New Civic Type R Didn’t Get An Auto Box For One Simple Reason - Weight

Honda may look to be saving the manual by not offering an auto option in its all new uber-hatch, but the lack of transmission choice is actually down to weight
New Civic Type R Didn’t Get An Auto Box For One Simple Reason - Weight

While we strongly suspect this is the one thing that Type R fans will never ever complain about, Honda has revealed the reason why they couldn’t give the all-new 2017 model an automatic gearbox option. The answer? It would have added too much weight.

Yuju Matsumochi, who is the assistant large project leader for the Civic powertrain at Honda Japan, confirmed to Car Advice it was simply too big of a challenge to deal with the extra weight that an automatic gearbox would add to the car.

“The Type R needs a lightweight powertrain because it is front-wheel drive, and needs lightweight powertrain systems,” Matsumochi stated, adding, “So, the engine is a little bit heavy, so the transmission side needs to be more lightweight.”

New Civic Type R Didn’t Get An Auto Box For One Simple Reason - Weight

The 2017 Civic Type R already has a slight weight distribution imbalance with 62.5 percent of its weight sitting over the front axle, so adding a heavier auto ‘box would have obviously made this a bigger issue in terms of handling.

All of this is just fine by us, as the new model remains one of the few hold-outs in the current crop of uber hot hatches to give drivers no option but to get fully involved in the action with a manual gearbox.

By Ben Hodges

Sponsored Posts

Comments

Joel Peñaló

As long as they don’t put the McLaren-Honda F1 engines in, we good fam

07/06/2017 - 16:41 |
180 | 2

As long as they have V Tec then we’re good. Alonso properly crying.

07/06/2017 - 17:50 |
20 | 4

Don’t worry, Honda will soon run out of money when making replacement engines to F1

07/07/2017 - 05:49 |
0 | 0
Windscape 🇺🇸

MANual

07/06/2017 - 16:42 |
40 | 18
White Comet

Disappointed. Honda should still be fitting the manual transmission even IF the auto is lighter.

#saveTheManual

07/06/2017 - 16:42 |
12 | 54

You might want to have a reread

07/06/2017 - 16:52 |
58 | 0

Except it’s the opposite of that. It literally says it in the title: “New Civic Type R Didn’t Get An Auto Box For One Simple Reason - Weight”.
And tbh, automatic transmissions aren’t that bad. You can have both hands on the wheel heheh

07/06/2017 - 17:24 |
4 | 2

DiSsApOiNtEd. HoNdA sHoUlD sTiLl Be FiTtInG tHe MaNuAl TrAnSmIsSiOn EvEn If ThE aUtO iS lIgHtEr.
.

#SaVeThEmAnUaL

07/06/2017 - 18:14 |
36 | 6

Your an idiot

07/06/2017 - 18:45 |
0 | 0

facepalm

07/06/2017 - 18:52 |
2 | 0
......

Manual better than an auto again?
YAY! the good winds just got stronger!

07/06/2017 - 17:49 |
32 | 0
luis 6

Still the automatic trans would cause mayor handling problems DO YOU EVEN WEIGHT DESTRIBUTION BRO????

07/06/2017 - 18:52 |
12 | 0
Fouck hahaha

Second reason: Costs

07/06/2017 - 19:26 |
28 | 2
Yee.

yee

07/06/2017 - 22:12 |
6 | 0
Anonymous

No one cares about V-Tec.

07/07/2017 - 00:06 |
4 | 18
suchdoge

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

Honda’s cant intimidate you at a stop light…

07/07/2017 - 13:47 |
2 | 0
Anas "SadButStillSad"

Alex kersten rn

07/07/2017 - 02:23 |
6 | 2
imamutomo21

is adding vtec can decrease the weight ?

07/07/2017 - 08:03 |
0 | 0