumphant return right here. They’re accompanied by an audio shift notification, which is useful while you’re your apex cones reasonably than the instrument cluster forward of you. The steering wheel, naked steel Type R shift knob, and pedals all simply really feel good to make use of – nothing’s rubbery or low cost.

How Does It Compare to the Competition?

With solely six laps within the automobile, I’m hesitant to make any sweeping conclusions. We’ll have extra time within the automobile quickly, together with time spent on regular roads, which is able to make for a extra well-rounded expertise to check in opposition to. But with all these {qualifications} apart, how does it stack up?

The massive competitor is the Volkswagen Golf R. It’s a pure comparability – they’ve an identical horsepower, near-identical costs, and equally sensible physique types. The Civic is the racier of the 2, with its excessive bolsters and bright-red inside, whereas the Golf claims to be extra civilized. But the brand new Type R makes strides in direction of civility, with its toned-down steering and longer wheelbase, which means it may very well be the very best of each worlds.

There’s additionally the GR Corolla to contemplate, with its $35,900 beginning value making it significantly cheaper than the Civic Type R. That cash even will get you all-wheel drive, although the Toyota has 10 fewer horsepower than the Honda. If you need the Corolla with limited-slip differentials — and, for monitor use, you do — that brings the Toyota’s sticker as much as $37,080. Still a hefty financial savings, however the Civic’s inside is a nicer place to spend your time.

There’s additionally the oddball competitor, the Elantra N, which sits in a bizarre place available in the market — extra highly effective than the Civic Si, however out of its league in opposition to the Type R. Personally, I’d take both Civic over the Hyundai on seems alone, however perhaps the Elantra’s wide-mouthed grille grows on you as soon as you reside with it.

Final Thoughts

So we return to our unique query. As your heroes age, what turns into of them? Is the FL5 Type R a brand new peak for the mannequin, or is it too staid and mature to put on the purple R badge? The reply is difficult.

Had Honda mixed the front-end freneticism of the earlier Type R with the newer mannequin’s full of life rear finish, the consequence would have been the right automobile. Shut down each different manufacturing line, convert all of them to construct that good imaginary Type R. But Honda didn’t do this, which makes our questions more durable to reply.

Instead, the corporate reined within the leash-tugging enthusiasm of the final Type R, making a extra targeted automobile for the monitor day fanatic. By any goal metric, the brand new Type R is unquestionably higher, and it’s simply as entertaining because the outdated one at its new, increased limits. The 2023 Type R could also be extra restrained at authorized speeds, extra uninterested in the each day commute, however such is the tradeoff for a automobile that retains its composure round Harris Hill. Which issues extra to you?