The current Honda Civic Type R, despite its track-focused and aggressive nature, made on hell of a daily driver. And, it was the first Type R from Honda or Acura that landed on U.S. roads since the Acura Integra Type R won over the hearts of ricers and tuners from coast to coast back in the 90s. Even cars like the NSX-R, for example, were left among the forbidden fruit that is the Japanese Domestic Market. Now, with the release of the 2022 Honda Civic sedan, we know that the next Civic Type-R is around the corner and it is, sadly, the last of a dying breed.

A Timeline Leading Up To The Next-Gen Honda Civic Type R

As far back as 2019, rumors started swirling that the next-gen Civic Type R would feature a hybrid powertrain. This news was enough to insight fear in those afraid that hybridization might bring a big power bump but could also affect the Civic’s driver-friendly (especially for the power) nature. Things even went so far that, by 2020, we started talking about the possibility of an all-electric Civic Type R. That would be enough to kill the Civic and usher in an entirely new era but the idea itself was a bit of a reach. For the rest of 2020, things spun even father out of control. Honda eventually crushed the idea that the Civic Type R would be hybridized, let alone all-electric, but a month later, another rumor suggested the next-gen Type R would offer up 400 horsepower and all-wheel drive, among other things.

Now, here we are staring down the barrel of the next-gen Honda Civic Type R with more questions than answers, but one thing is for sure – this is the last Civic Type R of its kind.

2023 Honda Civic Type R – The Last Purely Gasoline-Powered Honda….Ever

Naturally, the world is spinning into a hybridization and electrification frenzy. Even Mercedes is moving toward smaller engines and hybridization, the most recent example being the new AMG C63, which will rock out a four-cylinder hybrid instead of a potent V-8. Honda is following suit, but not with the next-gen Civic Type R. In fact, the new Civic Type R will be one of the last purely gasoline powered Hondas to even be built.

So what does that mean?

Well, don’t expect the next-gen Civic Type R, which should be revealed sometime before the end of 2021 as a 2022 model, to change all that much in terms of performance. Of course, the exterior will take on the design language of the latest Civic design and the interior will see some improvement, but on the performance front, don’t believe the rumors.

Without Hybridization, The 2022 Civic Type R, Won’t Be Ridiculous

I know that some of you hope that Honda sends the last gas-powered Civic Type R into the history books with some outrageous performance numbers, but that’s not going to be the case. There may be some awesome, heavily tuned special edition offered as an official farewell to an era, but the new Type R will follow the same general recipe as its successor. Honda will, however, return that 2.0-lier inline-four beyond the current output of 306 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. It won’t be much, though, as the Type R needs to retain its daily driver and simple usability factor to be successful. Expect somewhere along the lines of 330 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque at most.

So what does this mean for straight-line performance? Well, Honda claims the current Civic offers a sub-60-second sprint to 60 mph, but Car and Driver managed to record a 4.9-second dash to 60 mph in a 2020 model. During the same test session, the Type R ran a quarter-mile in 13.4 seconds at 108 mph. So, you can expect some mild improvement due to engine responsiveness improvements, a little weight reduction, and other chassis refinements.

A Manual Transmission is For Sure, But There Might Be Something Else

You can bet your last dollar that Honda isn’t going to sell the next-gen Civic Type R without at least the option of having a six-speed manual. After all, that’s a significant part of what makes that car so much fun to drive. However, there is word that Honda may offer the new Type R with a dual-clutch transmission as well – a move that would put it in line with the Hyundai Veloster N and will, undoubtedly, make it faster to 60 mph and through the quarter-mile. After all, it doesn’t matter how good you are, you’re not going to out-shift a DCT and you know it whether you’ll admit it or not.

Honda Civic Type R – Made In The U.S.A.

Honda is closing its plant in Swindon, England where the current Civic Type R was produced, representing the end of production of the current-gen Civic Type R. New rumors say that Honda will move Type R production to one of its U.S. plants where it’s already producing engines – most likely the Marysville plant where the Acura NSX was built. Because of this, there’s a good chance that the 2022 Civic Type R won’t break the bank. With the current model starting at $37,895 in base form, the next-gen model shouldn’t go over the $40,000 mark. And, be that as it may, if you want to own a Type R, as we know it today, the next 4 or 5 years will be your last chance, so perhaps it’s time to start planning because there’s no telling what the future of the Type R really is. Hybridization? Electrification? No Type R at all? Only time will tell.