The Honda Civic Type R 2023 produces 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque.
This represents a 9-horsepower and 15-pound-feet increase over the previous-generation car, which had totals of 306 and 295, respectively.
Maximum horsepower now arrives 100 rpm earlier at 6400 rpm, while peak torque occurs between 2600 and 4000 rpm. Peak torque was previously available from 2500-4500 rpm.
While the new CTR retains the same K20C1 turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four as before, Honda made numerous changes that contributed to the power increase and, according to Honda, will improve engine response.
A freer-flowing air intake, a redesigned turbo, and a revised exhaust system with an active valve that now opens at higher rpm are among the improvements.
We already knew the new Type R would have a six-speed manual transmission. We didn’t know, however, what changes, if any, Honda made to the DIY transmission.
The six-speed now has a stiffer shift lever and an updated shift-gate pattern, which are said to make gearchanges more precise and satisfying.
In addition, the ’23 CTR has a lighter flywheel, and Honda claims it improved the transmission’s rev-match feature. While rumors of a dual-clutch automatic transmission circulated, it is not currently in the picture.
Track-Minded Improvements
Honda claims that it spent a significant amount of time testing the new Civic Type R on racetracks around the world.
The most notable names dropped by the company are the Nürburgring in Germany and the Suzuka Circuit in Japan, where the Type R set a track record for a front-drive production car.
We’re hoping that all those development hours will pay off when the production versions hit local road courses.
Better engine cooling is one of the many track-focused enhancements made to the R-rated Civic. Honda claims it achieved this by enlarging the grille opening and installing a larger radiator with a large-diameter fan.
The brakes are also addressed, with better cooling and an updated brake booster that supposedly makes the pedal easier to control.
While Honda hasn’t revealed the exact weight of the new Type R, a spokesperson told Car and Driver that the curb weight has “gone up slightly.”
The CTR now rides on 19-inch wheels rather than the previous 20-inchers, which may reduce unsprang weight, but we can’t be sure. Michelin Pilot Sport 4S summer rubber is wrapped around the new rollers, which are 0.8 inch wider and have a slightly taller sidewall.
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