Honda's Turbo 4-Cylinder and the 2015 Civic Type R
Enthusiasts have been calling for turbocharged Hondas for over a decade and finally the Japanese automaker has decided to listen. But there is a catch.
Officially revealed at the Paris Motor Show today, the company’s new HR-412E powerplant is a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder motor that also features direct injection. It’s not a production engine, however, and is instead designed specifically for the new Civic World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) race car.
It is, however, a strong indication of the direction Honda intends to take with the upcoming Civic Type R, which only this week Honda CEO Takanobu Ito confirmed will go into production specifically for the European market (another catch).
In a release Honda says the future Civic Type R will make use of the “technologies developed through Honda’s participation in the World Touring Car Championships (WTCC).” Reading between the lines, it’s very likely that means a turbocharged direct-injection powerplant.
In addition, Honda says the new Type R will, “aim to set new standards in performance and handling,” with a goal of being the fastest front-drive car on the Nurburgring.
In summary, a turbocharged Honda engine might make it into the new Civic Type R, which isn’t planned for the US ( though there’s still the possibility), and Honda’s enthusiast fan base will have to be patient too, with the car not expected until 2015.
Browse the galleries of the new turbocharged engine and Civic race car below.
GALLERY: Honda HR-412E
GALLERY: Honda Civic WTCC Race Car
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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You can thank the EPA for screwing us out of all the nice cars.
i think the 2.4 liter engine with direct injection will be sufficent power increases if they tune it properly i cant see why honda couldnt get 230-240 bhp and 200-210 lbs-ft i think that would be a good amount for such a small car i personally dont want to see a turbo i simply scared the turbo would create a slight lag in the power train and i love hondas because thats what they are responsive automotive i dont want them to lose that so the type r can stay over in europe as far as im concerned