Rumor: Next Honda Civic Type R to get 400 hp via hybrid powertrain?

Updated Jan 12, 2021

Same topic: Car Sneak Peeks, Teasers, & Rumors

Take this with a healthy dash of salt. No, put the whole canister even.

The Honda Civic Type R is clearly one of the popular performance hatchbacks in the world. Well, you can’t blame its popularity because Honda made sure that this Japanese hot hatch is packed with striking looks and notable driving performance.

As such, the Civic Type R has been clouded with rumors as to what its next-gen model will be like.

Previously, Honda hinted that the direction for the next-gen Civic Type R is to go all-electric. However, that direction seems to be unclear as of the moment because the Japanese automaker is suggesting a different approach in regards to its next-gen hot hatch.

The latest rumor floating online as of the moment says that the next-gen Civic Type R will have a hybrid engine along with an all-wheel-drive setup.

>>> Latest update: 2021 Honda Civic Type R: Expectations and what we know so far

The current Honda Civic Type R

According to BestCarWeb.jp, Honda will combine the current Civic Type R’s 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine with two electric motors. The said powertrain configuration is similar to what Honda did to its NSX.

But Honda reportedly plans to reverse that theory for the next-gen Civic Type R. As such, the rumors say that the gas engine will power the hot hatch’s front wheels while the two electric motors will power the rear wheels.

Thus, having an all-wheel-drive setup. The most important thing to note here is that, if the rumors are true, the next-gen Honda Civic Type R will have a power output of 400 hp.

>>> Related: Honda Cars PH rolls out 6-digit discounts for select models this July

This Japanese hot hatch comes with serious power

To put things in perspective, the current Honda Civic Type R is powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that delivers 306 hp and 400 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front wheels while the engine is connected to a six-speed manual transmission. 

The Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition

With the current engine setup, the Civic Type R has been smashing and making new lap records. Recently, it managed to clinch the title as the fastest front-wheel-drive production-spec car at the Suzuka race circuit in Japan.

The Japanese hot hatch beat the lap times of cars such as the Ferrari F40, Renault Megane, and Porsche Carrera GT. The Civic Type R limited edition finished with a 2:25.4 lap time in the Suzuka race circuit’s 5.8-kilometer course.

The next-gen Honda Civic Type R is expected to be released in 2022. In the Philippines, the current Civic Type R is available at a price of Php 3,180,000. Latest updates on upcoming Honda cars can be found in our Complete guide to the Honda Philippines' local lineup

2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition Lap Record at Suzuka Part 1 of 2

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