The Manila Times

The red emblem reborn Honda Civic Type R

The 320PS and 420Nm of torque perfectly match its new, aggressive look

BY ISAAC ATIENZA

THE Type R name is synonymous to Honda’s high-performance vehicles, signifying the brand’s testament to racing and performance that started in Formula One in the late 1960s.

And perhaps the surviving, yet long lasting model to receive the eponymous Type R badge is the brand’s best-selling Civic. So, every time news of the introduction for the latest Civic Type R circulates, the Philippine market waits excitedly as to when it will roar to local shores.

Well, Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) chose not to make the Philippine market wait longer for the latest Civic Type R by launching it in a media event last week at the Karrera Showroom in Alabang.

“Tonight, we welcome 2023 with the launch of most powerful Civic Type R. It embodies Honda’s DNA, demonstrating the brand’s strong determination for crafting machines that attain the ultimate in speed and the joy of driving,” HCPI President Masahiko Nakamura said.

Compared to the outgoing model, dubbed by the chassis code “FK8” by enthusiasts, the latest Civic Type R sports a really aggressive body kit by virtue of wide fenders and huge diffusers. And it is now dubbed the “FL5.”

It still retains the look of the current Civic while giving the it the usual Type R flavor, maintaining the popular sedan’s elegance. The design harks back to the first generation Civic Type R, called the “EK9,” which is still popular among tuners locally and globally. The EK9 was launched in 1997.

Wider stance and low slung look

The wider stance of the latest Civic Type R has its benefits, such as giving the engine bay more breathing room as well as providing a low slung look. Aerodynamic aids remain by virtue of the small front bumper grilles that flow air to the body and into the rear of the car, while keeping the design as elegantly simple as possible.

A rear wing is installed as is the custom with modern Type Rs, but it is designed to look more discreet yet functional at the same time. High performance Brembo brakes allow for good stopping power to go along with its firepower.

The Type R treatment goes into the inside as well, with the red bucket seats, an Alcantara covered steering wheel, a red Honda badge, a red colored TFT display, as well as a metallic shift lever with red accents. Yes, the new Type R also sports a manual transmission as is with the Type Rs of old. Besides the racy interior, it still feels like a regular Civic inside, even if you’re sitting at the back.

The brand’s Honda Sensing safety suite, utilizing the car’s front windshield camera, allows for features like collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, forward collision warning, auto high beam and road departure mitigation to heighten the driver’s sense of safety when driving.

The same K20C1 turbo-charged 2-liter inline four remains from the previous generation, but is tuned to produce a higher 320PS and 420Nm of torque, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with rev matching technology, allowing for ease of shifts.

This new Civic Type R now costs a whopping P3.88 million. Yet despite its price tag, it will surely delight Honda fans as the previous model did.

Fast Times

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2023-01-24T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-01-24T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/282235194784621

The Manila Times