Beyond the Mid-Cycle Refresh
Honda confirmed earlier this year that the FL5-generation Civic Type R is getting an update. Expect some subtle tweaks inside and out to keep the red-badged hatch looking sharp. Normally, that would be enough to keep Type R fans happy. But it turns out Honda has something bigger in the works.
At the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, Honda Racing Corporation rolled out the Civic Type R HRC Concept. The camouflaged show car wasn’t just for show – it’s close to production-ready. HRC calls it the ultimate version of the current Type R, and they’re serious about putting it on the road.
So while the FL5 is getting a mild refresh, Honda is also setting up a much more serious, HRC-tuned flagship. This one sits above the standard Type R, not instead of it.
Racing Roots, Road-Going Intent
According to Kuruma News, the HRC Concept borrows straight from Honda’s Super Taikyu program, where the No. 271 Civic Type R set a class record at Fuji Speedway in 2025. That car used a new racing engine called the HRC-K20C, and it looks like a road-going version of that engine could end up in the production car.
This Super Taikyu effort, part of the Super Taikyu Series, involved drivers such as Hiroki Otsu, with technical input from advisor Takuma Sato and driver Ayumu Iwasa. HRC chairman Koji Watanabe later confirmed in a press conference that the concept is being developed with production as the end goal.
The HRC-tuned Civic Type R will be getting serious aero upgrades: a front splitter with big canards, new fender vents, side steps in front of the rear wheels, and a more aggressive rear diffuser and wing end plates. There are also cooling upgrades, with HRC-branded parts visible behind the grille. The tires and wheels stick with the familiar Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 setup from the standard car.
HRC
The Most Track-Focused Factory Type R
HRC has not released interior details or final engine specifications yet. Development is ongoing, with aerodynamics as the current focus before finalizing suspension, exhaust, and cooling systems. Hideki Kakinuma, who led development for both the FK8 and FL5 Type R, says the aim is a balanced performance improvement rather than focusing on a single headline figure.
There’s no official launch date yet, but HRC makes it clear this isn’t just a far-off halo project. If the production car stays true to the concept, the HRC-tuned Civic Type R could be the most track-focused factory Type R you can actually drive on the street.
HRC
