Revealed: 2023 Civic Type R will be most powerful Honda ever sold in America

It’s been a lengthy tease, with camouflaged cars setting lap records, and sultry silhouetted images flooding the internet, but now the foreplay is (mostly) over and Honda is getting down to business by revealing the 2023 Civic Type R.

Mostly, we said. Honda is remaining annoyingly mum on the final power figure for the new-generation CTR, but it is set to be the most powerful Type R model ever. That means at the very least more than the 306 hp of the outgoing Type R. And, since the NSX wears an Acura badge in America, the most powerful Honda ever to be sold Stateside. We do know that the engine is an “evolved” version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged 17YM engine from the last model, with a revised turbo and new housing. Shifting comes via an uprated six-speed manual transmission to “deliver the fastest, most addictive yet secure and rewarding drive” of any Civic in the model’s 30-year history. Upgraded brakes feature “enhanced temperature control and air cooling.”

Cooling, you may recall, was a bit of an issue for the original iteration of the last Civic Type R, until Honda’s mid-cycle refresh with an updated grille addressed the heat soaking that track rats experienced.

This time around, lightweight 19-inch alloy wheels wear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires for enhanced grip, and downforce comes from an aggressive front bumper and splitter, plus a high rear wing, and unique diffuser with triple tailpipes. Despite all this, the new Civic Type R is nowhere near as shouty-looking as the previous incarnation. Instead, it will make itself known purely by its performance on road and track. The 2023 Civic Type R is already the fastest front-drive car to lap Suzuka in Japan and is “ready for Nürburgring testing,” so expect more records to fall by the wayside.

The cabin is more flamboyant, however, with suede-style seats trimmed in trademark Type R red, a stubby matte aluminum shifter, and a sporty, yet fully circular steering wheel. There’s a 10.2-inch center touchscreen and the digital instruments have a special +R mode that displays a graphic engine rpm count, shift lights and gear position. An onboard datalogger, lap timer, and video camera will allow drivers to watch and share their best circuit drives.

“Even in this “year of the Honda SUV,” it’s great to be part of a brand that remains focused on the thrilling performance and joy of driving delivered by the all-new Civic Type R,” says Mike Kistemaker, assistant, vice president of sales at American Honda. “Type R is about more than speed, power and handling. It’s how a great car makes you feel that really matters and that’s what the all-new Civic Type R is all about.”