Cold temperatures, wet pavement, and a demanding track couldn’t hide the improved character of the 2023 Honda Civic Type R.
on Sonoma Raceway in Northern California. Temperatures are hovering around 50 degrees and the track is getting wetter by the second. This is a technical circuit in the best conditions, with blind crests, off-camber turns, and a series of esses that elude me every time. I’m thankful to be riding on the standard Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires instead of the Pilot Sport Cup 2s available as an accessory, but I’m still hella nervous.
I can, because the stability control is really well tuned. It lets the car slide just enough to give me a little thrill but then it kicks in to save my butt. Once all is sorted, I send a little power to the front wheels and catch up to the car in front of me on this four-lap lead/follow. Now I’m calm enough to really experience all the Civic Type R has to offer. I switch to +R mode for maximum performance and where I can, I floor it to get all 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque out of this little 2.0-liter turbocharged mill. I’m able to grab fourth gear on the straightaway, but I cook it a little too fast heading into the turn 7 sharp righthander. That’s OK because the ABS kicks in, keeping the car in a straight line and slowing me down enough to make the turn with no drama.
Inside, buyers get red sport seats that are comfy enough for a commute but also provide ample hip and side support. I wish they were heated but no dice. Aluminum trim combines with the black dash to make a simple yet pleasing combination. A 9.0-inch touchscreen grows from the last model’s 7.0-inch unit. The 10.2-inch configurable gauge cluster has one design for Comfort and Sport modes and another for +R with more information about temperatures, g forces, and lap times.
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