Temple of VTEC Rumors and News - HPD launches a much more affordable $90k (race-ready) Civic Type R

Up until now, if you wanted a turn-key Civic Type R race car from HPD, you had to pony up over $170k for a Civic Type R TCR. This sounds like a princely sum, but when you start skimming through the extensive list of upgrades to racing-spec components, the Civic Type R TCR looks more and more like an incredible bargain.

With that said, $170k ain't chump change, and the Civic Type R is a hell of a car, so HPD has developed another turn-key racing version that "only" costs around $90k.

Press release follows:

December 12, 2019

Engineered by Honda Performance Development for SRO TC Americas and amateur Touring Car competition
Type R TC joins Civic Si TCA and Type R TCR in Honda's turn-key Civic-based customer racing portfolio
New race-ready Type R available to Honda Racing Line customers

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. � Honda today took the wraps off the latest iteration of the Civic Type R, the race-ready Civic Type R TC race car from Honda Performance Development (HPD). The Type R TC is designed as a turn-key solution for professional racers, and for skilled Type R enthusiasts who wish to transition from track time in a stock Type R to a fully built race car. Eligible for SRO TC Americas Touring Car competition, the all-new Type R TC race car is available to Honda Racing Line members with racing licenses exclusively through HPD at a manufacturer's price of $89,900. The specially outfitted Type R joins the TCA-class Civic Si and TCR-class Type R in HPD's portfolio of Civic-based, turn-key racing machines.

"The successes of Honda Racing Development's TCA Civic Si and TCR Type R in North American touring car championship series have generated a strong interest in more ready-to-race Honda Touring Cars for North America," said Ted Klaus, President of Honda Performance Development. "With the introduction of the new Type R TC-class race car, we now offer a complete lineup of turn-key, Civic-based race cars for registered racing customers in North America."

Designed specifically for TC-class competition, the Civic Type R TC was developed and tested in-house by HPD engineers as a modified version of the production Civic Type R designed exclusively for track use, with final assembly done by Gradient Racing in Austin, Texas. HPD engineers developed and tested the Civic Type R TC race car in-house, drawing on experience gained from production car and race vehicle engineering, including development of the HPD Civic Si TCA race car. The HPD-developed Civic Type R race car begins life as a body in white from Honda's Swindon, England, plant, and uses its road- and track-proven 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo engine supplied by the Honda of America Mfg. engine plant in Anna, Ohio, producing between 270 and 330 horsepower, depending on the series application.

The Type R TC retains the stock vehicle's exterior sheet metal, but adds racing components developed in-house and in partnership with select suppliers to build a ready-to-race vehicle that saves racers the time and money of doing it themselves. Major modifications to the production Type R include a high-flow front grille, a J's Racing FRP vented hood, CSF-designed radiator and oil cooler; an HPD/Borla downpipe and turbo back exhaust; a 6-speed manual transmission with high-strength 3rd and 4th gears; an HPD/Cusco limited slip differential; HPD Girodisk 2-piece front brake rotors and HPD brake inlet ducts; an HPD/Pyrotect bolt-in FIA 16-gallon fuel cell; a welded multi-point racing cage; and an OMP racing seat with 6-point harness.

The Civic Type R TC-class race car will be available to registered North American racing customers with racing licenses through HPD's Honda Racing Line program for competition in SRO TC Americas competition, along with certain SCCA and NASA classes. In addition to a fully outfitted race car, HPD supports all of its racing customers with trackside factory engineering and parts support, and an exclusive technical support line that can connect racing customers directly with HPD engineers when they're not at the track.

L.A. Honda World Racing
HPD also announced today that L.A. Honda World Racing will be its first customer for the new Honda Civic Type R TC, entering two cars in the 2020 SRO TC Americas series competition. No strangers to Civic racing, L.A. Honda World Racing campaigned three Civic Type R TCR race cars in IMSA's Michelin Pilot Challenge in 2019 and will again in 2020. The team battled for a championship title, with multiple wins from drivers Tom O'Gorman, Shelby Blackstock, Mike Lamarra and Matt Pombo.

"After a remarkable first year with our TCR program, we are excited and confident to expand our Honda racing endeavors with this Civic Type R in the SRO TC Class next year. With our veteran team and competitive race cars, we expect to challenge the front-runners in 2020," said Mario Biundo, President, L.A. Honda World Racing.

"With its clear tie-in to the production car, and the racing lineage of the entire Honda Civic line, we know that it will elevate awareness of Honda as a motorsport brand, and how our employees focus on this mindset at the customer level in our dealership. We plan on making 2020 an even more successful year for Honda and L.A. Honda World Racing in both series."

HPD Touring Car "Ladder"
What Honda calls its "Racing Spirit" is an essential element of the company's DNA, and Honda is a first choice for more professional and amateur racers than any other brand. For those racers, HPD offers a clear "ladder" of turn-key touring car solutions, from entry-level TCA all the way to pinnacle TCR series. While all three vehicles are based on showroom-stock counterparts, they also feature distinct modifications to allow them to compete successfully in a wide variety of touring car race series in the U.S. and around the world, fitting a variety of different budgets.

HPD Civic Si TCA: A turn-key race car solution based on the popular Civic Si Coupe. With significant modifications including an SRO-homologated roll cage and competition-specific suspension, electronics, and brake components, the Civic Si TCA race car is an affordable way to begin racing in Touring Car Americas competition.

HPD Type R TC: With more power and performance capability than the Civic Si TCA, the Type R TC combines HPD-designed components with specifically selected and tested partner racing parts to create a modern track weapon worthy of the legendary Type R performance heritage.

HPD Type R TCR: At the pinnacle of the Touring Car racing program is the Type R TCR, a joint effort with long-time Honda partner JAS Motorsport in Milan, Italy. Designed for worldwide TCR-class competition, the Type R TCR features special body work, a seam-welded body, a sequential transmission, and additional high-end racing modifications for the ultimate in Civic Pro Racing competition.

Civic Si TCA vs Civic Type R TC vs Type R TCR

	Civic Si TCA	Civic Type R TC	Civic Type R TCR
Price (for eligible Honda Racing Line members)	$52,500*	$89,900*	$172,238*
Drivetrain
Engine	1.5-liter inline-4 (production-based)	2.0-liter inline-4 (production-based)	2.0-liter inline-4 (production-based) Calibrated and sealed by JAS Motorsport
Engine Management	Production-based ECU HPD or customer-tuned (series dependent)	Production-based ECU HPD or customer-tuned (series dependent)	Motec M142 ECU with custom wiring harness Mapped for 100 octane fuel
Cooling	HPD CSF radiator OE Honda intercooler	HPD CSF radiator and auxiliary oil coolers HPD cooling ducts OE Honda intercooler	High performance radiator, oil cooler and intercooler Mapped for 100 octane fuel
Fuel	Direct injected 91+ octane unleaded (series dependent)	Direct injected 91+ octane unleaded (series dependent)	Direct injected, 100 octane unleaded race fuel
Exhaust	HPD/Borla downpipe and turbo back exhaust	HPD/Borla downpipe and turbo back exhaust	Competition stainless exhaust with racing-grade catalytic converter
Performance	170-220+ hp (series dependent)	270-330+hp (series dependent)	340hp
Transmission & Differential	OEM 6-speed manual transmission HPD high strength 4th gear HPD/Cusco Limited Slip Differential HPD single mass flywheel	OEM 6-speed manual transmission HPD high strength 3rd and 4th gears HPD Cusco limited slip differential	Xtrac 6-speed sequential gearbox Hydraulic paddle shifters Limited slip differential w/exterior adjustable preload Gearbox oil cooler JAS twin-disc racing clutch Bespoke 6kg flywheel
Chassis
Suspension	Front MacPherson strut, multi-link rear HPD/Bilstein inverted double adjustable dampers Eibach race springs HPD front camber and caster plates HPD/SPC rear camber adjustment HPD/SPC rear camber adjustment Upgraded HPD/RV6 rear lower arms for race spring rates and positive toe adjustment Enkei RPF1 cast aluminum wheels, 17 x 8 in.	Front dual axis MacPherson strut, multi-link rear HPD/Bilstein inverted double adjustable dampers Eibach race springs HPD front camber and caster plates HPD/SPC rear camber adjustment HPD/RV6 rear adjustable stabilizer bar Spherical suspension bushings and damper mounts Upgraded HPD/RV6 rear lower arms for race spring rates and positive toe adjustment Forgestar F14 cast aluminum wheels, 18 x 9.5 in.	Front Ohlins TTX NK56 dampers Rear Ohlins 2 way S46 dampers Rear anti-roll bar with 3 holes for adjustment 3 front and 2 rear sway bars with different stiffness (optional) 3 sets of springs with different stiffness (optional) JAS OZ Racing cast aluminum wheels, 18 x 10 in.
Steering	Production electric power steering OMP racing wheel and quick disconnect OE Honda tilt / telescopic column	Production electric power steering OMP racing wheel and quick disconnect OE Honda tilt / telescopic column	Electric power steering with heavy-duty arms Heavy-duty ball joints on front lower wishbone Multifunction quick disconnect wheel
Brakes/p>	HPD Wilwood Superlite front brakes with 6-piston calipers Wilwood 2-pc slotted rotors, 327x28mm OEM rear brakes with single-piston calipers HPD Goodridge front and rear braided brake lines HPD ABS modulator Carbon fiber brake cooling inlet ducts	Brembo 4-piston calipers HPD Girodisk 2-pc front rotors 350mm x 32mm OEM rear calipers and rotors HPD Goodridge front and rear braided brake lines HPD ABS Modulator Variety of Sprint/Endurance brake compounds available HPD brake cooling inlet ducts	JAS AP Racing front brake calipers with 380mm x 35mm DS4 discs JAS Motorsport rear brake calipers with 260mm x 9mm discs Endurance Option 380x35mm with 64mm brake pad surface Brake cooling ducts from bumper to upright Bosch racing ABS Switch-on central console with 12 working levels
Body	Stock Honda Civic Si Coupe High-flow front grille HPD brake cooling inlet ducts Adjustable electric side mirrors	High-flow front grille HPD oil cooler, brake, and radiator inlet ducts J's Racing FRP vented hood HPD APR adjustable rear wing Adjustable electric side mirrors	Front/rear composite wheel arches Front/rear composite bumper Adjustable front splitter Hood scoop Composite side skirts JAS rear wing under TCR regulations Airjack system
Structure	Welded multipoint roll cage OMP racing seat OMP XL seat (optional) OMP 6-pt harness OMP window and center nets OMP on board fire control system HPD/Hasport polyurethane engine mounts	Welded multipoint roll cage OMP racing seat OMP XL seat (optional) OMP 6-pt harness OMP window and center nets OMP on board fire control system HPD/Hasport polyurethane engine mounts	Seam-welded body panels TIG-welded roll cage, homologated by MSA-UK Cross bracing and gusseting for maximum stiffness OMP 6-pt harness OMP seat Cool suit system (optional) Heated Lexan screen (optional) Endurance Option Adjustable electrical side mirrors on center console UV cockpit lights Drink system Lighted door number
Other
Electronics	AIM MXP 1.2 data logger Motec C125 data logger (optional)	AIM MXP 1.2 data logger Motec C125 data logger (optional) 4-wheel suspension position sensors (optional)	Motec PDM30 power distribution (factory sealed) Motec C127 data logger
Fueling	12.4-gallon capacity	HPD Pyrotect Bolt-in FIA fuel cell 16-gallon capacity High flow filler neck and cap in OE location	FT3 100-liter tank Racing collector tank Aero-quality hoses and fittings 3 lift pumps and filters Stabuli D12 refueling Endurance Option Filler neck on right C-pillar built to VLN standards Quick refueling standard 1 left and 1 right
Eligible racing series	SRO Touring Car Americas TCA class SCCA T3 class NASA ST5 & E2	SRO Touring Car Americas TC class SCCA T2 class NASA ST5 & E2	SRO Touring Car Americas TCR class IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge TCR class World TCR
	*Does not include spare parts and support

About Honda
Honda offers a full line of reliable, fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive vehicles with advanced safety technologies sold through over 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The Honda lineup includes the Fit, Civic, Insight, Accord and Clarity series passenger cars, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan.

Honda has been producing automobiles in America for more than 35 years and currently operates 19 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2018, more than 90 percent of all Honda brand vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.

About Honda Performance Development
Honda Performance Development, Inc., (HPD) is Honda's racing company in North America. A wholly owned subsidiary of American Honda Motor Co., Inc., HPD was founded in 1993, and is the technical operations center for Honda's high-performance racing programs.

HPD specializes in the design and development of race engines, chassis and performance parts, and technical/race support. Honda Performance Development offers parts and race support to Honda and Acura grassroots motorsports racers, and is expanding support of racing series and programs that make Honda racing products available to all racing styles, from karting and Quarter Midgets to the highest levels of pro racing. Learn more at hpd.honda.com.

For More Information
Additional media information including detailed pricing features and high-resolution photography of all 2020 Honda models is available at hondanews.com. Consumer information is available at automobiles.honda.com. To join the Honda community on Facebook, visit facebook.com/honda.