After teasing for months, the top-spec, all-new 2023 Civic Type R is here. While we are entirely thrilled by the launch, the revelation is only limited to the car’s exterior and interior design. Honda claims that the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot under the hood will be more potent than its predecessor, and that’s it. No numbers have been revealed yet.

The best-looking Civic Type R ever!

Based on the 11th-generation Civic, which debuted in 2022, the new Type R is more stylish and holds its distinctive design to make it look sportier than the standard Civic. Upon its release, the ordinary Civic could not escape criticism, but thankfully, the dull designs are not a part of the new Civic Type R. Instead, the Type R has a lower, wider, and muscular stance to deliver the proper performance hatchback looks, integrated with advanced aerodynamics to reduce the drag coefficient.

Looks are subjective, Honda fine-tuned the design with more aggressive bodywork. However, we are not surprised by the looks, as there were a couple of renderings of the CTR that appeared in June 2022, and they match the production-spec car. While the outgoing iteration looked pretty sick, the 2023 model year is not bad either. The front has a more comprehensive honey-comb grille design and active side vents for cooling the upgraded brakes. In addition, the fenders are wider than before, and the side profile impressions are excellent, given that the car sits close to the ground.

Instead of the previous Civic Type R's 20-inch wheels, the new model's wheels measure 19 inches. However, the press release photos suggest that the new Type R packs a wider 265/30 set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. In addition, the rear fascia is entirely different from the standard Civic. Since it is a hatchback, the Civic sedan has no extended boot, and the roof spoiler is redesigned for the 2023 model year. The C-shaped LED taillights are new, too, along with the aggressive rear bumper set-up, which packs a functioning rear diffuser and tri-exhaust tips, similar to the GR Corolla. The CTR will be made available in five colors: Historic Championship White, Rallye Red, Boost Blue, Crystal Black Pearl, and Sonic Grey Pearl.

The cockpit experience has never been better

Compared to the standard Civic sedan, the top-spec Type R is not very different, at least in the overall aesthetics. But compared to the outgoing Type R, the new generation model is very modern-looking. The fully digital 10.2-inch driver information display and the nine-inch infotainment display are now the centers of attraction apart from the honey-comb mesh design of the air vents, which mimics the front grille. In addition, the nine-inch display features the Honda LogR, which delivers real-time statistics of the car, including a stopwatch to record lap timing and driver inputs. The instrument console now has an updated interface for the new +R driving mode, which has Audi RS-type tachometer design.

The red Type R seats are back and unchanged, majorly. Honda claims that the suede-like upholstery maintains body slippage during high-G driving scenarios. The metallic shift knob is still tiny and is carried over from the outgoing CTR. Additional details on the cabin space and creature comforts are unavailable, but Honda has confirmed that they will be provided before its market debut in fall 2022.

Is the 2023 Civic Type R launch a nightmare for the Golf R and the GR Corolla?

Honda did reveal the lion’s share of Civic Type R but skipped out the performance figures. It instead confirms that the existing 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot is being tuned to make more power and increase the overall engine responsiveness. Also, the six-speed manual gearbox, including the rev-matching system, is being improved for an enhanced driving experience.

So in terms of the power figures, we expect the new Type R to be in the same ballpark as the Golf R, which is already mega-fast with 315 ponies. The previous iteration of Honda’s most potent hatchback produced 306 horses and 295 pound-feet of torque. So it is not too much to expect at least 320 horses and 310 pound-feet of twist from the new model. Honda also confirms that the 2023 CTR is the best-performing iteration ever, as it holds the recent track record at the Suzuka Circuit in Japan.

Is the new 2023 Civic Type R a good choice over the Golf R and the GR Corolla?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question is still a mystery. However, the CTR could be churning out more power than the GR Corolla and the Golf R, but it is available only with a front-wheel-drive configuration. It means that while the other two core rivals will launch more efficiently, thanks to the AWD system, the new CTR would struggle to put its power down and cause wheel spins.

It would be interesting to see how well they perform side-by-side in the coming months. But given the earlier iteration of the Civic Type R was loved by enthusiasts, there is no way that Honda will try to curb the experience of the new CTR. After all, the “Type R is about more than speed, power, and handling,”- according to the assistant VP of Honda sales.