Honda has provided a glimpse of the U.S.-bound Civic Type R at the Paris Auto Show, albeit in concept form (though the automaker prefers the near-production term “prototype”).
This Type R — designed in Japan, built in the UK, and destined (at last) for America — uses the Civic Hatchback as a canvas, then adds every visual performance indicator the automaker could get its hands on. Reportedly, it will have the power to back up its looks.
The Type R is rumored to pack 340 horsepower, and will arrive next year alongside the lesser Civic Si. For now, Honda is keeping powertrain details under wraps.
Engine speculation aside, Honda gave us plenty to look at. (Some might argue too much.) The Type R adds visual aggression wherever it can: new outboard ducts added to the front fascia, smoked headlight lenses, front hood scoop and spoiler, carbon fiber side skirts, extended wheel arches, 20-inch “piano black” alloy wheels wearing 245 width rubber, and that all-important rear wing.
Like other Civics, the Type R sports center-mounted tailpipes, but adds a third, painted outlet. Honda isn’t dishing details on the third pipe or the hood scoop. It’s a safe bet that they aren’t there just for show.
While this Type R is a prototype, the production model likely won’t diverge too much from the vehicle seen here. The first next-generation Type Rs to roll off the Swindon, UK assembly line arrive at European dealers in the second half of 2017. Honda hasn’t said when long-deprived U.S. fans can expect theirs.
The rear end of this car is *so* busy. I feel like you couldn’t put your palm flat on any square-foot of real estate back there.
it’s busy all over. I’m sure it will be fast and perform well and I appreciate that, but it’s fugly.
I appreciate when form can legitimately tag along with function, but I miss the clean lines of ’90s Hondas. The byword was restraint and the cars aged well because of it.
I agree but the same holds true for every carmaker now. Nobody is going to make the beautiful 2000 Accord Coupe or the 2002 M3 ever again. Styles and tastes change. But sometimes for the better! My 2016 Accord Touring V6 BLOWS away any Accord before it in the looks department. So I’m not crying. Heck I just sold my 2008 TSX. yeah it was clean but who cares? Can’t stay stuck in the past.
“Can’t stay stuck in the past.”
Challenge accepted.
“Can’t stay stuck in the past.”
You have to find what works for you. New is not always better, sometime its just “new”. We see this in IT often.
Of course. But what I meant in this case was that my new Accord V6 Touring absolutely murders my TSX’s performance, power, looks and handling and yet has far more safety and uses regular instead of premium while doing all of that. So I’m very happy with my decision to embrace the new generation. I wasn’t letting go of the TSX for a long time but I’m glad I did. I guess it depends on the car in question. I wouldn’t get rid of the 2012 E-Class for the new one. I suppose it’s really case by case. As for the Type R…we finally get it, looks great for what it is…I mean it’s not supposed to be a 536i competitor but has the techy, flashy look I look for in cars like the WRX.
I don’t follow Honda but based on the newer Accords I see in passing, HMC still seems to have the formula right. Frequently in the automotive space the “new version” tends to be inferior to the old in some or many ways. Cadillac Catera, Camaro, Malibu, I would argue Lincoln Zephyr CD3 to 4, E class as you named, clearly the Dart/200 vs the Mitsu crap that came before it in terms of sales. So in your case does the Accord with the right “formula” surpass the earlier TSX? Quite possibly, but this is the exception not the norm.
#legacysystemsftw
Depends on the system, some legacy systems I wish were gone.
We have many (’80s to ’90s), and they’re not very good at communicating with one another.
1: Please input 404512
2: Okay, -152Z3R
3: How many policies are there?
2: 152Z-X
3: Um what?
1: 4 Chair, 1
Wake me when it says either:
“Greetings Professor Falken”
or
“PC Load Letter”
What the f*ck does that mean!?!
“Honey, come on over here, sugarbuns. This machine just called me an @#$*&%!”
“The byword was restraint and the cars aged well because of it”
I give you the gen-5 Prelude as a counterpoint.
That said, Honda can do clean designs, and was doing so up until about the gen-8 Civic. Then they jumped on the “`I will eat your children`-grille” bandwagon.
Aging well is a problem if your cars last forever. People won’t buy new ones.
ANY new Honda post will have an obligatory “it’s fugly” in the first five comments.
It’s hideous.
The front is not bad, but the sides scream “Corolla!”, and the rear spoiler looks like it was inspired by the Zika Mosquito.
Hey gang, it’s a Type-R! Being loud and brash is appropriate! It’s definitely too busy for me, but it’s probably just right for the target audience.
The regular Civic Hatch, however, definitely needs to be toned down.
Disagree, past Type-R cars were a bit more laid back. They failed to sell well enough though.
I particularly liked the Integra Type-R, but Japan kept it mostly for themselves; few made it to the U.S. And yes, it was a bit more laid back than this Civic prototype.
Honda hasn’t had sporty cars in a long time, so I’m willing to give them poetic license and go wild. And I think Honda picked a prototype design that would provoke the most discussion, and the models for sale might be toned down a bit.
Agree, Honda is generating conversation with the Type-R and unfortunately IMO, also copying the rest of the field.
As long as it keeps up with Type-R tradition of performance and drivers’ cars, it works for me.
I can almost hear a fart can muffler, in the middle of the night, just looking at that picture.
I have a hard enough time with the backend of a civic, this thing just hurts my eyes. I feel like I just want to avert my eyes.
Trying to figure out why I would ever want piano black wheels.
Honda fan here, but WTF Honda??? Yuck! Give me a clean example of a gen4 or gen5 Civic hatch any day.
I’m wondering how much more aerodynamic and faster it would be without all the “go-fast” bits sticking out everywhere.
The only things I don’t like here is that it will probably have same damn electronic speedometer, and capacitors instead of buttons. Will not be surprised if the rear seat will not be folding down, let alone split folding
The electronic speedometer is actually one of the few things I miss about my ’06. The big numbers were never hidden by the tilt steering and they were easy to read by barely looking down from the road.
JimC2,
electronic speedometer is mid-80s geek. Analog is elegant and beautiful thing. Electronic – cheap crap
Whatever. I have cars with both. The Civic’s digital speedometer is unparalleled short of a properly executed HUD digital speedometer. Function is king. Do you have inertial anti-lock brakes? Mechanical fuel injection? Points and a condenser? Do you think men should wear jewelry?
To each their own. I just liked the big numbers that were just about big enough to read with my peripheral vision. Analog speedometer you gotta look right at the needle, and most cars I’ve owned have had part of the sweep blocked from view by the steering wheel.
The “two tier” dashboard was a little geeky… a solution in search of a problem.
My car has both an analog speedometer and a configurable, easily readable electronic multi-function display that can be set as a digital speedometer. I only use the digital speedometer because it is far easier to determine whether I am driving 45mph or 50mph than on an analog speedometer that reaches 180mph (the car is electronically limited to 130mph).
Good point. One of the funniest magazine pieces ever written…Google “How to get your econobox into the 14’s”
I didn’t think it could get worse….
Do we really have to constantly critique every new (non-Ford) car about its looks? At least we’re FINALLY getting a Type-R again. I just got a black on black 2016 Accord V6 Touring Sedan and it’s GORGEOUS. But this has a different type of beauty as well. Aggressive and it will of course be high quality. I’m thrilled!
We curmudgeons tend to forget this car’s target audience. To them it is no doubt a thing of beauty.
I don’t think it’s half bad myself. Will probably steal more than a few sales from Subaru.
Exactly. I think enthusiasts are a bit too negative. Every car isn’t going to look the same or from the 90s. I’m going to be buying this or the WRX and I EXPECT affordable Japanese performance to look this way, not like my old 2003 Civic. Yes that had clean lines and so did my 2008 TSX but so what? I want red trim bits and badges. I’m paying money for that look! Lol
Sad that in people’s minds that “affordable Japanese performance” has come to equate to this look.
I would say that neither of your two candidates will have an advantage over the other in the looks department.
What’s considered “affordable” for this class of plaything… <30K?
“…. Every car isn’t going to look the same or from the 90s. I’m going to be buying this or the WRX and I EXPECT affordable Japanese performance to look this way, not like my old 2003 Civic. Yes that had clean lines and so did my 2008 TSX but so what? I want red trim bits and badges. I’m paying money for that look!…”
It’s not the red trim bits. It’s the effort to “origami-ize” many of the Japanese cars lately- and this may be one of the most strident examples. It’s VERY trendy and it’s going to look outdatedfast because of it.
Have to say, data point of one, but, I’m exactly in this car’s target audience; and I think it’s revolting. The Civic coupe is actually not that bad, as it gets the fundamental lines and proportions right. The five door hatch gets them drastically wrong, and then this Type-R version dumps a doo-dad factory on it.
A 340hp FWD compact would sure be entertaining though …
Kenmore
This is going up against the focus rs and golf r, so 35 to 40k. It’s an interesting decision they made. The styling is stancenation but the price point is working class middle aged professional. It’s Honda so I’m sure they’ll find buyers but if it wasn’t for the brand rep and devoted following I bet it would fall flat.
Tedward, thanks fir the reply. By, God, man… that’s north of a fully loaded Encore!
Something is very wrong with that.
Well now it’s Gundam Wing.
http://www.onefry.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/table-spoilers.png
Now you know what those spoilers are for.
That wing is hilarious.
“Like other Civics, the Type R sports center-mounted tailpipes, but adds a third, painted outlet. Honda isn’t dishing details on the third pipe or the hood scoop. It’s a safe bet that they aren’t there just for show.”
WTF? A safe bet? You look at that thing and tell me the entire package is not largely just for show! Excuse me, but to claim that with this vehicle you’re sure any given exterior item is not just for show…that’s just a dumb statement.
Maybe the scoop and the third outlet are for the JATO system…or for a dedicated cooling system for the front tires on this 340-hp, 3,000-lb. FWD vehicle.
One look at this vehicle screams to any serious prospect, “go buy a Golf R.”
I like the Golf R but I refuse to touch VW products and German cars in general. The Civic and WRX are built to last.
Every single German car I’ve owned has been solid, reliable, and a rewarding drive.
Ha! you almost had me there.
That’s silly. Not avoiding German cars necessarily, but assuming that a limited volume, extremely high strung, turbocharged product from a brand with not a single precedent in that space is going to be flawless and reliable. I sure hope it is, but I sure as hell wouldn’t count on it.
The Type R might look over the top but everything on it is undoubtedly functional-that’s like it’s purpose in life. I honestly don’t get why everyone is hating on this car. Yes, it looks tacky like someone went nuts with an aftermarket tuning budget on a Civic hatch but that’s the damned point. If you’re not into it, don’t buy it, there’s plenty of other more restrained hot hatches out there so go buy a Golf GTI or Focus ST or whatever.
I have to say that I love it for what it is. I don’t think it’s a drop dead gorgeous classic design, but I actually love it’s over the top and in your face looks that harken back to the Skyline R34 GT-R or Impreza WRX STi when they first came out. It’s a prototype version anyways so the street one will probably be a little bit cleaner but it’s a classic tuner special and it looks the part. It’s *SUPPOSED* to look like you took a regular car then pumped it full of steroids and ridiculousness.
It doesn’t seem like anyone who can afford this car would want to be seen driving it.
This separates the old and the bold.
We just talked about it on my slack – 4 guys, average age 25, average salary of 80k, and average net worth of 100k. Every single one works in I.T in a non-dev capacity.
We all LOVE it but wonder how old it would get to drive this cop magnet. And none of us will buy it because we’re saving money for the next down turn.
I’m old and nerdy then.
I’m 40 and work in finance in the financial services industry and my peers would laugh at this car.
Put this engine in something that looks normal please.
Put this engine in the Accord Sport, add bigger brakes, don’t change ANYTHING else, and call it a day.
The only things people in finance take seriously is the expected rate of return.
I bet dollars to doughnuts that the accord will get this engine in a lower state of tune.
You’re probably right, although as a new car customer I want options. Maybe I’m a Hondaphile from way back, but as Nels0300 points out, I either don’t want or can’t be seen in the boy racer du jour. Why can’t I get a sleeper performance package on the Accord?
That would nuke TLX sales trust me. I’m even shocked they allow for the V6 Touring to be made. It’s an incredible car with an incredible engine and I got it for $40.5K Canadian, all-in. The TLX SH-AWD Tech would have been another $20K and I find the Accord looks nicer and does 95% of the same things and ride quality and pull for much less coin. an Accord with that engine would be lights-out for Acura sedans. I’d say it’s more likely they’ll do either a TLX A-Type or a TLX Coupe.
Doughnuts are about a dollar where I’m at. I don’t understand this phrase.
I bought an SRT-4 when I was 28, and the only ticket I got in it was almost 10 years later for a left turn against a “No Left Turn” sign.
cars aren’t “cop magnets.” A**hole drivers are cop magnets. people who say things like “cop magnet” or “arrest-me red” are just making excuses for driving like d!ckheads.
Maybe it’s where you live. Where I’ve lived, there is definitely a temptation for cops to reward people they perceive as asking for it. Even when I was 16 years old, I knew that if I wanted to get away with antisocial behavior then I needed to look as harmless as possible. I practically coined the, “he’s running far too much wing for this circuit,” jest when watching wanna-be street racers getting ticketed for cruising while I was breaking at least three laws in my stock-appearing costume cars with bumper stickers proclaiming that love is a sober driver and drugs kill. When money came too early and easy, I fell into new red German cars and was ticketed for the same sort of driving I’d have done knowing there was a police officer observing my q-ships. I can’t recall a single ticket I received in my many grey cars, or four-door cars, or blue cars, or out of production cars. Maybe midwestern cops are more objective. Here, you could drive a minivan through a shopping mall and the police would ask how you’re feeling.
This falls under “to each his own” category. Certainly not my cup of tea when it comes to (over)styling, heck anything much beyond an E36 BMW is exhibiting overstyling in my eyes, but I’m sure there are those that will love the Si exactly because of the overt styling it brings to the table.
I’m sure teenagers will love it.
That’s like the most damning thing for sales you could possibly say and I completely agree.
It’s a teen’s duty to swoon over what adults think is zombie pus.
California Honda dealers, Rejoice !!! Your ADM fantasy ride’s heading stateside! Meanwhile, what will other hot hatch folks bring to the table?
That would be BDM, since it will be made in the UK, not to be confused with BDSM, which is prevalent in San Fernando and San Francisco.
ADM is additional dealer markup.
Would it kill manufacturers to offer a “body kit delete” option?
Mustang spoiler delete option is best option.
Dude yer gonna slide all over the Target parking lot if you don’t gotta spoiler on it.
Reminds me of when I sold my GS, dude on the phone asked me if it had ALL options.
“Yes, except that spoiler.”
“Aww, I REALLY wanted the spoiler on there, oh man.” *whiney*
That was the same guy who then proceeded to tell me he could find nice condition GS430s all day long for $5,000.
only on S550. an S197 without at least the standard “small” spoiler looks incomplete.
“Mustang spoiler delete option is best option.”
That reminds me of the difference between the LX and GT body styles on the 1980s Mustang. Both styles were popular but each was popular with different crowds. The LX fans liked that style for its restraint, tastefulness, functionality (pick your word).
No the Performance Package Mustang GT comes with the spoiler delete. That package is well worth the $3000.
No spoiler delete on the GT350 though.
I understand what you’re saying. I was talking about the 1980s options and which things appealed to different people.
I got me some spoiler delete on my non-PP Mustang GT. I was surprised the dealer ordered it that way, but I’m happy to have it.
The Performance Pack EcoBoost also comes without the spoiler. Since the trunk lid sheetmetal already has a ducktail effect, the car looks so much better without it.
Ironically, my previous two purchases were front wheel drive sedans with rear lip spoilers. In both cases, I thought they improved the look of the car.
Jim-
Sorry, I had a typo when I typed out my reply and then I couldn’t edit. I was just saying that it’s interesting that now the higher performance 5.0L powered Mustang comes with a more muted exterior than some lower trims.
“…interesting that now the higher performance 5.0L powered Mustang comes with a more muted exterior than some lower trims.”
That’s a very good point. I can’t say I would have predicted that 20-30 years ago when the 5.0 (actually a 4.9 if you did the math… shhh!) was in its heyday. Vanilla Ice would not approve.
Always kind of liked the LX notchback with 5.0. Never a big fan of added body cladding, etc…
“Would it kill manufacturers to offer a “body kit delete” option?”
Once the owner gives it the stance/hellaflush treatment, the body kit will self-delete after its first encounter with a raised manhole.
“Would it kill manufacturers to offer a “body kit delete” option?”
I’ve only ever bought a couple cars new and I was able to add or delete aero items. (BMW)
Can I get it with a landau top?
It’s a Type R, so I expect it to be crazy. Well done then, Honda.
Personally I can’t wait to hear they guy standing outside of his in the WaWa parking lot talking about how ‘sweet it was when the v-tec kicked in.’
make it AWD and white exterior, they will sell every one.
How much of 340 HP can you -use- when you’ve got only FWD? There’s a reason the serious performance hatchbacks are usually AWD.
I just can’t take any car with a FWD layout as a serious performance vehicle. I know about all the modern wizard magic, but still.
Big wang on a FWD car? C’mon man. At least the STi/EVO has driven wheels back there.
With this said, I do still believe many years later that Honda does the 4 cylinder ICE better than anyone, so back off fanbois.
Even better than Mazda ICE?
What makes you think that there is no use for aero surfaces over non driven wheels? The crazy racecar for the street Viper has front aero while only driving the back wheels. If someone wants to apply more grip to the rear of the car (lateral grip — for turning), a rear wing can still be useful for FWD.
The Type R has always been a pretty strong performer even though it’s a FWD vehicle. It’s really more about pushing the limits of what a FWD vehicle can do than just slapping AWD on it and calling it a day.
And on a FWD vehicle the rear wing is actually pretty important because the weight distribution means most of the weight is in the front, so without significant downforce the rear end can lift and spin out of control. Any FWD vehicle that’s going to be used at really high speeds will need something to increase downforce in the back to keep it stable.
FWD layout- I used to have an fwd car with 290hp/320tq per the factory (cobalt ss/tc with GMS stage 1) and everyone said the same kinds of things about how it wouldn’t be usable, etc. All I can say it was very usable and crazy fun to drive. I understand 50hp more on this but I doubt that performance due to FWD will be it’s primary issue.
Will it come with normal buttons for the radio?
And Mazda killed any notion of a Mazdaspeed3 because it would be “childish”. Save us, Mazda! The 3 hatch with the ground effects package looks great, just add a turbo!
YES
This.
Fifteen years ago, Honda dominated the “sport compact” market. There were Civic Si’s and Integra R’s everywhere, and the guys who drove them were enthusiasts of the brand. Honda walked away from them. It’s easy to make fun of that culture now, but those “tuners” may turn out to be the last generation of car buffs. My two sons (18 and 21) and all their friends think of cars as appliances, as microwaves. Not good. They tell me the only remnants of that “tuner” culture are 4-wheel-drive owners who add winches, light bars, big tires, etc. I’m 59, and the “tuner” culture reminded me of the muscle car enthusiasts of the 60’s and early 70’s. Again, the manufacturers just walked away from them.
“Again, the manufacturers just walked away from them.”
Never would have happened if there were enough of “them” who could get decent jobs in their years before family commitments.
If sport compacts had sold in numbers that made them profitable, Honda and other manufacturers wouldn’t have “walked away” from the segment. But they didn’t sell in those numbers, so they did.
Besides, the Civic Si is still around, although the last generation was pretty pedestrian and Honda’s being obnoxiously tight-lipped about the new one. Moreover, Honda probably deserves accolades for almost single-handedly keeping the compact coupe segment alive; As much as I pan Honda styling around here I saw a new Civic coupe in the flesh yesterday and honestly, I liked it.
The standard Civic hatchback already looks way too (poser) boy racer (two spoilers and faux rear vents on a 174 hp compact, seriously?), so what a shock that the Type R cranks that dial up to 11.
Is there any kind of feedback loop at Honda when it comes to styling? They keep recycling the same bad styling themes of the last decade (this thing looks like a mini Crosstour and all new Hondas are adopting a cheesier version of the chrome beak that was so widely panned at Acura). Is nobody telling the design department theses ideas failed in the marketplace?
I feel as if this car were designed in a way to specifically troll Subaru.
That or Batman is worried about his carbon footprint.
The crab pincher tail-lights are not growing on me.
The whole thing just looks scary with angled bits tacked on everywhere. Its a mess. I was once a huge Honda fan (’85 Civic S1500 hatch & ’89 Prelude Si) but there is literally nothing Honda makes now that interests me. I remember when the Type R was just a badge, a small spoiler/lip and a hotter engine. This thing is turned up way past 11, it reminds me of those fake cars in the original Ridge Racer PlayStation 1 game. Anyone who likes the looks can’t afford it and those who can afford it would get a Golf R, Focus RS or WRX instead. I know everyone likes to point out that Honda lost the plot awhile back, but its cars like this that prove the point.
It’s got a manual transmission! I could do without the rest of it. :(