2017 Honda Civic Type R to have U.S. debut at AutoCon in Los Angeles

By Albert Khoury March 26, 2017

2017 Honda Civic Type R — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Following its global debut in Geneva earlier this month, the first production 2017 Type R will be unveiled stateside at this year’s AutoCon convention. The automotive performance and tuning event will be held in Los Angeles on March 26 (today), and the Type R is scheduled to hit the stage at 4 p.m. PT, according to a press release from Honda.

AutoCon has been holding events made by and for automotive enthusiasts since 2010, and prior shows have been held in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, New York City, and New Jersey.

“From the exclusive vehicles on display to the one-of-a-kind ‘drive up’ main stage, the goal of AutoCon is to create a positive environment where attendees of the event can converge, learn, and share common interests with one another,” a passage from the con’s site reads. “With its core focus on the automotive industry, AutoCon is a place where extraordinary vehicle builds are debuted, product launches happen, news is announced, and the future is introduced.”

Powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC, direct-injected and turbocharged i-VTEC in-line 4-cylinder engine, the Civic Type R produced 306 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and 295 pound-feet of torque from 2,500-4,500 rpm. Power is sent to the front wheels via a 6-speed manual transmission. The new Type R will be the fastest, most powerful Honda ever sold in the U.S.

While its aggressive looks may be polarizing, there’s no arguing the hype around the Civic Type R’s contribution to a resurgence of hot hatches in the U.S. Honda says that it will be available in late spring with an MSRP in the mid-$30,000 range.

For those on the other side of the nation, the Type R will also make an appearance at the New York International Auto Show on April 12. Digital Trends will be on hand to cover the event, and we will post more information as it approaches.

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Al started his career at a downtown Manhattan publisher, and has since worked with digital and print publications. He's…

Cars

Best electric car charger deals: $100 off home charging stations

The handle of the Grizzl-E EV charger plugged into a vehicle.

A few years ago, electric vehicles were pretty rare or cost a fortune, but with more and more of the larger car brands getting into the game, there are a lot of excellent and even budget-friendly choices nowadays. That said, the electrical network for charging your cars might not be that widespread, so instead you'll have to rely on charging your car at home. Luckily, there are a lot of excellent car chargers at a discount, so if you've just bought an EV or want to upgrade your current charging solution, be sure to check out our favorite deals below.
Shockflo EV charger — $205, was $220

This EV charger by Shockflo is a Level 2 EV charger, which offers six times faster charging than a standard charger. It delivers 24 miles with just one hour of charging, and it can act as a mobile charger you can throw in the trunk or be mounted to a wall. It has an LCD display with useful information like charging rate, voltage, and charging time, as well as LED indicator lights that lets you know charging progress and errors.

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.