2020 Honda Civic Type R

[AVANTI R5]

Facelifted Honda Civic Type R receives handling and interior upgrades

Refreshed hot hatch flagship revealed with tweaked styling, uprated suspension and upgraded interior tech

onda has revealed an updated version of its Civic Type R hot hatch for 2020, featuring styling tweaks and enhanced technology.

The Type R’s updates mirror those rolled out for the standard Civic in November, chief among which is a revised front end that features a larger grille for improved engine cooling. The addition of a model-exclusive Boost Blue paint option further sets the facelifted Type R apart from the outgoing model.

There are changes underneath as well, with the Type R’s suspension being retuned for enhanced ride comfort, reduced friction and improved steering feedback. Stiffer rear bushings are said to bring better grip in corners.

Stopping power has also been improved, with the 2020 model gaining new two-piece brake discs and brake pads designed to reduce fade and perform better at high speeds.

Inside, the steering wheel has been newly trimmed in Alcantara, while a restyled gearlever offers shorter shifts than in the current car. Honda’s new ‘Sensing’ driver assistance package is now equipped as standard, bringing aids like lane-keeping assistance, traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control and automatic emergency braking.

The Type R retains its turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, with power and torque output unchanged at 316bhp and 295lb ft. As before, power is sent to the front wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox and limited-slip differential.

Three driving modes - Comfort, Sport and R+ - remain available, with a new Active Sound Control function now adjusting the engine volume in the interior to suit the driver’s choice.

UK pricing is yet to be revealed, but Honda says further information will be unveiled closer to the Type R’s summer 2020 on-sale date. It can be expected to command a slight premium over the current model, which is available from £31,870.

The refreshed Type R is making its debut at the 2020 Tokyo Auto Salon, where Honda is also showing a new Indy Yellow Pearl II paint option - first available on the S2000 convertible - for its NSX supercar.

[Pre]

The addition of a model-exclusive Boost Blue paint option further sets the facelifted Type R apart from the outgoing model.

Oh gee willickers wally, wow!

Put AWD on it or s t f u.

[delongedoug]

Ahh yes, the long line of traditional AWD Honda Type R models...

[Pre]

Originally Posted by delongedoug

Ahh yes, the long line of traditional AWD Honda Type R models...

Ahh yes, let's never change anything. FWD Fo-evah!

Honda themselves talked about making a sh-awd variant.

[VarmintCong]

Originally Posted by Pre

Ahh yes, let's never change anything. FWD Fo-evah!

Honda themselves talked about making a sh-awd variant.

Acura should be all over that but they're asleep at the wheel.

[WRXnick16]

I was hoping that we would see a more hardcore version.. to reclaim their title as the fastest FWD production car around the Nürburgring. Maybe we'll see a Mugen special edition variant at some point.. like the FD2 CTR Mugen RR.

It's interesting to see two piece brake rotors on the list.

[WRXnick16]

While AWD would be nice.. it would add a significant amount of weight and Honda isn't particularly known for performance oriented AWD systems. Their system is still FWD biased. IMO, they would need to design something new to be worthy of the CTR.

They may eventually get there, but then they'll have strayed very far from their roots of a lightweight, high revving, naturally aspirated, FWD car.. to a heavier, turbocharged, AWD car. It will certainly be faster, but maybe they didn't want to leap that far from their roots all at once. Adding AWD will certainly make the car over 1,000 lbs heavier than the original EK9 CTR.

[Sid03SVT]

Originally Posted by WRXnick16

While AWD would be nice.. it would add a significant amount of weight and Honda isn't particularly known for performance oriented AWD systems. Their system is still FWD biased. IMO, they would need to design something new to be worthy of the CTR.

They may eventually get there, but then they'll have strayed very far from their roots of a lightweight, high revving, naturally aspirated, FWD car.. to a heavier, turbocharged, AWD car. It will certainly be faster, but maybe they didn't want to leap that far from their roots all at once. Adding AWD will certainly make the car over 1,000 lbs heavier than the original EK9 CTR.

ek9 CTR was 2,400lbs, the current iteration is 3,1XX - I don't think they would gain another 300lbs with AWD, probably half that. but some food for thought, a run of the mill civic is in the 2,800-3,000lb range; we aren't going to see a lightweight civic ever again.

A 3,200-3,300lb CTR with AWD is far more attractive (TO ME) than a 3,1XXlb CTR that is useless in any kind of weather except warm and dry. Admittedly though, I don't want front biased AWD.

[WRXnick16]

Originally Posted by Sid03SVT

ek9 CTR was 2,400lbs, the current iteration is 3,1XX - I don't think they would gain another 300lbs with AWD, probably half that. but some food for thought, a run of the mill civic is in the 2,800-3,000lb range; we aren't going to see a lightweight civic ever again.

A 3,200-3,300lb CTR with AWD is far more attractive (TO ME) than a 3,1XXlb CTR that is useless in any kind of weather except warm and dry. Admittedly though, I don't want front biased AWD.

It just depends on what you want from the Honda pedigree. I personally prefer a high revving, naturally aspirated version around 2,800 lbs reminiscent of their roots. I'd rather them focus on the fun factor and driving experience (not to say that the current CTR doesn't). Maybe this would be in the form of the Si.. it would obviously be slower than its turbocharged rivals. I'm probably in the minority that would want this car to exist compared to the current offerings.

But in today's automotive industry, horespower battles, 0-60, 1/4 mile, and track times drive the market. AWD will be required if they want to keep pushing the envelope in that way.

[neg_matnik]

Originally Posted by Sid03SVT

ek9 CTR was 2,400lbs, the current iteration is 3,1XX - I don't think they would gain another 300lbs with AWD, probably half that. but some food for thought, a run of the mill civic is in the 2,800-3,000lb range; we aren't going to see a lightweight civic ever again.

A 3,200-3,300lb CTR with AWD is far more attractive (TO ME) than a 3,1XXlb CTR that is useless in any kind of weather except warm and dry. Admittedly though, I don't want front biased AWD.

We also need to keep in mind that this is the largest and roomiest Civic ever.
For comparison, it's almost as wide as the "widebody" S209 and it has a longer wheelbase than S209/STI/WRX.
The EK9 is a shoebox in comparison; so keeping weight to 2800~31XX while being the largest and roomiest "compact" in the segment is already an engineering fit in and of itself.
It's large and roomy, and yet, it's pretty light given its large footprint. It's like having the cake and eating it too, IMO.

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by WRXnick16

While AWD would be nice.. it would add a significant amount of weight and Honda isn't particularly known for performance oriented AWD systems. Their system is still FWD biased. IMO, they would need to design something new to be worthy of the CTR.

They may eventually get there, but then they'll have strayed very far from their roots of a lightweight, high revving, naturally aspirated, FWD car.. to a heavier, turbocharged, AWD car. It will certainly be faster, but maybe they didn't want to leap that far from their roots all at once. Adding AWD will certainly make the car over 1,000 lbs heavier than the original EK9 CTR.

It will never happen on a type r. It could, and should using the SH-AWD system, happen on an Acura ILX type S.

[Pre]

Originally Posted by WRXnick16

While AWD would be nice.. it would add a significant amount of weight and Honda isn't particularly known for performance oriented AWD systems.

Their SH-AWD system is excellent. Hell, my Ridgeline has an awd system more advanced than anything Subaru makes. It has actual torque vectoring on both rear wheels via the half shafts. It's extremely similar to the GKN Twinster system in the Land Rover Evoque, and the Focus RS. Get ouuuttaa here with that. SH-AWD + CTR = winning, and defeat for the class.

[WRXnick16]

Originally Posted by Pre

Their SH-AWD system is excellent. Hell, my Ridgeline has an awd system more advanced than anything Subaru makes. It has actual torque vectoring on both rear wheels via the half shafts. It's extremely similar to the GKN Twinster system in the Land Rover Evoque, and the Focus RS. SH-AWD + CTR = winning, and defeat for the class.

I'm not saying it's a bad system. We just haven't seen it put to use in one of their performance vehicles yet. I'm sure Honda can do great things with it, but it's still front biased. Active torque vectoring is great.

From what I've read:

• Up to 90% of power is initially & primarily directed to the front wheels.
• Under hard acceleration, up to 45% of power can be directed to the rear wheels to reduce wheelspin and improve traction.
• During hard cornering, up to 70% can be sent to the rear. Of that, 100% can be directed to the rear outside wheel.

Hopefully the Acura Type S concept comes to life and is a test bed for it. But that's Honda very far from their roots. But it sells cars.

[heavyD]

Those are some pretty decent improvements and I quite like the blue.

[Scooby-Doode]

If SH-AWD came to the CTR it would leech sales from the NSX.

[heavyD]

Originally Posted by Scooby-Doode

If SH-AWD came to the CTR it would leech sales from the NSX.

Wouldn't people actually have to buy the NSX for sales to be leached from it?

[VarmintCong]

Originally Posted by heavyD

Wouldn't people actually have to buy the NSX for sales to be leached from it?

Can sales go negative?

[Scooby-Doode]

Originally Posted by heavyD

Wouldn't people actually have to buy the NSX for sales to be leached from it?

Valid point. I have driven and been in a CTR, it's chassis is great. FWD is no fun though.

[Keshav]

the Peaked-In-Highschool version of me would be very happy with this car.

[JP Chestnut]

What Acura NSX sales?

Acura
NSX
2019 238
2018 170
2017 581

[Vostok 7]

Originally Posted by JP Chestnut

What Acura NSX sales?

Acura
NSX
2019 238
2018 170
2017 581

Low production cars sell in low numbers?

Who'd a thunk it?

[JP Chestnut]

Originally Posted by Vostok 7

Low production cars sell in low numbers?

Who'd a thunk it?

Either don't get snippy, or try to keep up:
https://www.autoblog.com/2019/05/16/...0000-discount/
https://www.driveandreview.com/is-th...-recent-times/
https://www.dispatch.com/business/20...ercent-in-2018

Acura has the NSX factory building fancy version of the TLX in order to give workers something to do, since demand for the NSX is much lower than expected.

[subyski]

As a comparison, the difference between a FWD and AWD Pilot is 175 lbs and this is a twin clutch rear diff AWD system. So an AWD CTR will be around 3300 lbs if a similar system is used.

There is a bigger gain of ~240 lbs between the Civic Hatchback Sport (2881 lbs) vs CTR (3117 lbs). The Si sedan is 2906 lbs.

[4S-TURBO]

Camry TRD > CTR

[blue wagonman]

I drove a stock 2019 and was impressed so quiet i kept hitting the rev limiter, serious
torque steer tho, Did a freeway pull with it in my 04 wrx cobb stage 2, 2nd gear was pulling then 3rd it just walked me. So i'm sure it's a mid 13 sec car stock...