The next-generation Honda Civic Type R will be a hybrid as the carmaker moves to electrify its entire range of vehicles sold in Europe by 2025, Autocar reports.
Production of the current-gen Civic will continue through to 2021, when Honda will close its Swindon production facility in the UK. Shortly after, they will start building the next-generation Civic in North America. The performance-focused Civic Type R variant should launch a little bit latter, probably in 2022.
Limited details about the hybrid Civic Type R are known. However, it seems likely that the hot hatch will continue to use a turbocharged 2.0-lter four-cylinder engine that drives the front wheels. A pair of electric motors could then be added, potentially powering the rear wheels. If that’s the case, then this will be the first all-wheel drive Civic Type R ever.
In its current form, the 2.0-liter turbocharged four of the Civic Type R pumps out 306 hp. A pair of electric motors could easily bump that figure towards the 400 hp, pushing the hot hatch into exclusive territory occupied by the likes of the Mercedes-AMG A45 and Audi RS3. The next-generation Ford Focus RS is also heading down the hybrid route and may have upwards of 400 hp as well, making the hot hatch market even more exciting than it already is.
Honda selected the Geneva Motor Show as the location announce its electrification plan. By 2025, the company wants to have all of its European sales electrified and among the first vehicles to launch as part of this plan are the all-new CR-V Hybrid and the e prototype.
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