Every part of the FL5 Type R was meticulously and lovingly finished to improve performance, handling, driveability, and overall driving experience. What does this all mean? In simple terms, confidence. You can drive the Type R in a matter of minutes on a damp track, just like we did. The 2.0-liter VTEC turbo 4’s powerful response, smooth shifting of the gearshift, and responsive steering will impress you.
The Civic Type R is the perfect car for a great driver. The Civic Type R’s calm, steady demeanor under pressure invites you to explore the limits of performance. Visually, the Type R is very different from the FK8’s comic manga madness. The Civic hatch, a five-door, has a cleaner and more refined design than the FK8. Honda engineers worked closely with motorsport colleagues to reduce drag, and increase downforce. At 200 km/h, the rear wing, together with the rear diffuser, and a redesigned bonnet, generate 92kg of downforce.
The aggressive front and rear fascias are hard to miss. Most noticeable are the vents between the front wheels and three bazooka–caliber exhausts beneath the rear bumper. This car is full of Type R DNA. The FL5 body is slightly bigger in all dimensions. This makes it the largest Civic Type R. Because of its wider track, longer wheelbase, and lower center of gravity, the new Type R feels grounded.
2024 Honda Civic Type R FL5 Redesign
For improved rigidity at the rear, the FL5’s structural adhesive is 3.8 times stronger than the FK8. Weight savings have been achieved by removing additional steel bracing. The new aluminum bonnet weighs 33% less than the FK8’s stainless steel item, and the resin rear hatch is 20% lower. The new K20C1 four motor underneath the bonnet generates 235kW at 6500rpm, and 420Nm between 2200rpm and 4000rpm. This is a 7kW and 20Nm increase over the FK8 specification.
Although these are not big bumps, they are enough to propel the Type R comfortably into 5th place in the 0-100km/h sprint. Honda claims that its time is 5.4 seconds. This compares to the 6.0 seconds measured in mid-2020 when we tested an FK8 Type R. Tuners are well aware of the law of diminishing returns when tuning engines that produce high power and torque. The FK8 engine was capable of producing 117kW/liter.
By fitting a new turbocharger, the FL5 version was able to increase that number by just three percent. To reduce inertia, lag, and noise by 14 percent, it has fewer blades on the impeller. New intake and exhaust systems have flow rates that are 10 and 13 percent higher, respectively. To improve engine response and rev-matching, the flywheel has been reduced by 18%. This is especially important for downshifts. This has also decreased the flywheel’s overall inertia by 25%.
The FK8’s six-speed manual was already among the most efficient in terms of shift feel and precision, but engineers at Honda felt there was more to do. The FL5 Type R Shifter is stiffer and has less play. It shifts faster between the second and third gears.
The suspension design of Type R has been updated to make it more compatible with the older model. FK8-derived adaptive dampers now have pitch and roll control. The dual-axis front suspension reduces torque steer. The new lower arms offer a 16 percent improvement in camber rigidity compared to the previous Type R.
The FK8 Type R’s 20-inch rims were reduced to 19 inches due to the dimensional changes made to the FL5 platform, their effect on suspension geometry, and improvements in tire tech. Michelin has been designed to make their inner edges work harder than ever before. The 19-inch alloy wheels have an inner diameter that is smaller than the outside. From afar, the new 19-inch alloy wheels look amazing.
Behind the wheels is an upgraded Brembo brake system. To improve the tip-in pedal feel, it features a new mechanical brake master Cylinder. The calipers and the rotors stay cooler with new brake ducts. After five laps in Suzuka, Honda engineers claimed that pad temperatures were 60 degrees Celsius lower than FK8.
Bearings are used to improve the column’s rigidity and durability. The tie-rod ends are made from high-rigidity materials to improve the steering feel. To reduce steering deflections, electronic power steering software upgrades allow for a larger diameter and a 60% more rigid torsion arm. This increases feedback and response.
Data geeks will love the new Type R’s improved Honda Log R2.0 performance data acquisition app. It’s integrated into the car’s infotainment system and doesn’t require hosting via a hardwired smartphone. It also has a Performance Monitor function and a Scoring function. Performance Monitor displays 12 vehicle information including engine, water, oil, temperature, steering angle, brake pressure, accelerator pedal angle, and accelerator pedal angle. The digital tire-friction circle monitor displays the maximum grip potential for each tire in real-time.
Scoring allows Type R drivers to assess their driving skills and improve them behind the wheel. Auto Score allows you to assess your driving abilities in all driving situations. The Data Log function analyzes and tracks driving data. However, the Data Log function allows you to track your driving progress. Civic Type Rs are often praised because of their trackability, but the vast majority of Civic Type Rs spend the majority of their time on the roads. The good news about the FL5 Civic Type Rs is that it is not only an excellent track-day weapon but also a great road car.
Bright red R-spec front seats provide support and comfort in the spacious interior. It is almost impossible to adjust the backrest while the seatbelt is on. This is a shame considering the car’s attention to detail. The steering wheel’s diameter is perfect and the rim doesn’t feel too thick. The digital dash graphics look bright and clean.
The +R button on the console switches the dash layout from race-style to race-style. It has a shift light, shifts light, and the selected gear at the center. Activating the +R setting, which activates the race-face +R drive mode, is best left for the track, however, not the least because the +R mode’s adaptive damping setting is so stiff the ride will jiggle your kidneys and blur your vision on anything other than billiard-table-smooth roads.
If you want to have some lash on quiet back roads, Sport mode is your best choice. It is very responsive and has great body control, steering weighting, throttle response, and body control. You won’t be surprised by any deceptive corners thanks to the Type R’s 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo’s powerful mid-range, top-end, and well-stacked gear ratios.
The FL5 Type R offers an Individual mode that allows you to mix and match elements of the Sport and Comfort drive modes. This allows you to adjust the engine and steering for maximum +R responsiveness. You can also choose to have the engine noise, dampers, and auto rev match function set in Sport or Comfort settings. Although the Comfort mode of the Type R is tight and tighter than ever, it’s just sweet enough that it can be used daily. It is more mature than its predecessor and feels less raucous, but also more sophisticated.
Once the chassis is completed, the line descends to the paint shop. We can observe how the Type Rs move as they are painted. After the primer has dried, a coat is applied. A second team can inspect the final product. The cars are then lifted on an elevator to be moved to the general assembly area. This area allows us to see the actual work of bumper construction and mating engines and gearboxes.
The Type R has a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 2.0-liter power. It generates 315 horsepower and 310 pounds/ft of torque. Just like any hot hatch, the engine is mated with a six-speed manual. Type R is starting to take shape. Everything from the subframes and the larger rear spoiler is installed. Honda’s quality inspection process includes both a rolling road inspection and an underbody inspection.
While it might not be as exciting as driving a hot hatch, this video serves as a reminder of how much engineering goes into creating our favorite cars. This factory teaser shows why Honda is synonymous with high-quality cars.
2024 Honda Civic Type R FL5 Release Date & Price
Type R is expected to be available in Australia starting in February 2023. It comes at a rather mature price of $72,600. It’s $20,000 more than the Hyundai rascally, N hatch, and about the same price as an Mk 8 Golf R Wolfsburg stealthy all-wheel-drive supercar. Is it worth the price? If you’re looking for the best front-drive hot hatch on the marketplace, then yes. There’s more. There’s more. It was the Civic Type R’s most popular vehicle. We’ll find out more in the future.