UPDATE: Honda confirms 2023 Civic Type R power outputs
Honda has announced full details for the 2023 Civic Type R hot hatch, including power outputs.
Our previous coverage, below, has been updated to reflect the new information.
The sixth-generation 2023 Honda Civic Type R will produce 235kW of power and 420Nm of torque – a 7kW and 20Nm increase over the outgoing model – the company has confirmed today.
While this represents a jump in power for Australian and North American examples, the previous Type R also produced 235kW in Japan, but torque was identical at 400Nm.
As leaked details from late July revealed – and today confirmed by Honda – the Japanese-market ‘FL5’ Civic Type R has received a full-fat tune, with 243kW of power (at 6500rpm).
The difference in power between Japan and Australia is likely due to our 95-octane premium unleaded – compared with Europe and Japan’s better-quality 98-octane fuel, with fewer parts per million of sulphur.
The new model features an enhanced version of the previous generation’s 2.0-litre turbocharged ‘K20C1’ engine, paired to a six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching.
Honda says it aimed for the Civic Type R to be its ‘fastest’ front-engined, front-driven model ever, while offering an ‘addictive feel’ to the driver and a ‘secure feel’ for high-speed stability and imbuing trust in the chassis.
2023 Honda Civic Type R pricing
Previously leaked pricing for Japan has also been officially confirmed, with the Type R priced from 4,997,300 yen (AU$52,600), accounting for a five per cent jump over the outgoing model.
Locally, the outgoing ‘FK8’ generation was priced from $54,990 before on-road costs; however, Honda Australia has now shifted to a fixed-price agency model, with non-negotiable drive-away pricing nationwide.
As such, we’d expect the new Type R to be more expensive, to allow room for the single-variant Civic VTi LX hatchback, at $47,200 drive-away, and the upcoming hybrid variant.
The 2023 Honda Civic Type R will compete against the Hyundai i30 N, Volkswagen Golf R and Renault Megane RS, amongst other performance-orientated small cars.
It will arrive on local shores in early 2023, with further details – including pricing – to be revealed closer to launch.