Honda Is About to Make the Civic Type R Even Better, and America Won't Miss Out
If the already brilliant Honda Civic Type R isn't quite hardcore enough for you, Honda Racing Corporation will up the ante later this year, bringing components from the HRC Concept shown at Tokyo Auto Salon in January to dealerships around the world, including North America. Speaking at the Honda All Type R World Meeting 2026 in Motegi, Honda Racing Corporation president Koji Watanabe said HRC is "developing the Civic Type R with the aim of further enhancing its potential as a base model by incorporating racing technologies such as those honed in Super Taikyu and aerodynamics from Super GT." He added that this will happen through aftermarket parts that will be available mainly in Japan and the U.S., reports local publication Car Watch.
HRC Honda Civic Type R Upgrades to Arrive Later This Year
Watanabe did not give a clear indication of when the HRC upgrades would be available, but suggested they would arrive within a few months, saying, "We hope to deliver these as soon as possible." The upgrades shown on the HRC Concept included a new front fascia, widened and vented wheel arches, updated side skirts, a new rear wing, and a restyled rear diffuser housing the tips of an Akrapovič exhaust. There was also evidence of HRC-branded cooling upgrades. Perhaps the arrival of these parts will coincide with the Civic Type R updates confirmed earlier this year. It's also expected that some HRC upgrades will be available for the Acura Integra Type S before long.
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The fact that elements of the HRC Concept will be made available as aftermarket parts means that one will not have to buy a special edition to get the upgrades they want, allowing existing owners to make their CTRs more exciting without affecting the factory warranty, but we wouldn't be surprised to see a special edition also being offered, potentially as a means of reclaiming Honda's FWD Nürburgring record from the Volkswagen Golf GTI Edition 50. In 2021, Honda gave us the Civic Type R Limited Edition with less weight, and a similar offering could help put the spotlight on HRC's aftermarket improvements.
Honda Has Started Work on the Next Civic
Honda has just revealed new concepts that preview the next Civic and the next Acura RDX, both of which will get hybrid power. Electrification alongside combustion is a big part of Honda's strategy for North America, with as many as 15 new hybrids planned. This comes after EVs turned out to be a mistake, contributing to Honda's first operating loss since 1957. Hopefully, updating the Civic, offering more performance upgrades via the dealership, and introducing new models with efficient powertrains will help the automaker turn things around.
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This story was originally published May 16, 2026 at 6:00 AM.