Honda Type R Cars Will Survive the EV Era, Says Honda Lead Engineer

The impending automobile electrification has marked a gradual extinction of fuel-powered performance cars across the globe. However, some manufacturers like Honda won’t risk losing its historic performance badge easily, vowing to find alternatives in order to keep its performance legacy alive.

Honda’s famed Type R models will continue into the electrification age, in spite of the impending extinction of ICE-powered sportscars. While some of its rivalling performance badges were forced to be axed due to lack of profit and stringent regulations, Honda insists in keeping the Type R badge alive, even if it means future Type Rs to be electrified, partially or fully.

Speaking to Autocar UK during the new Honda Civic Type R launch in the UK, Honda Type R lead engineer Hideki Kakinuma said the Type R’s badge is too important to be retired entirely.

“Without Type R, there is no Honda,” Kakinuma said.

Kakinuma further added that the performance arm will probably face its most difficult challenge yet in the battle against the ever-tightening emission regulations and carbon neutrality goals. “But for Honda, they are only new hurdles, new challenges to provide our customers the joy of driving. Yes, we will definitely be keen to bring further Type Rs,” the lead engineer added.

This revelation sees Honda joining fellow rivals Nissan and Hyundai in keeping its performance badges alive amidst the electrification ordeal. Previously reported, Nissan’s NISMO boss has confirmed that a new electrified performance car fully-built and developed by Nismo is coming in near future.

For Hyundai, the brand's exec recently revealed that some of the N-badged models will still come with ICE in their next-gen iterations, in spite the impending Euro 7 emission regulation.

While the new Civic Type R boasts a turbocharged ICE with no electrification at all, the same can’t be guaranteed for future Type R models. However, Kakinuma said the chance of seeing future Type R models with pure-combustion powertrain is “not zero”, but most probably unlikely.

“Carbon neutrality doesn’t have to be focused on the powertrain itself. It can have the possibility of achieving it even though you are driving a car with an ICE. So I would not reject the possibility that the next Type R can be ICE. However, given the current circumstances, this is very unlikely,” Kakinuma added.

Meanwhile, Kakinuma also hinted that future Type Rs might get some electrification boosts, albeit not entirely, as long as it does not interfere with Honda’s Type R philosophy.

“But the Type R itself does not depend on the powertrain. It’s a certain philosophy, a principle of the joy of driving, and that involves a lot of aspects… If this excitement can be provided with a certain powertrain that is carbon neutral or somewhat electrified – or a completely different technology – this will also be justifiably a Type R,” said the lead engineer.

So, fellow Honda Type R fans, what do you think of this revelation? Keen to see future Type R models with electrified powertrains? Given the current circumstances, even a full-EV Type R would be better than seeing this iconic performance badge die in vain, right? As always, leave your thoughts in the comments down below…