Honda just revealed all the dirty details about both the 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback and the Civic Sedan, and, on top of this, we’ve learned a little bit about the Civic Si and Civic Type R. Honda didn’t go all out and spoil the party of anxiety leading up to the launch of these two gems, but we did learn a couple of things about them, including a very strange twist that nobody saw coming.
Update 10-18-2021: Honda has released a final teaser of the new Honda Civic Si along with the promise that it will be revealed on October 19, 2021. Check out the new image and what we know about it below.
2022 Honda Civic SI: Final Teaser - October 19 Debut
- Honda's latest teaser comes with confirmation that the Civic Si will be fully revealed on October 19th
- We already have confirmation that the Civic Si will feature a manual transmission
- Power expectations are still a mystery, but it should have more than the last-gen's 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque
- the suspension will also be noticeably stiffer, bringing it closer to the last-gen Civic Type R in terms of driving dynamics
- A new combustion engine is possible, but an updated version of the last-gens 1.5-liter is more likely.
- The new Civic Si will only be offered as a sedan - the Civic Coupe has been discontinued for this generation and the Civic Type R will be the flagship hatchback model in the lineup.
The Civic Si Is For Sedan Lovers Only
For the first time in a very long time, there won’t be a two-door coupe version of the Honda Civic, not in any trim, leaving just sedan and hatchback body styles. It’s kind of a bummer for those of us that prefer a sporty coupe, but that segment is all but dead, so it makes sense. And, the SI does live on to fill the gap between the range-topping sport touring model and the Type R as you’d expect.
Not long after that, Autoblog received confirmation from Honda U.S. that the same story holds true for the U.S. market. As it turns out, the Civic Si hatchback just isn’t going to happen this generation.
Honda Kept Its Word
Remember back in May of 2021 when we reported that Honda confirmed that the Civic would be available with a manual transmission? Well, Honda really did keep its word, but as expected, the manual transmission is only available on certain trim levels. LX and EX-L trim levels are only available with the CVT transmission.
The Sport and Sport Touring trims can be had with a six-speed manual transmission, however, it is optional on both trims, so you’ll likely have to pay extra for it. If you stick with the standard CVT, you'll have paddle shifters so you can shift through simulated gears.
Hybridization Is Still Up In the Air For The Type R
Rumors about the next-gen Honda Civic Type R have been shooting around for a couple of years now, with the most prominent being that it could end up being a mild-hybrid. A year or so after that rumor suggested that the Type R could be a true performance beast, we learned that despite the entire Civic lineup being electrified in Europe, the Civic Type R won’t end up being a hybrid. In mid-2020 we caught the sent of another rumor that suggested that the Civic Type R would go after the Mercedes-AMG A45 S with some 400 horsepower and AWD, among other things. }
With the last-gen Civic Type R making 306 horsepower and 296 pound-feet of torque from a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder, it seems unlikely that Honda could push the Type R anywhere close to the 400-horsepower mark without some major reengineering of the engine. And, even then, that would put the Type R at a major advantage over of any of the other models. The outgoing Civic Si, for example delivered just 205 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque from a turbo 1.5-liter four-banger.
Now, factor in the 2022 lineups powertrain options. The LX and Sport trims are motivated by a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that’s good for 158 horsepower and 138 pound-feet of torque. The EX-L and Sport Touring get their go-juice from a 1.5-liter with 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The Si will definitely slot in above, but thinking of anything above 230 horsepower seems crazy. So, a 400-horsepower Type R would leave quite the gap between the SI and Sport Touring. Unless, of course, the SI sees a larger power bump that takes it closer to 300, which would actually equalize the gap a bit. Either way, Honda hasn’t said what its plans are outside of the manual transmission, so we’re going to have to wait until next year to learn the full details.
Final Thoughts
Whatever happens with the Civic Si and Civic Type R, one thing we can say is that Honda isn’t going to drop the ball here. The new Civic lineup ditched the overzealous styling for something a little more toned down and less aggressive. As for when we’ll see the Civic Si and Type R, that’s a bit of a mystery but leaked documents claim the Si will be in dealers by October 2021, just a month after the 2022 Hatchback launches. The Type R should arrive within a year after that at the latest, probably as a 2023 model. What we can tell you is that, if it's not a hybrid, [it could be the last purely gas-powered Honda ever produced.
->art191648]