Honda Hasn’t Given Up On Making An Electric Civic Type R Yet

It has been over two years since Honda expressed its intention to bring its brilliant Civic Type R into the era of electrification, though the trails have gone cold. However, the Japanese automaker hasn’t backed down on this ambition yet, with Toshihiro Akiwa, head of Honda’s BEV Development Center, going on record to confirm so, along with the current difficulties they’re facing to make this a reality.

Speaking to Auto Express, Akiwa doubles down on Honda’s commitment to provide the “joy of driving” with a future electric Civic Type R, but it couldn’t come up with the same characteristics as the current one with a battery and electric motor.

Future Honda EVs Can Produce Immense Power

Of course, we agree that performance EVs aren’t just about power outputs, but if we’re to look at Honda’s upcoming EVs, they can certainly provide those with gusto. At CES in Las Vegas, Honda unveiled two 0 Series prototypes, a large sedan and an SUV, that are headed for production in 2026. They are the first models built on Honda’s new dedicated EV platform, which will give birth to seven electric models.

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This new platform has more to offer, however. According to Auto Express, it’s designed to support high-performance applications, with motors capable of delivering up to 480 horsepower – a huge leap compared to the 315 hp of the current Civic Type R. Honda has yet to introduce a performance-oriented model on this architecture, though we can say that the future electric hot hatch, should it happen, will be built on that.

There’s A Market For Performance EVs

Hyundai has already demonstrated the appeal of fast and dynamic EVs with the Ioniq 5 N, so much so that other automakers like BMW and, yes, the Italian supercar maker Lamborghini, are also looking into the technology developed by the South Korean marque. Alpine is another brand that has made an exciting hot hatch with electric motors, the A290 forbidden fruit.

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That said, Honda’s ambition to enter the performance EV arena isn’t a shot in the dark. It may be struggling to find its footing now, but sooner or later, the Japanese marque is bound to unlock the secrets to a fun EV, just like it did with hybrids, particularly with the upcoming Honda Prelude.

Source: Auto Express