√Honda Civic Type R safe in hybrid and electric-car era

Honda believes the Civic Type R hot hatch, even in the electrified age, must stay as part of its core DNA and future showroom line-up.

The future of the Honda Civic Type R – the new version of which is due in Australia early next year – is safe into the foreseeable future, though it is likely to adopt hybrid or electric power.

“Without Type R, there is no Honda,” Civic Type R chief engineer Hideki Kakinuma told Autocar in the UK, confirming the future of the hot hatch – even if it adopts hybrid or electric propulsion.

Despite the roll-out of electrified models at Honda – which leaves the Civic Type R as the only purely petrol-powered car in its range in Europe – Mr Kakinuma believes the car has led through development has a special case.

“Honda strongly believes that driving pleasure is the core essence of private mobility, personal mobility,” he said.

“Yes, we will definitely be keen to bring further Type Rs. For Honda, they are only new hurdles, new challenges to provide our customers the joy of driving.”

The engineering boss admits the future challenges to the Type R – which may involve a switch to hybrid or electric power – but said electrification does not put the brakes on the future of the car.

“Carbon neutrality doesn’t have to be focused on the powertrain itself. It can have the possibility of achieving it even though you are driving a car with an ICE (Internal Combustion Engine),” Mr Kakinuma said.

“So I would not reject the possibility that the next Type R can be ICE. However, given the current circumstances, this is very unlikely.”

Mr Kakinuma also highlighted the overall mechanical package for the Type R, beyond the engine, which helped to create its appeal.

“The Type R itself does not depend on the powertrain. It’s a certain philosophy, a principle of the joy of driving, and that involves a lot of aspects,” he said.

“If this excitement can be provided with a certain powertrain that is carbon neutral or somewhat electrified – or a completely different technology – this will also be justifiably a Type R.”

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