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For the first time in more than a decade, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R will be built in Japan. The three previous generations of the track-focused hatch were built at the company’s U.K. manufacturing site, which went offline last summer. That makes the FL5 generation the first global market Type R to come out of its home country. Now, thanks to Planet Car News on YouTube, we all have a chance to take a peek inside the Yorii, Saitama, factory as cars come down the line.
The video tour opens in the body shop, where we see sheets of metal cut and pressed into hoods and fenders. As machines move the fresh parts down conveyor belts, you get a real sense of the scope of this operation. That said, there are still a number of individual workers involved in the process, checking and scouring the components by hand. As automated as some automotive facilities are today, low-volume models like the Type R are still treated to a bit of extra care on the line. As The Drive first reported, this is the main reason why Type R production was moved back to Japan as opposed to one of the higher-volume facilities here in the United States. That said, there are still plenty of areas where machines are better suited for the job, including applying the bonding agents used to connect chassis components.
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Once the bare chassis is finished, the line moves down into the paint shop. Here we watch as mechanical arms swing around the Type Rs, applying an even coat of white primer. That is quickly covered by a proper coat of paint, and another team of employees is ready to inspect the final product. From there, the cars are taken up a giant elevator to move on to the general assembly area. This is where we get to see some more hands-on work, including bumper construction and the mating of the engines and gearboxes.
The Type R is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, which provides 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That engine comes exclusively mated to a six-speed manual, just as any hot hatch should. It's here where everything from subframes to the larger rear spoiler are installed, as the Type R slowly takes shape. We even get a little peek at the quality inspection process within Honda, which includes a rolling road as well as a full underbody inspection.
While it might not be as exciting as getting behind the wheel of a new hot hatch, this sort of video is always a great reminder of just how much effort and engineering work goes into building our favorite machines. The Honda brand is synonymous with high-quality cars, and this little factory teaser makes it easy to understand why.
Lucas Bell Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry.
Honda revealed pricing for the 2023 Civic Type R on Thursday, confirming the highly anticipated hot hatch will start at $43,990, including destination.
You get a lot for your money. Under the hood sits a 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four making 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It's paired to one of the best-feeling six-speed manual shifters on the market, sending power to the front wheels through a limited-slip differential. There are also upgrades to the braking, chassis, suspension, tires, and interior.
The biggest news here is, of course, the gigantic price increase over the old Type R. The 2021 model started at $38,450. Only the yellow-painted Limited Edition model out-prices the new car, with its original MSRP of $44,950.
Interestingly, the new Type R is priced at almost exactly the same MSRP as the Toyota GR Corolla Circuit edition, which sells for $43,995. Of course, if you don't want the bigger brakes, limited-slip differentials, and big wing, you can get a Corolla for much cheaper; the base Core model starts at just $36,995.
Will the hiked-up price stop you from buying a Civic Type R? Do you think Honda is simply trying to cash in on frequent dealer markups? Let us know in the comments below.
Brian Silvestro Road & Track staff writer with a taste for high-mileage, rusted-out projects and amateur endurance racing.
Overview
The 2023 Honda Civic Type R’s styling is dialed-back versus its wildly-designed predecessor, but that shouldn't keep it from being more exciting to drive. Offered as a hatchback only, the Civic Type R is built from the more civilized 11th-generation Civic, reviewed separately. The new-generation Civic Type R uses the same turbocharged four-cylinder as the last model, but with output dialed up to 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The front-wheel-drive Type R’s six-speed manual transmission has also been upgraded to handle the power increase, and Honda has improved brake cooling to help handle track day punishment. The new CTR is built in Japan with a powertrain from Ohio, but it's fun to drive everywhere in between.
What's New for 2023?
While we haven’t put the new 2023 Honda Civic Type R through our rigorous testing procedure yet, it’s no secret that Honda’s hottest new hatch aims to provide the same entertainment the last car did, but with more power and smoother looks this time around. The new CTR’s muscles have grown into a larger chassis, but it stands on smaller 19-inch wheels wrapped in wider Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. The front and rear tracks are also wider with improved cooling for the brakes. The CTR’s output gains nine horsepower and 15 pound-feet of torque from an upgraded 315 horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter engine and six-speed manual transmission. The Type R’s onboard datalogger no longer requires a smartphone app, as its lap recording and performance instrumentation can now be accessed from the car’s 9.0-inch infotainment touchscreen.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
The Honda Civic Type R's starting price is as competitive as its performance. With few options to tack on beyond its initial MSRP, the CTR is not only cheaper than the Volkswagen Golf R, but it's also nearly as much as the entry-level Toyota Supra. While personal preference will define if two seats are better than four, the most powerful Civic Type R is ultimately an affordable sports car with five doors.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The new Civic Type R will continue to be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, but a redesigned turbocharger with a more efficient exhaust system has increased power output to 315 horsepower at 6500 rpm with 310 pound-feet of torque at 2600 to 4000 rpm. The Civic Type R also benefits from additional improvements such as a larger radiator and improved brake cooling. Honda has also increased the RPM at which the active exhaust valve opens, to heighten the car’s four-cylinder symphony. A lighter flywheel paired with a revised rev-match system should further reward rowing at the new CTR’s six-speed manual transmission. The front-drive-only Honda will continue to use its innovative dual-axis strut front suspension that does a terrific job of suppressing torque steer. While the next Civic Type R isn’t as visually extreme, it still sports a prominent rear wing and other aerodynamic addenda as well as 19-inch wheels wrapped with sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance tires. We’re very much looking forward to strapping our test gear onto the new Civic Type R and seeing what it can do. When we get the chance, we’ll update this story with test results.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The new Civic Type R's subtle horsepower bump isn't at the sacrifice of fuel economy, at least according to the EPA. The hot hatch gets a cool EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. While that matches the all-wheel-drive Golf R's EPA rating when optioned with a six-speed manual, the Golf R leads with an extra 2 mpg on the highway with the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. We'll update this space once we've run one on our 75-mph highway fuel-economy route, which is part of our extensive testing regimen, we can evaluate its real-world mpg.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Although the new Civic Type R wears a more minimalist interior design than its predecessor, it has no shortage of racy visual cues. The latter includes red accents, faux carbon-fiber trim, and a familiar set of super comfy and supportive front seats. Just mind the ambient temperature before searing your palm on the aluminum shift knob. Atop the new digital cluster is a row of shift light indicators to help prevent slapping up against the redline between shifts. Passenger and cargo space are the same as the normal Civic hatchback, which should make the Civic Type R a great dual-purpose car.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Honda's latest infotainment system runs through a 9.0-inch touchscreen mounted on top of the Civic Type R’s dashboard. It comes standard with popular features such as wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot and wireless smartphone charging.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The 2023 Civic Type R hasn't been crash tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety [IIHS]. We also expect it'll continue to come with a host of standard driver-assistance technology. Key safety features should include:
- Standard forward-collision warning and automated emergency braking
- Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
- Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Honda provides an average limited and powertrain warranty that doesn't include any complimentary maintenance. Those who want more comprehensive coverage will want to check out Hyundai's plans, which are better in all three phases.
- Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
- No complimentary scheduled maintenance