A More Extreme Red-Badged Civic Is Coming
The Civic Type R isn’t going anywhere. Honda’s already confirmed a mid-cycle refresh for the current FL5, which would keep most Type R fans happy. But Honda’s been working on something much more serious behind the scenes.
Honda Racing Corporation’s Civic Type R HRC Concept broke cover at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon, and it’s clear this isn’t just a show car. HRC bosses say they’re pushing ahead with production, so that means a true track-focused flagship that sits above the regular Type R is indeed coming. That’s the upside. The catch? This ultimate Civic won’t be cheap.
HRC
But That Pricing Is a Talking Point
According to Japan’s Best Car, the HRC-tuned Civic Type R will cost about 10 million yen – about $65,000 at current exchange rates. That’s roughly double the standard Type R’s price in Japan, which starts at 4.99 million yen, or around $32,000.
Japanese pricing rarely lines up with what buyers pay elsewhere. In the US, for example, the Civic Type R already starts at $46,895 – a big jump from its home-market sticker. Obviously, the HRC model is moving into territory usually reserved for serious performance cars, not just hot hatches.
So what do buyers get for the money? Outside, the camouflaged HRC Concept shown at Tokyo Auto Salon wore a splitter-integrated front bumper, big canards, new fender outlets, and side steps that channel air toward the rear wheels.
At the back, there’s a larger diffuser and a more aggressive wing with longer end plates. HRC has upgraded the cooling, too. The wheels are still 19-inchers on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s, at least for now.
HRC
Racing Hardware for the Road
Honda hasn’t shown the interior yet, but we’re not expecting anything luxurious. But perhaps the most important question is what’s under the hood. HRC hasn’t shared final specs, but the concept is tied to Honda’s Super Taikyu program, where a Civic Type R with the HRC-K20C racing engine set a class record in 2025. Development input came straight from active drivers and advisor Takuma Sato, so this car is being shaped by real racing experience.
No question, the price is steep. But if the HRC-tuned Civic Type R delivers real gains in aero, cooling, and chassis, it’ll fill a niche with almost no direct rivals. For buyers chasing the most hardcore factory Type R ever, demand won’t stop at Japan’s borders. Even in the US, where prices are already high, there will be enthusiasts who see the value in a no-compromise Civic with an HRC badge.
HRC
