Just a day after the specs of the Japanese-market 2023 Honda Civic Type R was leaked, the Japanese automaker has now decided to fully unveil all the information regarding the North American-market Civic Type R. Thankfully, it lives up to its claim of being the most powerful Civic Type R ever, but the power bump probably isn't as much as you would expect.

More Power Indeed, But Not By Much

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R (codenamed FL5) has the same, albeit an improved version of the outgoing model's (codenamed FK8) K20C1 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder gasoline engine. It now produces 315 horsepower (+9 horsepower) and 310 pound-feet (+15 pound-feet) of torque. While it is indeed an improvement, it isn't as powerful as the Japanese-market Civic Type R, which we now know produces 326 horsepower, though torque is the same.

Still, with these figures, this is now the most powerful vehicle Honda has ever sold in North America. This is possible thanks to the improved turbos, which now operate at a wider rev range. Additionally, the improved exhaust system with active valves and increased air intake flow also makes the Civic Type R a more usable hot hatch on a daily basis.

As for the elephant in the room, the Japanese-spec Honda Civic Type R is slightly heavier than the outgoing FK8. We can't confirm yet if this will be the case for the North American model, because Honda has not yet revealed how much the new model weighs.

Better Cooling Means Better Endurance

The pre-facelift FK8 wasn't as punishable on track compared to other hot hatches due to a lack of proper cooling. This is speaking from experience as I've driven the Type R tremendously just a few months after its launch. The new FL5 model aims to solve this through larger grille openings, a larger radiator, and bigger fans, which means that it will still offer peak performance even after numerous laps of hard punishment around the track.

With Great Power Comes Great Handling

Improvements have also been made in the transmission, such as a revised rev-matching system for perfect downshifts, as well as a high rigidity lever and optimized shift gate providing a more satisfying gear change.

To ensure that this hot hatch puts its power to the front wheels without drama, the FL5 Civic Type R comes with a helical limited-slip differential. One of the outgoing FK8's party tricks to eliminating torque steer is its trick dual-axis strut front suspension, which has been re-tuned for the FL5 even further for better stability and steering feel.

Lastly, for increased stopping power, cooling has been improved for better endurance, while the improved brake booster provides a better feel and modulation. The calipers have also now two-piece units for reduced unsprung mass.

Go-Fast Parts That Actually Make It Faster

We often joke about how ricers have so much aero and other add-ons that even their stickers probably add five horsepower to their performance, but here in the Civic Type R, everything serves a purpose. We appreciate how the FL5 has eliminated all the fake vents from the FK8, which makes the exterior look cleaner whilst only retaining what's needed to make the Type R go fast.

The wider fenders, which are now bespoke panels for the rear wheels as opposed to the FK8's tacked-on ones, make the Civic Type R 0.6-inches wider than the previous model. It is also 0.5-inches lower and 0.8-inches longer. The front track is also wider by an inch while the rear track is 0.75-inches wider than the FK8. Those 19-inch wheels, which are an inch smaller than the FK8's, are wrapped in bespoke Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires that are 0.7-inches wider than the FK8. It's also worth noting that the tires use a "reverse rim" for improved stability.

A Sportier Yet Premium Interior

As for the interior, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R gets red sports seats and carpets, while an aluminum shift knob and Type R plaque signify that you've got the most powerful production Honda ever sold in the United States. There's also a digital instrument cluster and an exclusive LogR Performance datalogger that can be linked to your smartphone. Lastly, there's wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, as well as a Bose Centerpoint premium sound system.

Arriving In Dealerships This Fall

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R will reach North American dealerships this fall, with pricing to be announced closer to its retail launch. Five colors will be available: Championship White, Rallye Red, Boost Blue, Crystal Black Pearl, and Sonic Grey Pearl. The FL5 will be assembled at the Yorii Plant in Saitama, Japan, but the engine comes from the Anna Engine Plant in Sidney, Ohio.

Oh, and you might want to watch to pair with your new Civic Type R. If that's the case, then Seiko has you covered with its Astron x Civic Type R collaboration. For now though, it's only sold in Japan.