2023 Honda Civic Type R touring car breaks cover

MANILA: The new FL5 Civic Type R TCR will debut in 2023 for use in motorsports racing, as will be fielded by Honda Performance Development (HPD) and JAS Motorsports.

The new race car continues on the outstanding success of its predecessors since the Type R brand made its debut in TCR competition in 2015. It is based on the most recent FL5 Honda Civic Type R production model, which was unveiled last summer.

Key components include a completely new exterior design, an aerodynamic package to increase downforce, a new chassis for improved cornering stability and driver safety, upgraded braking and transmission systems, and a race-ready version of the Type R production vehicle's four-cylinder, two-liter turbocharged engine.

An ergonomically-refined cockpit has been created in line with the latest FIA global safety standards and houses a sophisticated multi-channel driver display providing a greater level of relevant information than ever before.

Additional lighting, driver cooling, and anti-lock braking is available in addition to a heavily-revised ‘quick-fill' fueling system and a more sophisticated cockpit display to provide a greater range of relevant information to the driver in real time.

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R TCR continues a long and successful partnership between HPD and JAS Motorsport. All cars are developed in Italy by JAS Motorsports and available in North America for racing competition through HPD.

These new vehicles will make their official track debut in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge this coming April alongside Honda's partner teams HART, LA Honda World, and VGRT. One of the driver pairs for LA Honda World's two cars will be Ryan Eversley and Matt Pombo.

Victor Gonzalez and Karl Wittmer won two races together in 2022, including the season finale at Petit Le Mans and a breath-taking final-lap pass for the victory at Sebring. This was VGRT's breakout season from the previous year.

Honda became the FIA World Touring Car Champions with the aid of JAS-developed Civic Type R TCR race cars, and its partner teams won 397 TCR races and 74 major championships worldwide.

The previous-generation Civic Type R TCR was named TCR Model of the Year in both 2019 and 2020. In 2022, the Type R TCR enjoyed its most successful year to date with 76 race victories and 19 championship titles in Europe, Asia, South America and Oceania as well as the runner-up spot in the WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup.

"We are delighted and excited to reveal the all-new Honda Civic Type R TCR, designed and built by JAS Motorsport at our specialist facility in Italy, and send our most sincere thank you to Honda for not only continuing to give us their blessing for this project, but for their renewed commitment to customer racing globally through a TCR program that we are incredibly proud to be at the center of.

The new Type R TCR features significant enhancements in chassis, engine, suspension, and braking, while we've used the extensive knowledge gained through the NSX GT3 and Civic Type R TCR Customer Racing Programs to create our safest and most driver-friendly cockpit yet." Mads Fischer, JAS Motorsports TCR Project Leader, said.

The all-new 2023 Civic Type R is the most potent Honda production vehicle ever made available in the United States and is the most potent model in the Type R's 25-year history.

Engineers worked hard to further improve the 2023 Honda Civic Type R's chassis, which was already the best in its class for ride, handling, and steering performance. They developed the chassis extensively in Japan and put it through rigorous testing in racetracks in Japan, North America, and Europe. This included testing on the notorious Nurburgring in Germany, the most difficult racetrack in the world, which helped make the brand-new Type R more responsive, comfortable, and thrilling to drive than ever before.

An even more potent variation of Honda's award-winning K20C1 engine is housed beneath its new vented aluminum bonnet. A reworked turbocharger, increased air intake flow rate, and a new, more effective exhaust system with a straight-through design and an active exhaust valve boost horsepower, torque, and response.

The intake charge flow channel and the size, shape, and quantity of the turbocharger's turbine wheel blades have all been adjusted, allowing the turbocharger to generate pressure more effectively and over a larger pressure range.

With enhancements of 9 horsepower and 20 Nm, the turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine of the 2023 Civic Type R now generates 315 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 420 Nm of torque between 2,600 and 4,000 rpm. With a specific output of 157.8 horsepower per liter, an increase from the previous generation's 153.3, the Civic Type R is one of the most potent vehicles in its class per liter.

A larger grille opening, bigger radiator and a new large-diameter fan improve engine cooling, ensuring sustained, optimal performance during extreme driving. To further strengthen the driver's connection with the car, the active exhaust valve opens at higher rpm to heighten and enhance the sound of the engine.

The six-speed manual transmission in the 2023 Civic Type R has been substantially enhanced to provide an even more satisfying and personal driving experience. In order to retain stability on corner entry, a lighter flywheel and a redesigned rev-match mechanism guarantee flawlessly paired rev-matching when shifting down through the gears.

For a secure and incredibly precise gear change, the high-strength gearbox has additionally added a high-rigidity lever and optimized shift gate layout. Standard limited-slip differentials of the helical kind efficiently transfer engine power to the road.

A much more robust body structure that enables greater dynamics and refinement further increases the Civic Type R's scalpel-sharp reactions and infamously addictive driving experience. The Civic Type R is now built on the brand-new 11th-generation Civic Hatchback. In order to improve stability and provide a smoother ride, the wheelbase has been lengthened by 1.4 inches. It now has the longest wheelbase in its class, at 107.7 inches.

The hot hatchback has slightly wider front and rear tracks (+1.0 inches in the front and +0.75 inches in the back). These modifications enhance steering feel and straight-line stability in conjunction with a dual-axis strut front and multilink rear suspension that have been fine-tuned. The Type R's two-piece front brake rotors have great braking performance and less unsprung weight. Additionally, the brake cooling is increased, and the feel and controllability of the brake booster have been tweaked.

The engine, steering, suspension, and engine sound may all be changed between four pre-set performance settings that can be switched seamlessly by drivers. The driving experience may now be tailored using a new "Individual Model" option in addition to Comfort, Sport, and R+ Mode.

Photos from Honda

Also read: 2018 Honda Civic Type R owned by Max Verstappen goes under the hammer