Most of today’s performance cars have made the shift over to dual-clutch automated or torque converter automatic transmissions as consumers increasingly demand convenience. Of course, the faster acceleration times afforded by these gearboxes is also a swing factor for many. However, there are still a select few carmakers that insist on offering good old fashioned manual gearboxes in their performance offerings, and this applies to the Honda Civic Type R. Thankfully for purists, this will also apply to the next generation performance hatch, as a Honda spokesperson recently confirmed in an interview that was published on the CivicXI com YouTube channel.
But unlike Hyundai, which is at least seeking a compromise by giving its i30 N customers a choice between manual and dual-clutch trannys, the aforementioned representative stated that the next-gen Type R would only be offered in manual guise.
The spokesperson did not elaborate on what engine would actually power the next Civic Type R but Car and Driver recently speculated that the upcoming performance hatch would likely boast a more powerful version of the current two-litre, four-cylinder petrol unit. There have been a few rumours of a hybrid drivetrain and all-wheel drive, but the US publication does not deem this likely, at least not initially. For the record, the current Civic Type R offers outputs of 228 kW and 400 N.m, and it sells for R789 400 in South Africa.
Interestingly, the regular sedan versions of the 11th-generation Honda Civic that was revealed last month will not offer a manual gearbox option at all, with these models now shipping with a CVT gearbox as standard.
Although the exterior design changes are evolutionary, engineers have made significant improvements beneath the skin, with bending rigidity said to have been improved by 13 percent and torsional rigidity by eight percent. This should ensure that the new Civic Type R is even sharper around corners.
Buyers can also look forward to a smarter and more minimalist cabin design, as well as updated infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and available premium features like a Bose 12-speaker sound system and Traffic Jam Assist. It remains to be seen, however, whether Honda will offer these luxuries on the more hard-core Civic Type R hatchback.
