A global high-performance icon revered by driving enthusiasts around the world, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R has already set waves with its global debut last year.

As the most powerful model in Type R’s 30-year history, it’s been engineered from the ground up to deliver thrilling performance with an addictive driving experience – both on road and on the racetrack.

The pinnacle of Honda factory performance, the new Civic Type R is the fastest, most powerful Honda-branded vehicle ever offered with 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of Torque.

Based on the all-new 11th generation Civic Hatchback, the Civic Type R, or “Hot Hatch” as it is affectionately known, combines its class-leading performance with a low and wide design and a new immersive high-performance cockpit experience that enhances the exhilaration of driving.

“Last year was monumental for Honda Jamaica as we celebrated the Year of the SUV with the arrival of the all-new BR-V, a 7-seater compact SUV and the all-new HR-V Hybrid, the first Hybrid SUV in the Caribbean. This year, is about thrilling performance and joy of driving with the arrival of the all-new Civic Type R” said Vasil Lee, assistant general manager at Honda Jamaica, and a proud Type R owner as well. “The Type R is about more than speed, power and handling. It’s how a great car makes you feel that really matters and that’s what the all-new Civic Type R is all about.”

Testament to that is the very active Type R JA Club where Type R owners who are more like brand enthusiasts meet up once a quarter to discuss all things Type R-related.

Founder of the Type R Club and proud owner of two Type Rs since 2018, the 2018 arrival model and the 2021 face lift, Andrae Murray commended his fellow brand enthusiasts that it’s easy when you share the same passion and love of the car and claims “At first, we didn’t know each other but now we’re all close friends. It’s easy when you share the same passion and to talk about this unique experience with others. The Type R is known for the driving experience and incomparable to other sports cars so when you have others who understand that, it’s easy.”

ATL Automotive brings the all new Honda Civic Type R to Jamaica at a launch event held at the AC Marriott in New Kingston. Admirers of this upgraded motoring classic turned out in droves.

So what’s the deal on the new Honda Civic Type R?

Performance-focused engineering
A new lightweight and highly rigid body helps improve high speed stability and scalpel-sharp responses. Track-ready, Nürburgring-tuned and tested, Civic Type R’s famously addictive driving feel is increased even further by enhanced suspension and steering performance.

An even more powerful and responsive version of Honda’s award-winning turbocharged 2.0-liter engine is paired with an improved six-speed manual transmission and rev-matching system with a four-mode drive system – Comfort/Sport/Individual/+R for an even more intimate and rewarding connection with the driver.

Powerful aerodynamic design
Longer, lower and wider, the new Type R’s muscular yet sleek and sophisticated design features beautifully integrated advanced aerodynamics to achieve well-balanced downforce, as well as a reduction of drag.

Brawny fenders flare out over lightweight wheels wrapped in wider tires. A new more aggressive front bumper design features a sporty honeycomb grille mesh that echoes the intricate honeycomb trim inside the cabin. Larger front fender grilles and a new side sill design behind the front wheels enhances airflow efficiency. Its more aggressive stance is accentuated by wider rear doors exclusive to Type R, a redesigned rear spoiler, and a reshaped rear bumper that reveals its signature three round exhaust outlets and new rear diffuser.

Civic Type R will be available in five striking colors: Historic Championship White – a Type R exclusive finish revered by Honda enthusiasts, Rallye Red, Boost Blue, Crystal Black Pearl and Sonic Grey Pearl.

Immersive cockpit experience
Civic Type R’s all-new interior supports intense driving experiences with emotive, performance-focused details and features. Type R’s iconic red seats, carpet and trim, and a serialised Type R plate now placed on the dash are new for the 2023 model year. Suede-like upholstery with a high friction coefficient reduces body slippage in high-G driving situations.

Since its global debut it set a new track record for a front-wheel drive car at the legendary Suzuka Circuit, home to the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix. During final performance testing and evaluation, the new Civic Type R lapped the Suzuka’s 3.6-mile figure-8 configuration in 2 minutes 23.120 seconds.

The historic performance broke the previous track record set by the 2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition—a lightweight, specially-tuned, track-focused version of the outgoing car—by nearly one second.

Check out these pics from Our Today and get yourself down to ATL Automotive for a test drive: