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Honda’s Most Beloved Civic Could Be Getting a Shockingly Radical Update

Today’s Type R could be the last gas-only, manual model, ever.

White Honda Civic Type R with headlights on driving on a racetrack with metal guardrails.Honda
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By Chris Chin

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The era of the gas-only, manual Honda Civic Type R could be at risk of coming to an end. Yep, you read that correctly.

Word from our friends at Drive on the opposite side of the planet suggests the brand’s top-spec Civic may shift to a gas-electric hybrid powertrain for the next generation. That could also mean the Type R’s manual transmission could be at stake.

Speaking with Honda Motor Company’s head honcho, Toshihoro Mibe, the automaker is apparently still adamant about pursuing its electrification strategy. But instead of going all-in on EVs, the brand is currently focusing on hybrid technology.

Following in the footsteps of the Prelude

Gray Honda Civic Type R hatchback driving on a road at sunset with a cloudy sky.
The Civic Type R is one of the few remaining sports car delights with its turbo-four and standard six-speed manual.
Honda

If this all sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Honda just launched its new and highly-anticipated Prelude revival.

While it is an exciting moment to see the return of one of Honda’s most iconic automobiles, it comes with a long list of significant changes. One of which being, its gas-electric hybrid powertrain.

Glossy black Honda Civic Type R sedan with large rear spoiler and triple exhaust tips on a city street.
After years of being forbidden fruit, Honda gave us the Civic Type R for the first time back in 2017.
Honda

It’s a major departure from the last Prelude from a quarter of a century ago, which was a gas-only car. But more so, the latest Prelude does completely without a manual transmission and instead, depends on a sport-tuned continuously variable transmission, or CVT.

Blue Honda electric coupe driving on a winding road with a hillside covered in grass and shrubs in the background. The car features sleek, modern headlights and black wheels.
Although praised for its return, the Prelude has enthusiasts feeling bittersweet from its lack of a manual and use of a CVT transmission.
Honda

The latter has been a major source of disappointment among both sports car and Prelude fans. That’s because the CVT is perceived as the antithesis of driving fun and involvement, especially when compared to what three pedals and a stick provide.

But the reasons for the Prelude being a hybrid and CVT are logical. Especially when you consider today’s concerns for carbon emissions and fuel economy.

Car interior with red and black sport seats, black steering wheel with red Honda logo, manual gear shift, and red floor mats.
Could the end of the manual spell the end of the Civic Type R as we know it?
Honda

Additionally, the Prelude utilizes the Civic Hybrid’s bones, which apparently was the only feasible way for Honda to allow the new Prelude to exist today.

All that said, it’s no surprise that the Civic Type R could be next in line to make such a radical transition.

Strengthening the sporty family in an era of electrification

White Honda Civic Type R with black accents drifting on a curved race track.
The Civic Type R remains as one of the best performance bargains available on the market today.
Honda

According to Mibe’s discussion with Drive, Honda is certainly adamant about an electric future. But the company is also well aware of the “EV slowdown” and the present lukewarm market.

While other automakers are pumping the brakes on their EV strategies and refocusing on internal combustion tech, Honda’s already heavily invested in its EV push. Thus, the company is trying to pivot while minimizing any financial investment losses.

Hence, the focus on gas-electric hybridization.

White Honda Civic Type R sedan with black wheels driving on a racetrack with blurred background.
Honda’s been known to be working on an all-electric sports car, but it could change to being a hybrid.
Honda

“We need to strengthen the sporty family here, and at the same time we have been working on the R&D all the time on sporty cars,” Mibe told Drive. “And if you go to the R&D facilities, we have many sporty prototypes in development too.”

“In this slowing down EV market, we have to pay attention to what is going on there and find the optimum time to launch a sporty car in the market – we are having discussions about it now,” Mibe elaborated.

Red and white Honda Civic Type R cars driving on a road with trees and cloudy sky in the background.
If this is the last gas-only, manual-equipped Civic Type Rs, the current and previous models will likely skyrocket in value.
Honda

In a separate report, MotorTrend also learned that Honda is still working on an electric sports car for the near future. Speculation suggests it could be a completely different model from the Civic Type R.

But the alternative outlook also points in the direction of the Civic. Especially since it’s one of Honda’s current halo sports cars.

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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