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Honda Reveals An Automatic Was Considered for Civic Type R

By William Maley

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  • Scrapped due to weight issues

The Honda Civic Type R is only available with a six-speed manual which limits the possible group of buyers. But according to CarAdvice, Honda was considering an automatic option of some sort for the Type R.

Yuji Matsumochi, assistant large project leader for the 10th-generation Civic's powertrain told the Australian outlet that the Japanese automaker was looking at offering either a conventional automatic or a dual-clutch transmission to broaden the appeal for buyers. But the decision was made to only offer a manual due to weight concerns.

“The Type R needs a lightweight powertrain because it is front-wheel-drive, and needs lightweight powertrain systems. So, the engine is a little bit heavy, so the transmission side needs to be more lightweight,” said Matsumochi.

“If we applied an automatic transmission, or dual-clutch transmission, for a 400Nm engine, it would be very heavy weight, and very big. The front weight would be very heavy.”

Source: CarAdvice

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    Mentor

    A Horse With No Name

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    That makes sense, a lot of people cannot drive a manual.

     

    The type R is growing on me...I take back what I said earlier...i do think I would take this over a Mustang GT.

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    • Newbie

    Stew

    New Member

    If they end up doing an AWD variant, a DCT wouldn't surprise me at all. 

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    Mentor

    A Horse With No Name

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    1 hour ago, Stew said:

    If they end up doing an AWD variant, a DCT wouldn't surprise me at all. 

    Agreed!

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    • Rising Star

    riviera74

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    So Honda went with a manual because the engine was heavy, which led them to switch away from an automatic.  Q: Why can they NOT save on engine weight again?

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    A Horse With No Name

    Members
    1 hour ago, riviera74 said:

    So Honda went with a manual because the engine was heavy, which led them to switch away from an automatic.  Q: Why can they NOT save on engine weight again?

    Because making a lighter weight and reliable engine for a limited low production car is not financially in the cards.

    Honda once competed in F1 and competed in Indy car racing...the technology is there...the cost warrant is not.

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    • Collaborator

    daves87rs

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    On 7/5/2017 at 0:16 PM, A Horse With No Name said:

    That makes sense, a lot of people cannot drive a manual.

     

    The type R is growing on me...I take back what I said earlier...i do think I would take this over a Mustang GT.

    Me too...

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    • Newbie

    Stew

    New Member

    car and driver finally tested the Type R.  0-60 in 4.9 and 1/43 mile in 13.5@108!  1.02G on the skidpad and 70 to 0 braking in 142 feet!

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    balthazar

    In Hibernation

    ^ 1/43rd of a mile is 123 feet- that's pretty slow! ;)

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    • Haha 1
    Mentor

    A Horse With No Name

    Members
    3 minutes ago, balthazar said:

    ^ 1/43rd of a mile is 123 feet- that's pretty slow! ;)

    They tested a 1/43 plastic model, so it was all good.

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    • Haha 1
    Newbie

    Stew

    New Member
    1 hour ago, balthazar said:

    ^ 1/43rd of a mile is 123 feet- that's pretty slow! ;)

     

    1 hour ago, A Horse With No Name said:

    They tested a 1/43 plastic model, so it was all good.

    DOH!  meant 1/4 mile  

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    • Mentor

    A Horse With No Name

    Members

    ...and people are not really talking here about how good the chassis set up and tuning on this car really is.  Honda knocked it out of the park with this car...

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    • balthazar

    In Hibernation

    Wonder if the highly polarizing styling is going to temper sales...

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    • Mentor

    A Horse With No Name

    Members
    3 minutes ago, balthazar said:

    Wonder if the highly polarizing styling is going to temper sales...

    Given that dealers are taking fifteen grand over sticker for one of these....a little tempering might not be a bad thing.

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    • Grand Master

    G. David Felt

    Members
    51 minutes ago, balthazar said:

    Wonder if the highly polarizing styling is going to temper sales...

     

    47 minutes ago, A Horse With No Name said:

    Given that dealers are taking fifteen grand over sticker for one of these....a little tempering might not be a bad thing.

    I would say yes to both, the polarizing style and the crazy stupid over msrp pricing will temper the sales and that is a good thing. Pop the air heads and bring them back down to earth.

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