Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Cars
  3. News

Here comes the hardcore Honda: Brand to bring Type R — fastest Civic ever — Stateside

By

Honda Civic Type R
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Of all the things that excited us about the Honda Civic Concept that debuted this week at the New York Auto Show, and, believe me, there are plenty, perhaps the most exciting was the promise that performance models will be headed Stateside after the launch of the Sedan and Coupe variants go on sale later this year.

And, of course, by performance models, we mean Si and Type R. While Si is tantalizing, sure, it’s the Type R that has our teeth chattering with excitement.

What might that new, American-bound Type R – the sportiest Civic ever — look and act like? Let’s discuss.

If you’re thinking it’ll just be the same Type R we saw last month in Geneva, think again. Honda is coming with an all-new, global platform, so it should handle much better than anything the engineers can squeeze from the current platform. Not to mention a heck of a lot handsome and sleek.

Looking at the Concept, we’re given what could be a very good glimpse at a production, next-gen Type R. After all, that front fascia is too aggressive for grandma to consider as a gold-painted grocery-getter.

Honda Civic Concept
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Though we love the coupe, we know that Honda will be bringing the Type R in five-door form, which will be built exclusively in Britain. Along with a big wing and some bright paint, this should put it squarely up against the likes of the Subaru WRX STI and the Ford Focus RS.

The recently unveiled Type R features a 305-horsepower, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, which has its power routed to the front wheels through a six-speed manual. There are chances the next-gen, global Type R could receive this same engine. I, however, doubt it. I am betting Honda will unveil a new turbo VTEC 2.0 to one-up Ford and Subaru. “You need 2.5 and 2.3 liters? Flimshaw! We only need 2.0!”

Hoping for all-wheel drive? Don’t. It’s not going to happen. Frankly, the Type R doesn’t need it. The current one just broke the Nurburgring lap record for a FWD car. And if Honda engineers can keep that lineage going with some improved chassis and torque vectoring technology, they’ll gladly save the time, money, and weight and stick to a front-drive setup.

I – like virtually every other American not currently in a coma – am very excited about not only the 10th-gen Civic but also the next Type R. So believe that the rest of the Digital Trend Cars and I team will be all over it. So check back for more news soon.

Topics
Nick Jaynes
Nick Jaynes
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Nick Jaynes is the Automotive Editor for Digital Trends. He developed a passion for writing about cars working his way…
The Kia EV3 could be the cheap electric SUV we’ve been waiting for
White Kia EV3

The Kia EV9 was already one of the cheapest ways to get an electric SUV, but now the company is taking things to the next level. After teasing the Kia EV3 last year, the car is now official.

The EV3 is built to be a slightly smaller, cheaper version of the EV9 -- following the path of the Rivian R2, which arrived after the Rivian R1S. It's certainly not as technologically advanced as the EV9, but it still looks unmistakably like a modern Kia, and is clearly a sibling of the larger SUV. On the outside, the vehicle has the same split taillights and very similar Tiger Face front. But it is quite a bit smaller. The vehicle will be available in nine finishes -- however only "Aventurine Green" and "Terracotta" are being announced right now.

Read more
Kia EV3: release date, performance, range, and more
White Kia EV3

Kia is on a roll. Hot on the heels of the success of the Kia EV6 and EV9, the company is already announcing what could be its cheapest electric vehicle yet -- the Kia EV3.

The Kia EV line seems to follow the rule of lower numbers indicating a lower price — and if so, the EV3 will end up being the cheapest electric car Kia has released to date. That, however, thankfully doesn’t mean that the EV3 will be a low-end car — it just means that Kia may be pushing the boundaries on electric car pricing.

Read more
Kia EV3 vs Tesla Model Y: Can Kia’s new entry-level car take on Tesla?
White Kia EV3

The Kia EV3 is finally coming, and it could well end up being the best small-size electric SUV to buy when it finally rolls out. It's smaller than the Kia EV9, but it offers many of the same design elements and features. But there's another small-size electric car that's currently one of the most popular vehicles out there -- the Tesla Model Y.

How does the Kia EV3 compare with the Tesla Model Y? And is one vehicle actually better than the other? We put the Kia EV3 and the Tesla Model Y head-to-head to find out.
Design
The design of the Kia EV3 is very different than that of the Model Y, though they're both reasonably good-looking vehicles.

Read more