Next-Gen, Possibly Hybrid Honda Civic Type R Spotted Testing

The successor to the FK8 Civic Type R has been snapped by spy photographers, and yes, silly wings are still on the agenda

Matt Robinson

26 May 2020

Next-Gen, Possibly Hybrid Honda Civic Type R Spotted Testing

It was only a few months ago that Honda pulled the wraps off the updated FK8 Civic Type R, but already, the hot hatch‘s outright replacement is in the works. As a bonus, these spy shots are our first chance to see any version of the 11th-generation Civic.

That should be here in 2021, while the hotter Type R version is expected to arrive in 2022. While the test mule’s camouflage is still very heavy at this early stage, the images give us hope that the next-gen Civic won’t be quite so angular.

The Type R’s bodywork additions should still be suitably mad, however. No amount of camo can hide the giant rear wing, and although there’s a single, small exhaust dangling down one side, we can see a slot in the middle of the bumper ready to house a meaty centre-exit exhaust.

It looks as though the front end will be - once again - a vent-fest, and there’s also a bonnet duct, mounted much further forward than the one on the current car. As for what it’s feeding, we can’t be sure. Honda officials have in the past hinted that the FK8’s successor could end up being electrified to some degree, which is no surprise - mild hybrid technology will soon need to become the norm to help cars get through tough EU emissions rules.

As for what any 24 or 48-volt subsystem might be working with, that’s open to speculation. Which we’ll happily indulge in. We’d anticipate that Honda will use a modified version of the FK8’s 2.0-litre inline-four - itself an evolution of the FK2’s powerplant.

Comments

I actually like it with the “kidney grille”.

They’re hiding the Honda logo, making it seem like it has BMW-like kidney grilles. I could be wrong.

Honestly it’s Hondas best bet to double down on the styling and just roll with loads of fake vents, outrageous bumpers and massive wings. The typical Type R customer wouldn’t want it any other way. If you want a moderately styled car, you wouldn’t buy the current gen Civic at all, let alone the Type R. The kind of people who want a Type R want this styling, if you wanted an understated car that’s just as fast and roughly the same price you’d just get a Golf R instead.

Am I wrong or would a mild hybrid system mean the end of the manual?

Probably not, I mean, the Honda CR-Z has a manual, so hopefully this one will too

I honestly love the look of the current Type R - and I’m normally one to complain about modern cars being too overstyled or angular. I can’t even justify why I like it, any more than it’s the right kind of ridiculously overstyled.

Still a four door

𝘶𝘨𝘩

more doors for more whores (?)

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Next-Gen, Possibly Hybrid Honda Civic Type R Spotted Testing

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