Next-gen Honda Civic Type R may come with automatic transmission

The upcoming 2022 Honda Civic Type R will likely have an automatic transmission as an available option, which is expected to broaden its appeal among customers. 

Next Gen Honda Civic Type R Testing at Suzuka Circuit

According to Japanese car website Best Car Web, the high-performance version of Honda’s popular compact sedan could have a 6-speed paddle-shift auto gearbox, complementing the standard 6-speed manual transmission variant. This will make the Civic Type R better prepared against rivals such as the Ford Focus ST, Hyundai i30 N, and Volkswagen Golf GTI, which are offered in both manual and automatic flavors.    

The new Civic Type R will also reportedly gain new tire sizes, wearing 265mm-wide radials with a 19-inch diameter, a change from the 245mm-wide 20-inch rubbers on the current model.   

If true, it would be the first time that a slushbox option will be available on the Civic Type R, which has been offered exclusively with three pedals since its debut in 1997 until the outgoing fifth-generation model. 

The new Civic Type R retains the outgoing version's engine while reportedly improving performance   

Despite the expanded transmission selection, buyers will still benefit from the same 2.0-liter turbocharged VTEC engine routing 306 horsepower and 400 Nm of torque to the front wheels. Reports hint that a combination of engine tweaks, weight reduction, and increased body rigidity will deliver an improved driving experience for the new model. 

The prototype for the sixth-generation Civic Type R has undergone test runs at both Germany’s Nürburgring and Japan’s Suzuka Circuit, and made its appearance at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this month. Scheduled for a global debut this year, the upcoming model is expected to be priced at around 5 million yen (over Php 2.2 million), reportedly 400,000 yen or more than Php 177,000 higher than the outgoing model. 

In addition, Honda will reportedly release another variant of the current eleventh-generation Civic in late 2022, this time with a hybrid powertrain for the European market. Unlike the sedan body style used in other markets, the European version will be sold as a five-door hatchback.   

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