The New Look Honda Civic Type R Has Banished The Fake Front Vents

Honda has revealed a facelifted version of the FK8 Type R at the Tokyo Auto Salon, and it's rocking a tweaked chassis
The New Look Honda Civic Type R Has Banished The Fake Front Vents

For a car so focused on function over form, the Honda Civic Type R really ought not to have a face stuffed full of fake vents. Granted, they’re carried over from the standard Civic, but the big fake panels flanking either side of the FK8’s front bumper still - rightly - cause a lot of ire.

It seems, however, that Honda has recognised the problem. The Japanese manufacturer has revealed a facelifted version of the car, and although it might look identical on first glance, a closer inspection reveals what’s new.

How the facelifted FK8 Honda Civic Type R (left) compares to the outgoing model
How the facelifted FK8 Honda Civic Type R (left) compares to the outgoing…

The fake vents have made way for smooth plastic parts - mirroring a change seen on the facelifted standard Civic - with slots cut into each side. They’re neatly split in two with hockey stick-shaped swoops finished in body colour. On that subject, the hue it’s wearing - Boost Blue - is a new addition to the options menu.

Unfortunately, the rear end is still sporting falsies, although as with the front, these parts have been broken up effectively with more body-coloured swoops.

Much more like it!
Much more like it!

Pleasingly, the changes aren’t limited to aesthetic ones. The 2020 Type R has new two-piece brake discs, which are teamed up with new fade-reducing pads. The dampers have been revised in the name of improving ride comfort, and the rear bushings are now stiffer. There have been some unspecified alterations at the front, which Honda says will “reduce friction and improve steering feel”. One thing we wish Honda hadn’t done was add Active Sound Control, “which modifies interior sound in concert with chosen drive mode”. Hopefully there’s an off button.

We haven’t seen inside the car yet, but there are some improvements in the cabin to look forward to. There’s now an Alcantara-clad steering wheel, plus a new gear lever with a redesigned knob promising even shorter throws. Rounding off the raft of tweaks is the Honda Sensing package of driver assistance features.

Boost Blue - exclusive to the Civic Type R - has been added to the colour palette by Honda
Boost Blue - exclusive to the Civic Type R - has been added to the colour…

Nothing has changed under the bonnet - you still have a 2.0-litre inline-four turbo engine providing 306bhp and 295lb ft of torque. This is sent through the front wheels via a mechanical limited-slip differential.

The updated Civic Type R will go on sale summer 2020. Pricing is an unknown at this stage, but we’d expect a small increase on the £31,870 charged for the outgoing model.

Comments

Martin Burns

Oof… Honda… c’mon now…

Every major auto news outlet called out the fake vents, and in response this time round? Smooth panels but still fake vents? C’mon even my budget Hyundai hatch has functional ducts.

Nobody is impressed with faux anything, ever. Please stop festooning otherwise great cars with kitschy gimmicks. If it’s not real it doesn’t need to be there, nobody is fooled by it, it makes the product seem like a cheap toy.

01/10/2020 - 11:39 |
38 | 4

If you’re talking about what’s at the front, the slots will be real - on the pre-update the fake panels have small holes cut in them which aren’t there on normal Civics, so this is just a continuation of that without the nasty fake honeycomb rubbish around it. Just a shame they didn’t ditch them properly at the rear too

01/10/2020 - 11:47 |
14 | 4
Anonymous

Ugh, Honda it would’ve been easier to avoid the critics if the base Civic didn’t already look a reject for the original Fast and Furious

01/10/2020 - 13:21 |
4 | 12
Elliot.J99

It still looks stupid

01/10/2020 - 16:49 |
6 | 4
EJ22 (A&P Performance co-owner)

I like it
Looks fresher with these flat panels
And that blue, nice addition

01/10/2020 - 17:28 |
10 | 0
slevo beavo

Does look better now. But people moaning about putting real honeycomb in, just do it yourself (if your a owner of one of course). Will take a day max to remove’ sort the front and rear bumpers out and refit. Then you will stand out amongst eagle eyed petrol heads.

01/10/2020 - 18:47 |
8 | 0
Yert

The color looks great but honestly the panels look kind of cheap

01/10/2020 - 18:54 |
8 | 4
White Comet

We have arrived an age, which car manufacturers are all in pursuit of fake sensation; fake vents, fake noise, fake steering feels, fake exhaust, fake carbon, …… you name it.

01/10/2020 - 18:55 |
10 | 6

Why on earth is this downvoted?! This is oath!

01/11/2020 - 13:10 |
4 | 0
Joel Peñaló

still looks obnoxious

01/11/2020 - 16:12 |
2 | 4
Anonymous

Hello everyone I am giving a testimony on how I joined the illuminati brotherhood, I was trying to join this organization for so many years now,I was scammed by fake agents in south Africa and Nigeria,I was down,I could not feed my self and my family anymore and I tried to make money by all miss but all invail, I was afraid to contact any illuminati agent because they have eat my money,One day I come across a post of someone giving a testimony, thanking a man called Berry ROYMOND of being helping him to join the illuminati brotherhood, then I look at the man phone number that was written there, it was a nigeria number I was afraid to contact him because a nigerian agent took my $2000 and go away with the money then I was very tired, confused and I decided to contact the person that was given the testimony and i called him and I communicated with him on phone calls before he started telling me his own story about when he wanted to join, he told me everything to do, then I made up my mind and called the agent called Berry ROYMOND and he told me everything to do, and I was initiated, surprisingly I was given my benefit of being a new member of the great illuminati brotherhood I was so happy, For those of you trying to join this organization this is your opportunity for you to join CONTACT BERRY ROYMOND call (+2348035784085)

01/12/2020 - 22:05 |
0 | 0

Topics

Manufacturers

Sponsored Posts