Noted Honda tuner Hondata is working on its modifications for the 2023 Honda Civic Type R. Before doing that, though, the company decided to put the bone stock car on its dynamometer to find out how much power it makes from the factory.
The results are surprisingly good, as the new hot hatch makes more power on a dyno owned by Hondata— which is based in Torrance, California — than it is rated for from the factory. According to the tuner, the vehicle makes 327.3 hp [244 kw/331.8 PS] and 359.53 lb-ft [487.4 Nm] of torque.
Those figures compare rather flatteringly to the ones quoted by Honda USA, which rates the vehicle at 315 hp [235 kW/319 PS] and 310 lb-ft [420 Nm]. That amounts to 12 more horses [9 kW/12.1 PS] and about 50 more lb-ft [68 Nm] of torque than the automaker estimates.
More: 2023 Honda Civic Type R Makes 315 HP, Goes On Sale This Fall In The U.S.
As we know, different dynos in different locations, attached to vehicles operating under different atmospheric conditions, will deliver different results. This doesn’t necessarily mean that Honda is deliberately underrating the engine, but it is a positive discrepancy that will no doubt please Honda enthusiasts and Civic Type R buyers all the same.
More to the point, however, given Hondata’s records, it is able to tell us how much more power the new car makes on its dyno than the last-generation Civic Type R. According to the tuner, the 2023 model makes about 11 more horsepower [8.2 kW/11.1 PS] and 25 lb-ft [34 Nm] of torque more than the 2017 model it tested previously.
That is close to, but greater than, the improvement that was officially claimed by Honda USA. As a reminder, the last-generation Civic Type R was rated at 306 hp [228 kW/310 PS] and 295 lb-ft [400 Nm] of torque in North America, or nine fewer horses [6.7 kW/9.1 PS] and 15 fewer lb-ft [20 Nm] of torque than the 2023 model.
Although these dyno results don’t vary as widely from the manufacturer’s figures as, say, a BMW, it will no doubt be reassuring for buyers to learn that in California, at least, they will have access to all of the horses they paid for, and then some.
Honda ECU tuners Hondata recently put a stock version of the new 2023 Honda Civic Type R on its dyno to get a baseline reading of how much power and torque it's really making.
The results: 327.30 horsepower at 6,411 rpm and 359.53 pound-feet at 3,419 rpm. Compared to the stock 2017 Type R the firm tested, these are increases of 10.55 peak hp and 25.43 lb-ft. Official Honda specs say the new CTR makes 315 hp and 310 lb-ft, increases of 9 hp and 15 lb-ft, respectively. This means Honda is once again underrating the Civic.
"This car drives much better than the FK8 CTR," said Hondata co-founder Doug Macmillan. "It delivers 20-40 lb-ft torque increase from 2,000-3,500 rpm, spooling 300-400 rpm earlier. We look forward to finding out how much additional power the '23 CTR can make with Hondata tuning."
It's important to note that every dyno is different, every run is often different, and thus it's good practice to take this sort of thing with at least half a grain of salt. However, versions of this Civic have consistently been found to be making more power than advertised, whether that's the Si or the Acura Integra.
A stock Si was found to be making 204 hp at the wheels by Hondata while the Integra showed up to 199 hp on a different dyno when tested by AHC Garage. According to those cars' brochures, they both make exactly 200 hp.
In any case, Honda has made a point of boasting about the new Type R as both the most powerful Type R model yet and—from the factory, at least—the most powerful Honda-branded vehicle there's ever been in the United States. Read our first track impressions here.
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This is the all-new Honda Civic Type R – it looks better than ever, has more power, and is already breaking lap records. Read on for full details…
- New Honda Civic Type R revealed
- Completely new design
- Upgraded engine
- 330hp possible
- Improved power-to-weight ratio
- Retains manual gearbox and front-wheel drive
- Significant interior upgrades
- Expect prices to be confirmed in late November
- On sale in Europe in early 2023
This is the brand-new Honda Civic Type R. It’s the 6th generation Civic Type R and it’s shaping up to be even better than ever.
Thinking of buying a Volkswagen Golf R, Audi S3 or a BMW M135i? You may want to put away the chequebook until you’ve read this…
Honda hasn’t said how much the new Civic Type R will cost in the UK, but North American prices have been confirmed at $43,990 [around £38,000]. That’s approximately £5,000 more than the outgoing car, but still cheaper than the £40,000+ Volkswagen Golf R and BMW M135i.
Reports suggest Honda will confirm the exact prices and specifications of UK-bound Civic Type Rs in late November before the car goes on general sale – probably in early 2023.
New Honda Civic Type R design
Honda has dialled back the boy-racer vibes slightly for this new Type R. For starters, there aren’t any more fake bumper vents or a huge bonnet scoop – instead, you get a smooth body-coloured bumper and small vent that helps hot air escape from the engine bay.
The rear spoiler is still much bigger than anything you get on an Audi S3 or Mercedes-AMG A35, but it sits on shorter metal struts instead of huge vertical end plates like the old model’s.
Honda has kept the cool Ferrari-inspired triple-exhaust system and rear diffuser, but it’s ditched the old Type R’s stuck-on wheel arch extensions in favour of flares that have been neatly smoothed into the bodywork.
All-in, this new Type R looks more mature than the old car – like someone in their 20s who’s decided to get their embarrassing teenage tattoos blended into a grown-up sleeve design. It still stands out, but you won’t be ashamed to show it off to strangers…
New Honda Civic Type R engine
The brand-new Civic Type R uses the same 2-litre, 4-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as the old model, albeit with an upgraded turbo that uses a smaller housing and new turbine blades to help it make more power.
How much power? Honda won’t say for European cars, however, the North American Honda Civic Type R has 319hp – a 9hp bump over the previous American Type R.
However, European spec cars typically get more power than US spec ones. The last Civic Type R to be sold in Europe got 320hp, so if this version sees a similar power boost it could have around 330hp.
Watch this review to see how quick the old Civic Type R was…
That would make this winged-wonder more powerful than the comparatively hum-drum-looking Volkswagen Golf R, Audi S3, BMW M135i or a Mercedes-AMG A35 – those cars all produce between 306hp and 320hp.
New Honda Civic Type R 0-60mph
Frustratingly, Honda appears to be keeping the new Type R’s 0-60mph figures in an envelope marked ‘don’t tell anyone.’ You’ll just have to be happy with knowing that its extra power and improved power-to-weight ratio should make it quicker than the old car [which would crack the all-important sprint in 5.8 seconds.]
A time in the region of 5.5 seconds seems likely – that’s quick, but it’s still almost a second slower than the Volkswagen Golf R’s claimed 4.7-second sprint time. More worryingly, though, is that the Golf R has shown that it can go even quicker.
Watch Mat’s Volkswagen Golf R review video to find out how quick it REALLY is…
New Honda Civic Type R gearbox
The main reason why the old Civic Type would be repeatedly out-dragged by its numerous [but far less characterful] German alternatives was its front-wheel-drive layout and manual gearbox.
Pick any other 300hp+ hot hatch out of a metaphorical hot-hatch-hat and you can bet it’ll come with four-wheel drive, an automatic gearbox and launch control.
That said, these two apparent Achilles’ heels were what made the Type R so much fun to drive around a track. To this end, Honda has also fitted stronger shift linkages and has tweaked the H-pattern slightly for this new Type R and retuned the auto rev-matching feature to improve the car’s balance when you shift down.
New Honda Civic Type R driving
Honda has also tweaked the two-piece brake discs and Brembo callipers, and it’s revamped the car’s cooling system specifically for heavy track use.
It also got rid of the last Type R’s 20-inch alloy wheels and fitted some lighter 19-inch rims with sticky Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tyres as standard.
Another new feature for this Type R is the ‘Individual’ driving mode that lets you pick your favourite engine and suspension settings from the car’s Comfort, Sport and +R modes, and combine them in any way you like. For example, you could have the engine in +R mode and the suspension in Comfort.
New Honda Civic Type R interior
The new Civic Type R’s interior is laid out just like the standard Civic’s. There’s a neat dashboard with a free-standing touchscreen and a digital driver’s display instead of analogue dials.
The bright red sports seats are Type R exclusives, however, as are the red carpets, the steering wheel and the signature titanium gear knob.
Can’t wait for this new Honda Civic Type R? Check out deals on the current car through carwow, or compare offers on the latest hot hatches. You can also sell your old car though carwow, and it’s quick and easy. Tap the button below to find out more.