Honda recently introduced the 2022 Civic Si and revealed the new Integra as a pre-production prototype. Both have the same updated 1.5-liter turbo engine. However, the Accord 2.0t has been dominating drag races with its automatic gearbox.
Even though the Accord sedan’s 2.0-liter is rated at 252 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, it beats even the Civic Type R, which makes over 300 JDM ponies. And that’s all to do with the way the 10-speed automatic launches.
Despite what the rumors have claimed, it seems that Honda is taking this problem seriously. Thus the all-new 2023 Civic Type R is being allowed to be more than just a driver’s car with a 3-pedal feel. An auto gearbox might be offered for the first time in its long history.
This information comes from a report by the Japanese website Best Car Web. And it seems this was obtained on the sidelines of the 2022 Tokyo Motor Show, where we saw the Type R in full camo.
DCT or full auto?
The same report suggests power will stay the same for the K20C1 turbocharged four-cylinder, which is perfectly reasonable. Known internally as the FL model, the 2023 Civic Type R might wear the FL2 or FL3 moniker in production.
As for the gearbox, all we know is that it’s supposed to be a 6-speed with paddle shifters, which only makes this a stranger, more mysterious story. Not only do we not know what kind of auto that is, but it doesn’t have that many gears either.
Twin-clutch autos have been considered faster and thus better suited to a hot hatch. But they sometimes struggle with the torque, which might be why the new BMW M3/M4 has an 8-speed auto. Also, Hyundai is using a DCT in the Veloster N and Sonata N Line, but they seem to struggle with the clutch-dumping launch.
Generally, DCTs are still preferred in the hot hatch segment, dominated by the Golf R, GTI, Megane RS, and Hyundai i30 N. However, all these cars are designed with Europe in mind, whereas the Civic Type R… isn’t.
Whatever the case, the gearbox is likely to also show up on the Integra Type S, and there could be a small difference in torque from the manual.