The Honda Civic Type R, boasting 306 horsepower, is a high-performance front-wheel-drive vehicle designed for spirited driving. To ensure optimal handling and to preserve its reputation as an economical sports car, engineers focused on achieving a careful balance throughout the design. This meant that the car could not feature any form of automatic transmission.
Adding an automatic transmission would increase the vehicle’s weight, particularly at the front, which could disrupt its balance and lead to handling problems. This is a setback for those who prefer automatics, as the 2018 Honda Civic Type R is intended to be a balanced performance vehicle.
Honda powertrain executive Yuji Matsumochi explained to Motoring, “Given that the Type R is a lightweight front-wheel drive, it necessitates lightweight powertrain systems. If we were to introduce an automatic transmission option or dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with over 400Nm of torque, the powertrain would become excessively heavy, leading to increased front weight and disrupting the vehicle’s weight balance.”
Currently, the 2018 Honda Civic Type R is available for purchase at a starting price of $34,775, although potential buyers should be aware of possible dealer markups.
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