2022 Honda Civic Type-R Teased Pounding Around On Home Soil Ahead Of Slated 2022 Debut

Back in October, Honda had given its first glimpse of the hardcore next-gen Civic Type-R  trim. And now, the carmaker has teased the performance machine again, this time pounding around on home soil at the Suzuka Circuit.  

While the current work is purely to fine-tune the Civic Type-R’s dynamics ahead of its expected debut in 2022, we think it is also attempting to break the front-wheel drive production car lap record at this legendary circuit. So who’s the benchmark? Well it's none other than its predecessor, albeit in a spicier Limited Edition guise.

In fact, images show the new model parked against its predecessor, which is the benchmark to beat. Lapping the circuit in 2:23.993 seconds, this Civic Type-R added revised dampers, reworked steering, and new Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres. It also went on a diet, losing up to 47 kg.

Nothing seems to be different than before in the 2022 Civic Type-R, with the performance hatch still draped in a camo livery. Like the standard model, it's got a cleaner design but does have some aggressive bits such as a larger and lower air intake, a beefier front grille with a honeycomb mesh. It gets a higher and flatter rear wing than before with the central triple exhaust setup retained, but the middle tip is larger.

We’re yet to know what will power the new Type-R, but it surely should be a step above the outgoing model’s turbocharged 2-litre petrol engine. The current setup delivers 320PS and 400Nm to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission with a limited slip differential, and can do the 0-100kmph sprint in 5.8 seconds, with a top speed of over 270kmph.

 

Honda earlier mentioned that the 2022 Civic Type-R will be testing at the Nurburgring, so it has the current model’s 7:43.8-minute lap time to beat, as well as the Renault Megane R.S. Trophy-R’ 7:40.100-minute lap time to retake its spot as the fastest front-wheel-drive production car around the ‘Green Hell’.