Honda upgrades Civic Type R for 2020

HONDA’S first update for its ballistic Civic Type R hot hatch will officially hit showrooms from October 1, priced from $54,990 plus on-roads costs – $3000 more than the current version.

As reported by GoAuto in January, the Type R’s update comprises of various mechanical and technical improvements under the skin as well as a few styling tweaks and tech upgrades with the biggest changes laying in the car’s underpinnings.

To make the Type R even more capable in the bends, engineers have updated the control software for the adaptive damping system so that it is now 10 times faster at evaluating road conditions, not only leading to improved dynamics but also ride comfort.

In order to reduce body roll and improve cornering toe-in, the rear bushings for the lower B-arms have been stiffened by eight per cent while 10 per cent stiffer front compliance bushings work in unison with new lower-friction ball joints to aid steering feel.

The brakes have been upgraded too with new two-piece floating front brake discs and a new, more fade-resistant brake pad material combining to improve heat management during “high intensity driving”.

Pedal travel has also been reduced by 15mm for increased feel and response with the updated setup combing to shed 2.3kg from the Type R’s unsprung mass.

Along with the improved stopping power, engine cooling has also been stepped up by a claimed 13 per cent thanks to a new bigger and thinner grille as well as an updated radiator core.

Honda says the new design decreases coolant temperature by up to 10 degrees “in high-demand situations”.

To differentiate it from the outgoing model, the new Type R’s lower foglight surrounds feature a new symmetrical design with styling blades, matched at the rear as per the rest of the Civic range.

The aforementioned bigger grille is also a dead giveaway, along with a tweaked front chin designed to counter a slight reduction in downforce caused by the bigger intake.

Inside the cabin there is a new Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel and an updated shifter for the six-speed manual transmission, sporting a new knob and shorter throw.

The 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen system has also been revised while ‘Active Sound Control’ has been fitted to up the aural stakes during spirited driving in Sport and +R driving modes while simultaneously toning things down in Comfort.

The 2020 update for the Type R also debuts Honda’s new LogR data logging software, a feature exclusive to its flagship performance car.

Combining the Type R’s onboard computer and sensors with the matching smartphone app, drivers are able to monitor and record a variety of different performance parameters including lap times and vehicle information as well as generate an ‘auto score’ which measures the smoothness of the owner’s day-to-day driving.

“Since its introduction in 2017, Civic Type R has garnered near universal acclaim for its combination of potent dynamic performance and everyday civility,” Honda said in a statement.

“The Civic Type R continues the heritage of Honda’s high-performance hatchback bloodline, combining expertly tuned front-wheel-drive chassis dynamics with aggressive design and extensive aerodynamic detailing.”

No changes have been made to the fiery turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine which continues to develop 228kW of power and a punchy 400Nm of torque.

While the Type R is not singled out in VFacts data, Honda sold 4603 examples of the wider Civic range through the first seven months of 2020, accounting for 7.1 per cent of the sub-$40,000 small car segment.

2020 Honda Civic Type R pricing*

*Excludes on-road costs