2023 Honda Civic Type R First Look: More Powerful Than Ever
After months of teasers, the wait is finally over. The 2023 Honda Civic Type R has been revealed, and unlike previous years, the performance-oriented model launched on American soil with IndyCar driver Colton Herta behind the wheel. For a long time, Americans were banned from purchasing the Civic Type R, but this time Honda is making a statement by doing the global reveal in Los Angeles.
The Type R joins the Si and Sport models in the Civic's lineup and stands as the pinnacle of performance in Honda's portfolio. The 2023 model will be the most powerful Honda car in America, with Honda promising more power than ever before.
Untamed Performance
While Honda is still tightlipped about its horsepower and torque numbers, we're told it will have more power than before. That means we'll see figures north of 306 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque—the numbers for the current Type R. The familiar 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo returns, except this time it will be mated to an improved six-speed manual transmission with rev-matching. As of this time, Honda is not planning to offer an automatic transmission in the Type R.
Honda says the new Type R will be rewarding and addictive to drive. With an enhanced suspension system and steering performance, we're told the driving feel is direct and engaging, though we'll have to wait until this fall to try it ourselves. But with more power, a new, lightweight chassis, more body rigidity and improved high-speed stability, it sounds like the Type R has everything to deliver a thrilling experience behind the wheel.
Just as important, Honda made sure the Type R would stop confidently. The 19-inch wheels are wrapped around Michelin Pilot Sport tires, which should provide sharp grip on the corners and under hard acceleration and stopping. While Honda didn't reveal any specs, the big, red Brembo calipers up front will make sure the Type R brakes properly.
With its compact, hatchback body, loads of power and handling hardware, the Type R stands out in the segment. This time, however, it will have more competition. Newcomers such as the Toyota GR Corolla and Hyundai Elantra N have gotten the enthusiast's attention, and the Volkswagen Golf R is back for a new generation. While the GR Corolla and Golf R get all-wheel drive traction, the Civic Type R and Elantra N are front-drive only. But the Honda will continue to stand out with its power numbers. The Elantra N makes 276 hp and the GR Corolla pumps 300 hp, and we expect the updated Type R's numbers to be between 307 and 315 hp. That means the Golf R—with its 328 hp—should continue to be the most powerful of the group.
Even if the power numbers don't increase by a lot, there will be a lot to like about the new car. The current-generation Type R continues to be among our favorite hot hatches in the market.
Mature Exterior
Despite the 11th-generation Civic gaining a more mature styling, the Civic Type R does a good job distinguishing itself from the rest of the lineup. While the entire Civic lineup lost its race boy design, the new model will be more appealing to those who thought the previous design was too wild. The new Type R is longer, wider, and lower than the outgoing model, and every aerodynamic element is there for a reason.
From the front, the honeycomb grille in the lower fascia gives the Type R a distinctive look, and sporty elements on the fascia stand out. Other dynamic cues include air vents on the hood and behind the front wheels. If that's not enough to differentiate it from the rest, the red Honda logo and Type R badge on the grille pop out.
From the profile, the side skirts help redirect the wind for better aerodynamics. Unlike any other Civic, the second half of the rear doors expand outward to give the Type R more hips. The rear continues to be the best angle, with a massive wing that's hard to miss and a redesigned rear diffuser that houses the signature three-round exhaust system.
There will be five different colors available—Rallye Red, Racing Blue Pearl, Crystal Black Pearl, Sonic Grey Pearl, and Historic Championship White. The latter is exclusive for Type R and one that's famous among Honda enthusiasts.
A Familiar Interior
The red bucket seats and red carpet—two signature elements for the Type R—are back. Comfortable and supportive, the suede-like seats should be able to keep the driver and front passenger tight when the driving experience gets intensive. A numbered Type R badge is now placed on the passenger's dash.
A new +R driving mode will show exclusive graphics with engine rpms, indicator lights and gear position indicator displayed at the top, while the bottom display will have other information selected by the driver. A stopwatch to record lap times and the ability to share driving videos is also incorporated in the infotainment system.
The rest of the cabin will be familiar to Civic drivers. A honeycomb mesh grille expands across the dashboard and houses the air vents. The HVAC controls are backlit for a premium look, and the digital instrument cluster is standard. Like the top-trim Civic Hatchback, the Type R comes with a 9.0-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as three USB ports.
Is the 2023 Honda Civic Type R Worth It?
We'll have to wait a little longer to find out the Type R's performance figures, but from what we've seen so far it looks like Honda's promise of delivering a thrilling driving experience might be fulfilled. The 2023 Honda Civic Type R will be on sale this fall, and we can't wait to get behind the wheel. Although Honda didn't mention pricing, we don't expect it to increase too much from the current generation, which starts at $38,910.
You may also like
Ever since the current-generation Ford Ranger landed on these shores—finally—a few years back, we've been looking abroad with some envy at the Ranger Raptor offered globally with swollen fenders, big ground clearance, and a twin-turbocharged Diesel engine with a stinking 369 lb-ft of torque. Anyone holding out hope for that particular Ranger Raptor, we're sorry—it's not coming, and it never will. But there's great news for you: the next one is. The 2023 Ford Ranger Raptor isn't only better than that old truck, it's also coming to America. And wait until you get a load of its specs.For one, that 2.0-liter turbocharged I-4 diesel is gone, and in its place is a 3.0-liter, twin-turbo V-6 worked over by Ford Performance and producing 284 horsepower and 362 lb-ft of twist. That's down a few lb-ft, but ups whopping 74 horsepower over the old truck. This performance engine features an anti-lag system similar to what is fitted to the Euro-market Focus ST. Power is channeled through Ford's familiar 10-speed automatic and a full-time four-wheel-drive system that features a two-speed transfer case. The off-road hardware is impressive. Requisite front and rear diff lockers are present, and there is a full complement of selectable terrain modes, including Baja mode for high-speed desert rips. Speaking of, the chassis has been reinforced in all the expected ways to cope with the severe stresses on the suspension of, say, hitting a medium-sized rock at 60 mph on the playa. That means that the suspension mounts are all beefed up, and some parts of the frame around the bed and spare tire well. You can see all the reinforcements in the image below, and they're not dissimilar from those in the 2022 Ford Bronco Raptor, which utilizes a similar frame.The suspension itself consists of beefy aluminum control arms up front, and a live axle with a Watt's linkage out back. Ford returned to Fox to swipe 2.5-inch Live Valve internal bypass shock absorbers to deal with wheel oscillation punishment. (Interestingly, these units are of a smaller diameter than the 3.1-inch units in the Bronco Raptor.) Ford claims that the Teflon-infused oil inside these revised shocks reduces friction—and performance-robbing heat—by 50 percent. Ford also promises better on-road comfort than the previous model. A Bottom-Out Control feature provides more damping force in the last quarter of the shock's travel, to prevent spine-rearranging slaps on the bump stops. There is some serious armor under this truck. 2.3mm steel plates protect vulnerable points underneath the front of the truck, and also protrude out from the bumper giving the truck a stylish underbite. The radiator, steering, engine sump, and differential are all protected. Most importantly, the new Ranger Raptor manages to keep the handsome, Maverick-influenced look of the "regular" next-gen Ranger intact while adding a serious dose of adrenaline. Remember, the current-gen Ranger wasn't initially designed for the American market—it was adapted after the fact from a global-market truck. And it shows. The new Ranger is a true global product, one designed with the U.S. in mind from the get-go, and we think the new Ranger Raptor shows that there was some serious forethought that went into ensuring it'd appeal to buyers on both sides of the pond—buyers that have very different conceptions of what a pickup should be. The elements you'd expect are all present—big fenders with black arch extensions, a grille with a "FORD" logo you could see from space, hood and fender blisters, and a rugged rear end with tucked up twin-exit exhausts. The loop and side rails on the bed look to us to be more of a Euro-market styling element, but perhaps that will come to us, too.The interior is much more modern than our Ranger, and obviously is very similar to the global Ranger we saw last year, with the expected Raptor touches—bright Code Orange accents, a sporty steering wheel, and bolstered sport seats.This is a good time to mention that you're looking at the ROW version, specifically the U.K. market version. Don't be surprised if there are minor variations in the American-market truck—head- and tail lamps and bumpers are often different in different markets. But it's a very close preview of what we will get, that has been loudly confirmed to the world by Ford—an American-market Ford Ranger Raptor, designed from the ground up with us in mind. That's something worth getting very excited about.
We're not certain exactly who or what started the long-running Chevrolet C10 pickup craze (it very well could have been Truckin', or any one of MotorTrend's former truck-enthusiast magazines), but there's no arguing the fact that today these trucks, produced from 1960 to 1987, are timeless.The latest cool Chevy C10 being brokered at Mecum Auctions' Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, event (and there are several) is this model, slated to cross the block on Saturday, July 30, 2022. Actually, Lot #S123 is beyond being simply cool because, as a 1974, it's an early pioneer of the "Squarebody" era (1973 to 1987), examples of which are today the most coveted C10s of the entire run, in any condition (kind of like an old Mopar muscle car).What you're looking at in these photos is a true survivor; a Custom 10 that somehow has escaped the perils of dilapidation and destruction, as well as the clutches of "builders," customizers, hot-rodders, and modifiers (for now). This Chevy squarebody is 100-percent original, from its Grecian Bronze paint to the Uniroyal tires it was delivered on in 1974. The truck was purchased by a Minnesota farmer who reportedly owned it for a few years, only using it to attend church services on Sundays.Let's get to the images of this timeless classic, which certainly could sell for a king's ransom based on its perfectly preserved condition, highlighted by only 723 original miles. As classic Chevy C10s go, the big question is whether the winning bidder will keep this rig "as is" for a continued eternity, or if it is destined for full customization, and eventually possible resale at a future Mecum auction.Tune in to MotorTrend's exclusive coverage of Mecum's Harrisburg auction. Broadcasts start July 28 at 6:00 p.m on MotorTrend+ and MotorTrend TV.
Sequoia trees are thought to be the oldest living things on Earth, so it's appropriate that Toyota's full-size SUV is named for them: The soon-to-be-outgoing Sequoia dates from 2008, and over the three thousand years—okay, 13—it's been on sale, we've watched it slip from first to last in comparison to its competitors. Finally, it looks like a new Sequoia sapling is born: Toyota has revealed the 2023 Sequoia, with a few surprises that make it feel like an SUV for the ages.If you think the current Sequoia is a bit too plain—and certainly if you think it's too old—the new one should address your concerns. Up front, the new Sequoia shares its curves and creases with the all-new 2022 Tundra pickup truck. Out back, they've been re-interpreted a bit, with a fenderline crease that starts just ahead of the rear door handles and continues straight back to the taillights. It's less doughy and anonymous than the old model, more aggressive—traits backed up by what's under the hood.So, What's Under the Hood?For those keeping score in the Toyotaverse, the new Sequoia one-ups the (also Land Cruiser-based) Lexus LX600 in the power department. While both large SUVs share a 3.4-liter twin-turbo V-6, the Sequoia's is hybridized, assisted by an electric motor. With 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque, it thus bests the Lexus by 28 hp and 104 lb-ft. The hybridized six is an era away from the old Sequoia's 5.7-liter V-8, which made a paltry—by comparison—381 hp and 401 lb-ft. While we have yet to see official efficiency numbers, we can't imagine the Sequoia's hybrid powertrain won't improve on the LX's 19-mpg fuel economy; it's guaranteed to be better than the old Sequoia's mid-teens mpg.And doesn't that meaty hybrid sound like it has boat-towing power? Oh, you betcha. Toyota says the new Sequoia will tow up to 9,000 lbs, a 22% improvement over the outgoing Sequoia despite giving up two cylinders to its V-8. A Tow Tech Package, which (among other things) steers the trailer in reverse, helps alleviate some causes of towing apprehension.Don't Say Land Cruiser... Speaking of the Land Cruiser—which we swear we were just a minute ago—we found a possible explanation to the demise of Toyota's former flagship SUV (other than its relative lack of sales): The Sequoia will be available in a new range-topping Capstone trim, as recently announced for the Tundra pickup, pushing it into the old Land Cruiser's price turf. With 22-inch chrome wheels, two-tone black-and-white semi-aniline leather, and open-pore walnut wood distinguish this model from lesser Sequoias, which include Platinum, Limited and SR5 models.Another quick aside: The Sequoia shares its basic bones with the new Tundra, of course, but also with the newest Land Cruiser sold globally. While it is not a replacement for the iconic Land Cruiser 4x4, which is renowned for its off-road prowess, it is at least related to that SUV.To help fill in the void left in its lineup by the Land Cruiser and to build on the previous-generation Sequoia's off-road offerings, Toyota will once again offer a TRD Pro model, which includes Fox internal bypass shocks, a forward skid plate, multi-terrain drive modes, and Toyota's Crawl Control mode, which maintains a slow, steady speed uphill or down. You'll find plenty of TRD badging inside and out, and this version is only available with four-wheel drive.If the TRD Pro is too, uh, pro for you, SR5 and Limited 4x4 models can be had with a lighter-duty TRD Off-Road package with a locking rear differential, specially-tuned springs and Bilstein shocks, unique 18-inch wheels, as well as the terrain modes and Crawl Control from the TRD Pro package. SR5 models are also offered with an on-road-tuned TRD Sport package with 20-inch wheels, TRD-tuned springs and shocks, and aluminum pedals. Two-wheel drive is standard and part-time four-wheel drive is optional on all on SR5, Limited, Platinum, and—surprisingly—Capstone trim levels. The Sequoia once again utilizes a fully independent suspension, though since 2008 more competitors have added this feature in place of a more traditional (and pickup-truck-like) live rear axle, including the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon.Safely In Modern TerritoryAs with other Toyota models, a full safety and driver-aid package is standard, including collision detection with automatic braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert and correction, automatic high beams, a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, and parking assistance with automatic braking.Inside, the Sequoia is just as new and fresh-appearing. Also, like before, the dashboard and steering wheel are essentially carryover from the Tundra pickup. There is an available large (14-inch!) central touchscreen, chunky air vents, and an available digital gauge cluster. What's important here is that nothing looks like it was designed in 2007—a key step forward.Toyota will build the Sequoia at the same San Antonio, Texas, plant that assembles the Tundra. We'll have pricing and fuel economy data as we get closer to launch, which will come when the weather gets warm; Sequoias are scheduled to arrive at Toyota dealerships this summer. We're looking forward to seeing how this modernized old tree branches into the full-size SUV space, which is now chock full of relatively new contenders, including the recently redesigned Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Nissan Armada, and all-new Jeep Wagoneer.
0 Comments