Honda didn’t forget about those Type R customers that live for track days and track days only, so it came up with a more circuit-oriented, limited-run Civic Type R that can only be had in one body color.

So, if the regular Honda Civic Type R wasn’t light enough for you, then please do check out the 2021 Type R Limited Edition, which Honda dubs as “the ultimate street-legal track-focused variant” of the Civic Type R. Oh, and it’s supposed to arrive on U.S. soil later this year, so hopefully future owners won’t have to wait a lot to get it.

OK, I can see the Special Edition name, but what changed?

Look, we won’t beat around the bush here. The 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition won’t get more power as it won’t get more torque. So you’re stuck with the 2.0-liter, direct-injection and turbocharged four-cylinder, VTEC-imbued engine tweaked to produce 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Which, if you want our two cents, isn’t not that bad. Oh, and you can still play with the three driving modes - Comfort, Sport, and +R as you please, only in 2020 Civic Type Rs, they are complemented by fake sounds generated by the Active Sound Control unit.

2020 Honda Civic Type R specifications

Engine Type

In-Line 4-Cylinder with Turbocharger

Boost Pressure

23.2 psi

Displacement

1996 cc

Horsepower (SAE net)1

306 @ 6500 rpm

Torque (SAE net)2

295 lb-ft @ 2500-4500 rpm


Power still goes to the front wheels through a slick-shifting six-speed manual and a limited-slip diff, but here comes the new stuff. For starters, you can only get the Type R Limited Edition in yellow. That’s Phoenix Yellow, to be more precise. We kind of love the color choice, especially since it’s been wickedly complemented by black bits and bobs on the outside, including the:

-* roof

-* outside mirror caps

-* intake vent on the hood

-* Civic badge on the rear hatch

In addition, only 600 units are coming to the U.S., so you’ll want to move quickly with that order. Just saying. Each car will get its own numbered serial plate, together with a set of lightweight forged aluminum wheels manufactured by BBS. Honda says the new wheels weigh 18 pounds less than the standard ones, and there’s more weight reduction coming for your driving pleasure.

Honda also claims it managed to shed another 28 pounds off the Type R Limited Edition’s hips by actually removing some of the soundproofing material. In addition, the special edition is also devoid of a rear wiper, tonneau cover, and rear heater ducts.

The European version of the Type R Limited Edition gets an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, but we can’t confirm or deny that it’s available for the U.S. version as well. What’s more, the EU-version lacks an infotainment display, but the U.S. model should get one.

On the dynamics front, the Type R LE might not pack more firepower, but it got retuned dampers and recalibrated steering. No word on pricing yet, but that sort of info should come up closer to the car’s official market debut.