2023 Honda Civic Type R gets bigger, smarter, faster

The Honda Civic Type R is the hottest of hot hatches. And it just got even hotter.

On Wednesday, Honda unveiled the 2023 Honda Civic Type R in Los Angeles. It is the sixth generation of the front-drive hatchback and is based on the 11th generation Civic.

More Power

According to Honda, the new Civic Type R will be the most powerful model to date; a 2.0-liter turbo four spins the front wheels, but exactly how much power is yet to be revealed. The current Type R had 306 hp.

According to Honda, the suspension and steering will also be strengthened, but it is not clear what exactly they will be.

The Type R will again be offered only with a six-speed manual transmission with downshift-rev matching. Again, Honda states that the transmission is being upgraded, but does not share how.

The 2023 Civic Type R rides on lightweight 19-inch wheels wrapped in 265/30R19 Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. Brembo brake rotors will be used at the front, but caliper size and piston count are not yet known.

Honda will reveal most or all of this information as it gets closer to unveiling the Type R later this year.

Bigger and more mature

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R will be longer, lower, and wider, with a more mature design. The body kit has a more understated appearance, and all body panels are new and exclusive to the Type R except for the front doors, pillars, roof, and rear hatch

Compared to other Civics, the front bumper has a large, integrated lip spoiler. The fenders are wider to accommodate wider tires, and the rear doors are wider to accommodate the wider rear fenders.

At the rear, a large wing is bolted to the hatch, making this generation look more like a racing car than a boy racer. The rear bumper features a center-mounted exhaust system with three tailpipes. The two outer tailpipes are the main exhaust outlets, while the large-diameter center pipe has active valves that alter the sound.

Honda also incorporated functional aerodynamic elements, with heat extractors on the hood and vents in the front bumper to allow air to flow into the front fenders, but the vents in the rear bumper are fake.

Good if you like red

All Type Rs come with red cloth seats, red carpeting, and red door trim accents. The front seats, exclusive to the Type R, are heavily bolstered high-back buckets. There are holes in the seat backs for a racing harness, but the location of the harness mounting cannot be confirmed. In keeping with Honda's sports car tradition, the shift knob is made of aluminum and turns hot or cold depending on the ambient temperature.

The Civic Si's Comfort, Sport, and Indivisual driving modes will add a +R mode; in R, the digital meter cluster becomes a hockey-stick-style tachometer with shift light, but Honda has not indicated whether +R will also change dynamic settings has not been revealed.

Honda has included a 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen in the center of the dash. It will feature the new Honda LogR data logger system, which will allow drivers to record lap times, check G-forces for the entire car and each wheel, and monitor system temperatures.

The Type R is a four-seat vehicle. The seat belts in the center rear seat of the Civic have been removed, and cup holders have been added in place of the center seating position.

All Type Rs are fitted with a dash plate bearing the car's serial number. It is mounted on the passenger side of the dashboard, not the center console.

Wireless smartphone charging and a Bose audio system are standard, as are safety features such as automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and adaptive cruise control.

Check back later this year