A History of Honda’s Type R

We have confirmation from Honda that a 2023 Civic Type R will be hitting the lots of us Honda dealers in Rochester soon. According to their website, the new Type R has bested its predecessor, with a lap time around the famed Suzuka Circuit of 2:23.120 seconds, a record for an FWD car. But this new Civic comes from a long line of vehicles, some Civics, some not, but all Type Rs.

With very on-the-nose badging––R quite literally stands for “Racing”––the R division of Honda, much like at other companies, is the performance wing where regular street and sports cars get the R treatment. What does that mean, exactly? Well, for Honda, this means catering the vehicle to work best on the race track. This means shedding weight, enhancing aerodynamics, and beefing up the engine, as well as providing an overall racing-oriented, sporty design.

Today, we’ll serve as your tour guide through the storied history of Honda’s Type Rs, with a specific focus on the Civic. As your Honda dealer, Ralph Honda is here to provide you some insider details about the Type R, as well as prepare you for what’s to come in the future. Ready? Let’s dive in.

Type R badges first began to appear on Honda’s in the 1990s, starting with the legendary NSX Type R, launched in 1992. Yes, here in America, it’s the Acura NSX, but in Japan, it was sold as the Honda NSX. The NSX Type R was also only available in the Japanese market, but it nevertheless set the standard for all Type R cars that followed.

The basic principle, which stands behind all Type Rs, was to create a race-worthy everyday vehicle. You could take it to work just as easily as you could belt it around a track. The NSX Type R was powered by a 3.0L naturally aspirated V6, which at the time produced an impressive 276 hp and 217 lb-ft of torque. For a car as lightweight and sleek as the NSX, that kind of power, which would normally be reserved for trucks and other work vehicles, could send this little sports car zooming around bends and eating up the tarmac.

Following up the NSX, in 1995 came the Integra Type R. This, again, was a Japan-only model, but it was the model that worked out some of the design kinks that had been present in the original NSX. For one thing, the Integra Type R saw an upgraded chassis, a stiffer suspension, and a large rear spoiler for added downforce. Though not quite as powerful as the NSX––the 1995 Integra Type R was powered by a 1.8L producing 197 hp––the Integra was certainly a Type R. It fit all the criteria of reduced weight, sporty suspension, and added looks.

The Integra could come to American shores in 1997, though like the NSX, it would be branded as an Acura instead of a Honda. This Integra saw a redesign as a two-door coupe with a massive rear wing, updated chassis, and a limited-slip differential. This Type R could hit 0 to 6 in 6.6 seconds––incredible acceleration for a road car in the 1990s––and hit a maximum speed of 143 mph.

The Integra and the NSX would go through several more iterations throughout the 1990s and early 2000s before they were both scrapped in favor of the Civic Type R. The NSX and Integra have both made a comeback in recent years, but you won’t necessarily find them new here as they are still sold under the Acura brand in America.

But we’re here because we want to learn as much as we can about the Civic Type R and why it’s the most important Type R there is. For starters, the reason why the Civic Type R is important is because it took a small, kind of drab commuter, everyman vehicle, and transformed it into something wild and fun. The first Civic Type R was launched in Japan in 1997. Powered by a 1.6L 4-cylinder, the 1997 Civic Type R produced 183 hp, had red Recaro sports seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a titanium stick shift. It was also the first “hot hatch” Honda had produced.

What is a “hot hatch”? Well, essentially, it’s a hatchback car that has been tuned up with sportier suspension and a larger engine, creating a small, buzzing car that zips around racetracks like it’s a proper race car. The 1997 Civic Type was a small, two-door hatchback, emblazoned with R badging and sporting a rear wing to improve downforce.

But it was time for the Civic Type R to come to Europe. Enthusiasts and younger drivers newly enthused by video games and racing movies, were chomping at the bit for an affordable, powerful, speedy hatchback that could fulfill their need for speed. Enter the second iteration of the Civic Type R.

Manufactured in England and built exclusively for Europe and Japan, the 2001 to 2005 Civic Type R was what many consider to be the best of the best. Based on the seventh-generation Civic platform, the Type R boasted a 2.0L DOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine, producing 200 hp for the European market and 212 hp for the Japanese market. Behind this engine was a close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission. The close ratios allowed the driver to keep the engine running at higher RPM, making belting around track corners a world of fun and mild danger. The Japanese market car got its own special limited-slip differential and even shorter gearing.

The coming years saw two different Type Rs for the European and Japanese markets. Based on the eight-generation Civic platform, the Type R could be had as a four-door sedan in Japan or a three-door hatchback in Europe. The Japanese model, true to form, was the more powerful, with 222 hp being drawn out of a naturally aspirated 2.0L 4-cylinder. The European hatchback, with the same engine, produced 198 hp. Both came with the classic 6-speed manual transmissions and limited-slip differentials.

The next Type R was offered exclusively across all markets as a five-door hatchback. This go-around, however, saw the arrival of the first turbocharged engine in any Type R. With direct injection, the 2.0L engine could produce a staggering 306 hp. Based on the ninth-generation Civic, the Type R saw the addition of fender flares to accommodate wider sport tires, an aggressive grille, and an absolutely enormous rear wing. However, the Civic Type R was about to change again, and this time it would be coming to America.

In 2015, after nearly two decades of watching, waiting, and drooling, America finally got its first Type R. Rather than simply upgrading the engine, Honda upped its game with a full symphony of upgrades. The steering system was improved with an Adaptive Damper System, dual pinion, variable ratios, and aluminum front lower arms and steering knuckles for improved cornering. Offered once again exclusively with a 6-speed manual transmission, this Civic Type R saw the arrival of drive modes: Sport, the default setting, Comfort, for smoother driving, and +R, which glues you down to the road and increases handling sensitivity. It’ll go exactly where you point it.

Inside, you’ll get the typical Type R performance treatment style. Red is the primary color, with red seat belts, two-tone black and red faux suede seats, and a Type R serial number plate, in case you need reminding that you’re driving a Type R.

The future brings with it the promise of a new Civic Type R, which is set to be faster and even more well-appointed than its predecessor. It’ll be based on the eleventh-generation Civic platform, which has already proven itself to be a winner, with some calling it the best Civic ever. With a rear spoiler, improved brakes, and what has to be an updated engine to score that record-breaking time on the Suzuka Circuit, the 2023 Civic Type R is one to wait for with fevered anticipation. If you want to be the first driver in Rochester to own the new Type R, contact Ralph Honda today.