This summer, the hot hatch is out.
As the next-generation Civic Type R launches this summer, Honda is getting closer to selling Europe’s last pure gasoline car. A teaser video, shot at Nurburgring in May 2022, shows the hot hatch at full throttle around the Green Hell. Although the prototype is not fully camouflaged yet, we still can see the Brembo brake discs behind the black wheels.
The triple exhaust system, a la Ferrari 458 Italia, is still present. Also, the huge rear wing makes the Civic Type R appear significantly more aggressive than its competitors. Red camo doesn’t disguise the larger wheel arches, improved aero and more cooling than a regular model. The Si is sold strictly as a sedan by Honda, but the CTR will only be available in hatchback form. Both body styles have a common feature: both come with a manual transmission.
Honda has not been forthcoming about the engine’s details, but most people expect a turbocharged gasoline engine of 2.0-liter capacity. Some reports suggested that the model would be hybridized, or even go all-wheel-drive. However, those claims were not true. According to regional emissions regulations, engineers may have tweaked the four-pot unit to get a little more power than the 306 horsepower or 316 horsepower you had in the FK8. Honda vaguely suggests that the next-generation Civic Type R will have more power, but it is not clear what the exact amount of power.
The Nordschleife has been the focus of the teaser campaign. This could be Honda’s subtle way of telling us that it is chasing the fastest FWD production car record. We won’t be surprised if the CTR wants to once again claim the title of Lord of the Ring.
It will have to do a lap in less 7 mins and 40.1 secs required by the Renault Megane RS Trophy -R Nurburgring Pack. French automaker Renault Megane RS Trophy-R Nurburgring Pack removed the rear seats and made other drastic changes to its hot hatch. We’ll have to wait to see if its Japanese archrival will do the same.