Just like the Toyota Supra, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, or Porsche 911, the Honda Civic Type R is a legendary performance vehicle, one that has delighted enthusiasts for several decades and vehicle generations. But could this hallowed driver’s car be going electric? A Honda executive hinted that the company is moving in that very direction, though he also acknowledged this transition is no easy task.
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Honda Civic Showdown: How The Civic Si and Type R Compare
Can’t decide between a Honda Civic Si or Type R? Here is a comparison of the two high-performance Civics to help you choose.
How Do You Electrify An Icon?
How do you evolve a legendary automotive nameplate without sullying its reputation or alienating legions of loyal fans? In short, very carefully. And according to a report from Auto Express, Honda seems to be keenly aware of these potential pitfalls.
Speaking at CES in Las Vegas after the company unveiled its two 0 Series electric vehicle prototypes, Toshihiro Akiwa, the man in charge of Honda’s BEV Development Center said, “A battery and motor have different characteristics so we can’t come up with something exactly the same as before.” And this makes a lot of sense. An electric motor is never going to whoosh like a turbocharger or burble and pop like a combustion engine. Also, a manual gearbox (or really, any type of variable-ratio transmission) is almost completely unnecessary with an electric powertrain.
Continuing, Akiwa said, “As an EV, how can we provide the joy of driving? We haven’t given up, of course, but it’s not just about power, it’s about the sound, vibration, acceleration, and the human experience. These are the joys of driving.”
The answer to this question is the great automotive mystery of our day. Some carmakers, like Hyundai with its high-performance Ioniq 5 N, are trying to add emotion and sizzle to the EV driving experience by simulating a traditional stepped-ratio transmission and providing unique powertrain sounds. Dodge is also doing something similar with its Charger Daytona, which features a faux exhaust system that belts out Hellcat-like tunes. But either way, these efforts may not be enough for many enthusiasts, folks with gasoline coursing through their circulatory systems.
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An Undeniably Tough Act To Follow
Based on the excellent 11th-generation Honda Civic, the current Type R is a driver’s dream. Huffing more than 25 pounds of boost pressure, the car’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivers a walloping 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. All that internal-combustion goodness is routed to the front wheels exclusively through a six-speed manual transmission with one of the smoothest, slickest shifters ever fitted to a car.
Any pure electric or even electrified future Civic Type R has some huge shoes to fill. The current car is a delight to drive and an almost impossible act to follow. How Honda engineers tackle this challenge – if it can even be done – is a mystery, though we wish them the best and eagerly look forward to an electric Type R, whatever form it may take.
