Honda is gearing up to welcome faster and more efficient versions of the 2022 Civic to Australia next year.
Honda Australia boss Stephen Collins has confirmed the turbocharged petrol Civic now arriving in Australian showrooms will be joined by the e:HEV hybrid in the second half of 2022, with the driver-focused Civic Type R hot hatch likely to touch down before the end of 2022.
The Civic e:HEV hybrid is expected to use the same powertrain as the HR-V e:HEV: a 1.5-litre petrol four-cylinder petrol engine and two electric motors, for total outputs of 96kW of power and 253Nm of torque.
That would make it 35kW less powerful than the petrol-only 2022 Civic, albeit packing 13Nm more torque.
MORE: 2022 Honda Civic price and specs
Honda Australia boss Stephen Collins says the brand is targeting a Toyota-rivalling price gap between the petrol and hybrid, meaning the e:HEV will likely be priced just below $50,000 drive-away when it touches down in Australia.
The brand is predicting around 900 annual sales for the petrol-only Civic, but says it’s not yet clear how close demand for the hybrid will come to matching that.
As for the Civic Type R? It’s been spied numerous times, but it hasn’t yet been officially revealed. We do know it’s been lapping the Nurburgring recently, likely in search of a new front-drive production lap record.
In 2017, the previous-generation Civic Type R toppled the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S for the front-drive lap record with a 7:43.8 lap of the Nordschleife in its “final phase of testing”.
MORE: 2022 Honda Civic Type R spied
It was usurped by the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R with a 7:40.1 in 2019. Although the Trophy-R is a stripped-out hot hatch with no rear seats and a roll cage, it’s still technically a production model.
Honda made a big deal of the previous-generation Civic Type R’s prowess on track at launch, embarking on a quest to beat the lap records at five well-known circuits around Europe.
Up front, it looks like the fussy, low-set air intakes of the current model will be replaced with a cleaner central intake and simpler bumper inserts.
There’s an ankle-breaking splitter and swollen guards, complete with a vent on the back of the front arches to lessen pressure at high speeds. Honda made a big deal of the fact the last Civic created real downforce, expect this one to be no different.
MORE: The cars we’re looking forward to in 2022
The swollen guards are matched with unique side skirts, which are no doubt similar to those on the current car.
Down back, the biggest news is the new rear wing. Unlike the current unit, it’s mounted on slim, motorsports-inspired struts and sits higher on the boot lid. It’s not quite the swan-neck spoiler of the new Porsche 911 GT3, but it’s the hot-hatch equivalent.
Honda is expected to slot an evolution of the current turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine under the bonnet. At the moment it makes 228kW of power and 400Nm of torque.
As before, there are three exhaust pipes down back. They’re surrounded by a diffuser that looks like it could actually contribute to the overall downforce of the car, rather than just sitting there and looking pretty.
MORE: Everything Honda Civic
