New 2023 Honda Civic Type R Photos Give Away More Than Honda Wants to About the Hot Hatch
- The 2023 Civic Type R gets big aero changes in new photos
- Honda’s new Type R remains turbocharged
- Honda likely won’t be changing the way the Type R drives
It’s about time Honda gave us another look at the as-yet-unreleased 2023 Honda Civic Type R. The last time we got a look at the new model, some not-so-subtle spy shots leaked the interior. But these aren’t spy shots. The photos below are straight from the horse’s mouth and give away yet more info on the hotly anticipated hot hatch. We’ll discuss everything from new aero elements to the new car’s proportions. Buckle up, JDM fanboys and girls.
Will there be a 2023 Honda Civic Type R?
We’ll start with the obvious. The new Type R is going to be based heavily on the existing 2022 Honda Civic hatchback. That’s no bad thing, especially if you weren’t a huge fan of the last car’s looks. Thankfully, there’s a good number of racy updates to the newest Civic Type R. First, at the front, there’s some more aggressive foglight housings (see above). We’re not sure if there will be fog lights on the new car, but if there are, they’re covered by the camo wrap.
Also visible at the front is an intercooler peeking from behind that new face. We’re not 100% sure, but it does look a touch larger than the one found on the current hot hatch. The hood scoop from the last model also remains but looks to be drastically different. Given the intercooler’s location, we’re betting the new hood vent is there just for, well, venting. Finally, there’s the new wheels. Those are 19″ and certainly more toned-down than the last car’s. Hopefully, they’ll be lighter too, like on the Civic Type R LE.
The new Type R is going to be the best hot hatch in ages
Around the back, changes aren’t as noticeable. Without being in a room with the car (call us, Honda), there isn’t much to pick out. Down the side, we see some new aero elements. There’s side skirts designed to direct airflow around the wheel arches, and some vents at the back of the front wheel arch. In the shots provided by Honda, it’s hard to tell if those will be functional. A big complaint levied at the current CTR is the lack of functional vents, so hopefully Honda will have changed that.
However, one thing the brand won’t want to change is the way the 2023 Honda Civic Type R drives. The last car was, to put it lightly, the best hot hatch Honda has ever built. If any changes are made, they ought to be minor. Some found the ride to be a little flinty, so some softer dampers or springs could be a nice change. A little body roll really helps communicate what the car is doing to the driver, after all.
The turbocharged Civic Type R gets big changes for 2023
Though we’re still waiting on confirmation, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R will be turbocharged, as evidenced by the intercooler. It’s extremely unlikely Honda will go N/A, given the rave reviews handed out to the turbocharged motor. For now, we’ll simply have to wait for more information on the brand’s newest hot hatch.
