The 2023 Honda Civic Type R in a new video.
Honda will soon introduce the redesigned Civic Type R in showrooms as a 2023 model, and a new video released Thursday shows the prototype undergoing intense testing at the Nürburgring in what appears to be preparation for a record attempt.
Successive Civic Type Rs have held the Nurburgring record for a front-wheel-drive production car. This car has already claimed the record at the Suzuka International Racing Course.
The current front-wheel drive record at the Nurburgring is 7:40.1, set by the Renault Megane RS Trophy R in 2019
The prototype of the new Civic Type R has been undergoing public testing for over a year, including at the Nurburgring. American fans can see one of the prototypes at the IndyCar round scheduled for July 1-3 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
The current fifth generation of the Civic Type R has been a favorite here at Motor Authority, and Honda says the redesigned model will offer improved performance.
What we do know is that the latest Civic family, which will be introduced for the 2022 model year, will benefit from a stiffer platform compared to its predecessor, which should help the new Type R in particular. Torsional rigidity has been improved by 8% and bending rigidity by 13%.
The interior of the latest Civic family (the Si interior is pictured above) is also a big step up in technology and refinement. Digital screens are standard on the meter cluster (partial digital screens are standard, full digital screens are available on higher-end models) and infotainment, and wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard.
It is not clear what drivetrain improvements are planned for the Type R, but a version of the current model's turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-4 will be mounted under the hood, presumably to increase current maximum output to 306 hp and maximum torque to 295 lb-ft A six-speed manual and front-wheel drive are likely to be standard.
The Type R will be produced in the U.S. for the first time. It will be built at the Greensburg, Indiana plant, where the regular Civic hatchback is already off the line.
