With the new Civic Type R, Honda is waving at its predecessor’s wild styling by eliminating fake vents and an ultra-aggressive design. That’s both good and bad news as some will appreciate the very toned look while others prefer the FK8’s hardcore style to flourish. Even when equipped with the upgraded Honda Access, this revamped RKT still looks relatively tame compared to its predecessor.
A fully loaded FL5 generation Civic Type R appeared at Fuji Speedway during Round 4 of the 2022 Super GT championship. Dressed in Sonic Gray Pearl paint, the hot hatch has a Honda Access carbon fiber rear wing that sheds 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) over the original aero parts. . The red painted side mirror caps visually contrast with the body but blend in with the front seats, which are always red.
24 Photo
There’s more red to be found on the inside as one of the Honda Access tweaks is the anodized aluminum gear knob of the six-speed manual with red leather. The red floor is a bold choice and continues behind where the seats are black with red stitching and seat belts. Browsing through the OEM accessory catalog also reveals wireless charging pads and even paint protection film, while the European spec horn is an interesting choice.
Despite publicly showing off the new CTR, Honda still hasn’t officially revealed its technical specifications. Reports from the domestic market claim the turbocharged 2.0-liter petrol engine produces an additional 10 horsepower and 15 pound-feet (20 Newton-meters) of torque compared to the model it replaces.
That gives the JDM spec model an unconfirmed 326 hp and 420 Nm of power. However, keep in mind that the previous Civic Type R had 10 fewer ponies in the United States, which would put the new one at 316 hp if the same rules apply. In Europe, the old CTR is just as strong as its Japanese sibling.
With the FL5 launching this fall, it’s likely Honda will reveal all the specs in the coming weeks. As a final note, the wheels have been downsized from 20 to 19 inches while the Continental ContiSport 6 tires have been replaced with the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S. The rubber is now wider, at 265/30 instead of the previous 245/30.
