Autobacs Unveils Limited-Edition Honda Civic Type R ARTA GT for TAS 2026

Autobacs’ new ARTA GT kit transforms the standard Honda Civic Type R FL5 into a Super GT-inspired hot hatch.

Think the current FL5-gen Honda Civic Type R is not sporty enough for your liking? Good news because renowned Japanese automotive parts retailer Autobacs has introduced a new special upgrade kit for your Type R, known as the ARTA GT. Capped at just 20 units worldwide, this super limited-edition kit transforms the not-so-humble FL5 into a mean-looking racer for the streets.

Like many other sporty upgrade kits, the ARTA GT kit was created with an actual racing pedigree, as Autobacs’ own racing outfit, the Autobacs Racing Team Aguri (ARTA), was responsible for this whole project. As a result, we can see that the design of the ARTA GT FL5 is heavily inspired by the team’s current racecar for the Super GT, the ARTA Civic Type R-GT Super GT 500.

The main changes start at the front, where the FL5 gets a reshaped front bumper with a racing-style splitter and a new blacked-out front grille. Each corner of the bumper features a pair of aerodynamic canards, while a new front hood with triple vents has been added not only for styling but also to help with heat dissipation.

To give it a more muscular stance, ARTA has given the FL5 wider wheel arches and more aggressive side skirts that are also finished in black to match the front splitter. Besides riding on a new set of custom wheels, the car also rocks a much larger swan-neck rear spoiler, a more aggressive rear bumper with prominent diffusers, and two large centre-mounted exhaust pipes instead of three.

Surprisingly, the ARTA GT kit also includes some minor performance and mechanical enhancements, including a new intercooler, new suspension upgrades, and high-performance AP Racing brakes with large black callipers. The FL5’s 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbocharged VTEC mill has also been tweaked, although no exact output or detailed parts were shared.

Rounding off the Super GT-inspired makeover are the new Sparco carbon fibre steering wheel with racing-style buttons and Alcantara trims, a red-hued shifter knob replacing the Type R’s signature aluminium knob, and more.

Given that only 20 units of this upgrade kit will be available, it comes as no surprise that Autobacs is asking for JPY 13.5 million (RM343,866) for each, making it almost triple the price of a brand-new Civic Type R in Japan, which only retails for JPY 4.997 million (RM127,281).