Honda has been employing a ‘drip-detail’ strategy in informing the public about the 2023 Honda Civic Type R, revealing the car physically and touting its fastest-R-ever status back in July, but not sharing the spec sheet until now.
As advertised, the 2023 Civic Type R is the juiciest Type R to ever come out of Japan. For 2023, the hot hatch pushes 315 horsepower at 6,500 rpm; and 310 lb-ft of torque between 2,600 and 4,000 rpm out of its turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder engine, an increase of nine hp and 15 lb-ft over the outgoing model.
To achieve this boost in power out of the same K20C1 engine, Honda’s engineers fiddled with the turbo, improved the air intake, and adjusted the exhaust system to open its active valve at a higher rpm, which also “enhance[s]” the sound of the engine.
It’s worth noting that a leaked spec sheet earlier this week advertised the Type R’s output at 326 horsepower, suggesting that the model making its way to North America will not be the most powerful on a global scale (that or its SAE ratings here are more conservative than metrics abroad).
The car stays cool with a more expansive grille opening, larger radiator, and a new larger-diameter fan. Honda says its improved the six-speed manual transmission, too, to provide an “even more intimate and rewarding connection with the driver” via a lighter flywheel, adjusted rev-match system, and additional rigidity and optimized shift-gate pattern.
And like the 11th-gen basic Civic, the Type R is both longer, lower, and wider, with a 1.4-inch longer wheelbase, 0.75-inch wider front tracks, and 1-inch wider rear tracks. Similarly, on the wheels, new 265/30R19 tires replace the thinner and taller 245/30R20’s.
Other details such as the car’s weight and acceleration time have not yet been shared by Honda. Expect another (drip) press release soon.