本田近日证实，思域Type R的重心将比标准版进一步降低，同时该车只提供前轮驱动，而非先前报道的全轮驱动。但更重要的是，公司首席工程师Mirsuru Kariya和首席设计师Daisuke Tsutamori，以及本田欧洲部业务负责人Katsushi Inoue在外媒的采访中已经对外表示，全新一代的本田思域Type R车型将会选配CVT变速箱，同时针对低速加速阶段进行了更好的优化。作为标配出现的当然是6速手动变速箱，而双离合变速箱则暂时不会出现。至于动力系统，预计将会搭载经过进一步进化升级的2.0升涡轮增压引擎，该引擎同样出现在现款的思域Type R车型上，最大功率228千瓦/305马力，峰值扭矩400牛米。虽然官方并未表示要进化多少，但工程师则很有可能会做出细微调整，动力输出很有可能升级到239千瓦/320马力。本田表示新款思域Type R车型将作为2018款车型进入美国市场，之前的原型车已经在2016年巴黎车展上正式亮相了，新款车型针对外观上的改进明显更为激进运动化风格。新款车型采用了黑色主色调配红色装饰色，同时匹配了20英寸的轮圈以及245毫米宽度的高性能运动型轮胎。新款车型将会在正式发布后公布新款内饰造型。

 

Honda confirms Civic Type R to get CVT trans

The Japanese manufacturer has confirmed the hot hatch will have a significantly lower center of gravity compared to the standard version and will be powered exclusively by the front wheels contrary to earlier reports it might get and AWD system.

 

But what’s the most interesting, head engineer in the company Mirsuru Kariya, lead designer Daisuke Tsutamori, and Honda Europe head Katsushi Inoue have revealed to Autocar Magazine in an interview the new Civic Type R will be optionally available with a CVT gearbox, optimized for low-end acceleration. As standard, a six-speed manual transmission will be offered, while a dual-clutch automatic is not in the cards.

 

In regards to what will power the next-gen Civic Type R, previous reports have suggested the car will use an evolution of the current turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder unit, which generates 305 horsepower (228 kilowatts) and 295 pound-feet (400 Newton-meters). No major bump in the output is expected, but the engineers of the company will likely massage the unit to deliver at least 320 hp (239 kW).

 

Honda has already confirmed the new Type R will arrive in the United States later this year, most likely as a 2018 model. The car was previewed by a prototype, which made its official debut at the Paris Motor Show in the fall of 2016 with a striking black-red paint scheme and massive 20-inch tires with 245-section high-performance tires. Interestingly, Honda is still showing the near-production prototype without interior – or at least the company is not willing to show it, as tinted windows and locked doors are blocking media and viewers from checking it out.