Production of the 2023 Honda Civic Type R has ramped up in Japan. This video takes viewers inside Honda’s Yorii factory to see how the latest Type R is built. Be careful though, because there is no narration.
The video shows the entire assembly process in just around eight and a half minutes, starting with the body shop where sheet metal is pressed into body panels. These parts are then welded and joined together to form the body, after which the hood, doors and hatch are attached. The finished body is then painted.
2023 Honda Civic Type R assembly
Up to this point everything is highly automated, with humans mostly controlling the work of robots. Other jobs are more practical. Workers manually insert the grille into the front bumper and also bolt the 2.0-liter K20C1 Turbo 4 engine to the transmission. While final assembly takes place in Japan, Type-R engines are sourced from Honda’s Anna engine plant in Sydney, Ohio.
The engine produces 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, making the 2023 Civic Type R the most powerful Honda-badged vehicle ever sold in the United States. Admittedly, it’s a relatively small improvement over the outgoing Type R’s 306 hp and 295 lb-ft, achieved through a redesigned turbocharger, increased air intake throughput, and a more efficient exhaust system. Power is sent to the front wheels via a revised 6-speed manual transmission with a speed-matching system like that of the 2022 Civic Si.
Assembly continues with the installation of the engine, suspension components, and brakes, which are installed into the car as part of the front and rear subassemblies. The video clearly shows the Brembo front brake calipers clamping two-piece front rotors, and the front strut and multi-link rear suspension are also visible. Both ends have been retuned to accommodate the longer and wider 11th Gen Civic platform on which the new Type R is based.
Seats and other interior components will follow. Each finished car then goes to a quality control station, which includes a quick dyno test before being driven out of the factory for shipment. Some of these cars should be reaching US dealers soon.
