All-new Honda Civic Type R makes first public appearance

See (and hear) the 2022 Honda Civic Type R attack Suzuka

When Honda first revealed the camouflaged photos of the 2022 Civic Type R, we were surprised by how sedated it looked. Sure, some might say that's because it's still covered in camo and is now based on the new-generation Civic, which has a more reserved exterior. However, we were expecting Honda to give it a more aggressive design over the standard model since it's a Type R model, after all.

Two months following the initial teaser, Honda announced that they will be bringing the Civic Type R to the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon for its first public appearance. They claim that it will be clad in a ‘special camouflage’ designed specifically for the Type R. We suspected it will still be the same red, white and black livery we saw in the photos.

Fast forward to the present, and Honda did preview the new Civic Type R at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon. Unfortunately, it still looks relatively the same as the first teaser images they revealed a few months ago. And with all the camouflage, it's hard to tell the changes aside from the more obvious ones. 

From the sporty front end to the massive GT-style rear wing, as well as the Brembo brake calipers, the Civic Type R still looks the same as before. What we did notice new, however, is the new grille-mounted badge that shows off the ‘Type R’ logo for all to see. It adds a nice touch of detail against the still camouflaged exterior of the hot hatch.

Powertrain details are not yet available at this time. More than likely the engine will be an improved version of the 2.0-liter turbocharged KC20C VTEC engine that’s currently powering the outgoing model. A six-speed manual gearbox will likely be the sole transmission option for the 2022 Civic Type R.

If you want to see the upcoming hot hatch in action, Honda has also released a teaser video of the Civic Type R being put through its paces at the Suzuka Circuit. The official launch date may not yet be available, but at least Honda is letting its fans (and customers) know that they are working on a new Type R.