Honda plans mid-range performance Civic Type S as part of its 10th-generation lineup

By Miles Branman June 23, 2015

civic_concept_10th generation front angle — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Australian news source Motoring.com is reporting that Honda is developing a sub-Type R variant of the 10th-generation Civic to wear the “Type S” moniker. Last week, Honda announced the new Civic will go on sale this fall, and we can expect the new mid-range Type S to debut soon after.

Both hatchback and sedan body styles are planned for the new Type S, with each receiving a new 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that cooks up around 200 horsepower and 192 pound-feet of torque. By comparison, the 2015 Civic Si develops 205 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. While the torque would therefore get a solid bump, the estimated power output makes it sound like the Type S will be a replacement for the Si, not just an additional version.

Considering the history of the Civic Si, Honda fans might harrumph at the name change, much like BMW loyalists grumbled over the M4 coupe’s split with the M3 sedan. However, Type S does have more congruency with the Type R halo-Civic that will come to the U.S. in the next couple years.

As for the rest of the Civic range, they are expected to offer toned-down versions of the Type S’s 1.5-liter engine, paired with a Honda-smooth six-speed manual gearbox or CVT transmission. Honda has stated the new turbocharged motor will be fuel efficient enough to compensate for the absence of the hybrid and natural gas versions, and combined with Honda’s new lightweight Advanced Compatibility Engineering platform, the 10th-gen Civic should achieve fuel economy ratings in the 40 mile-per-gallon neighborhood.

When the Type S does go on sale, it will battle the Ford Focus ST, Fiesta ST, Volkswagen Golf GTI, and Mini Cooper S.

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