Honda revealed the Civic Type R-GT Concept at the 2023 Tokyo Auto Salon, previewing a racecar that will compete in the GT500 series of the Japanese Super GT championship. The model will make its racing debut in the 2024 season, effectively replacing the NSX-GT.
With the Honda/Acura NSX out of production, the automaker needed another contestant for the Super GT championship. Despite being a hot hatch, the Civic Type R was the most fitting choice as the sportiest model in Honda’s current lineup. Interestingly, this is the first GT500 racecar based on a production model with a five-door hatchback bodystyle.
Read: Honda Will Continue Offering Type R Models In The Zero-Emission Era
Predictably, the Honda Civic Type R-GT has little in common with the production-spec model. The greenhouse and the dummy lighting units are the only things that remind us of the Civic. The racecar is slammed to the ground with massive aero components, looking ready to hit the track.
The custom bodykit includes a splitter and canards on the front bumper, wide fenders with integrated vents, thick side skirts, a racing diffuser, and a massive swan-style rear wing. There is also a rear door delete, blacked-out windows, new cutouts for the smaller front doors, and a very large exhaust outlet sticking out from the right-hand side. The Type R-GT sits on a set of center-lock wheels finished in gloss black, which are shod in racing slick tires. Finally, the new livery with red and blue graphics on a white body completes the dramatic appearance.
Honda didn’t announce the specifications of the racecar which is most likely getting a custom racing chassis, an RWD layout, and a highly tuned engine on par with the GT500 regulations. The Type R-GT is still under development at Honda Racing Co. premises in Japan, getting ready to compete in the 2024 season. Below you can check out the official presentation at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
ホンダの次期GT500マシンがお披露目されました。なんとシビックタイプRがベースです!#HONDA #ホンダ #CIVIC #tokyoautosalon #東京オートサロン #東京オートサロン2023 #車好き #愛車 #車好きと繋がりたい pic.twitter.com/kqlplGlWMj
— TOKYO AUTO SALON (@tokyoautosalon) January 13, 2023