Huge update in the Honda Civic Type R lineup – Sport line, GT and the most hardcore Type R yet, the Limited Edition

Honda have been working behind closed doors. That a refreshed Type R GT would happen, was off course expected. However, since Renault took the new Nurburgring lap record with the Mégane R.S. Trophy-R, the possibility that Hondas ego might have been a bit bruised is very real. The Type R GT was already a very capable hot hatch, and actually, as of now, I rank that car as the top hot hatch.

I will start from the more low-key Sport line. Basically the same as the GT, with a more restrained, if you can even say that, exterior. The underpinnings are still the same, meaning a manual gear shifter, 300 hp and world class performance. Gone is the huge wing, and is replaced with a more body hugging one. Inside, there are still bucket seats, which are black, with read stitching, instead of red. Some other modifications compared to the not refreshed Type R are available, but I will write about them for the GT model.  

The GT is the so called standard one. The refresh includes retuned dampers, restyled headlights and front bumper as well as a heavier (90 grams) shift knob. Speaking of the front, it now has a larger air intake and a thinner grille beam. The radiators inside has also been revamped. All of this increases the opening area of the front by 13 per cent and lowers the coolant temperature of up to 10 degrees. Impressive numbers.

My, oh wow, they know what they are doing, was when I read that the redesign of the front bumper lowered the downforce, and to counteract this, the engineers redesigned the under-bumper air dam by making it deeper and including ribbed sections to deflect air to the rear spoiler. That is some attention to detail.

The revised damping system now reads the road faster to give a better ride quality, but also better handling response. Some more details have been updated, but you can read that in the official press release from Honda.

The braking system has also been improved with two-piece floating front brake discs, plus new brake pads. Something I never felt I needed in the first place when testing the 2019 Type R model. The new braking system has also reduced the unsprung weight in the front by 2.5 kg.

Some interior updates includes an alcantara wrapped steering wheel, updated infotainment system and climate controls as well as the heavier shift knob I wrote about before. Unfortunately, Honda has felt the pressure from people complaining that the Type R sounds too little, and have inserted active sound in the cabin.

Price starts, in Germany, from €41 990 and will be available from spring.

Now it´s time for the big daddy, the Type R Limited edition. Only 100 of them will come to Europe and all will be in the Sunlight Yellow color.

Forged, blacked-out, 20 inch BBS rims with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires reduces the weight by 8.1 kg, and off course, the damping has been optimized for this setup.

The roof is now in black and gives a very nice contrast with the yellow paint. Further gloss black has been added to the wing mirrors and intake vent on the bonnet.

Here comes the most extreme part, which I expected the Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy-R to come with, there are no infotainment and air conditions systems. This reduces weight, but Honda has not stopped there. Sound-deadening has been removed from the roof, rear hatch panel, front bumper and dashboard. This makes the Limited edition 47 kg lighter compared to the Type R GT. The rear seats are still there though.  

No price has been revealed. But it is clear that the Limited edition aims directly at the Mégane. If the limited edition will be the new Nurburgring record holder is a very real possibility, and I pray to god that it will come to Sweden.