Ahead of its expected launch in Malaysia later this year, the all-new 2023 Honda Civic Type R FL5 has now made its official debut in Thailand, priced at an eye-watering THB3,990,000 (approx. RM518k). With limited units available, though, we expect it to still fly off the shelves like hot cakes.
The sixth-generation Honda Civic Type R is powered by a familiar 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four engine, although now uprated to produce 320 hp and 420 Nm. Power is sent to the front wheels via – as customary on a Civic Type R – a six-speed manual transmission and a helical-type limited-slip differential.
If you’re baulking at the price and want to instead “convert” your regular Civic into a Type R, tough luck. For one, it’s available solely as a hatchback, which isn’t sold here in our parts of the world. On top of that, most of its exterior body panels are actually specifically designed for the Civic Type R, with aerodynamic appendages to increase downforce and cooling, while the fenders are widened to accommodate the wider tracks on the Type R.
READ MORE: Only 400 Honda Civic Type R produced monthly, up to 6 months waiting period
With all that being said, will the all-new 2023 Honda Civic Type R actually even make its way here to Malaysia? Well, we think so. Honda Malaysia announced that it’ll be launching three all-new models this year, with a strong hint that one of them might be the hot hatch – read more about that here.
Of course, everything is still guesswork for now. What we can tell you for a fact, though, is that prices will most definitely go up. For context, the Toyota GR Corolla is priced fairly similarly at THB3,949,000 in Thailand, and that’s retailing for RM355,000 here in Malaysia – so make that as you will.
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