Is an Electric Honda Civic Type R a Thrilling Possibility?

Honda is working on creating an EV worthy of the Type R badge, but crafting an electric car that delivers the iconic driving experience isn’t easy.

Short Description
Honda is exploring the challenge of building an electric Civic Type R, aiming to preserve its performance car legacy. The key question is whether the soul of the Type R can be captured in an EV without sacrificing its trademark excitement.

Can Honda Make an Electric Type R Fun to Drive?
Could an electric car ever truly deserve Honda’s revered “Type R” badge? Honda is grappling with that question as it develops its first fully electric performance car. According to Toshihiro Akiwa, head of Honda’s Japanese BEV Development Center, the journey is far from simple.

In an interview with Auto Express (via Motor1), Akiwa explained why Honda can’t just apply the Type R name to an EV and call it a day. “A battery and motor have different characteristics, so we can’t come up with something exactly the same as before,” Akiwa said. “As an EV, how can we provide the joy of driving? We haven’t given up, of course, but it’s not just about power—it’s about the sound, vibration, acceleration, and the human experience. These are the joys of driving.”

Akiwa’s point is clear: horsepower and torque alone don’t create the thrilling, visceral feel that defines a true performance car. While some might argue that raw speed is enough, a large portion of driving enthusiasts crave the intangible elements—sound, feedback, and connection—that make driving an art.

Not Just a Type R Problem

This dilemma isn’t exclusive to the Civic Type R. Honda’s luxury brand Acura is facing a similar challenge. You may recall the Acura Electric Vision Study Design Concept from 2023, which many speculate could evolve into the next NSX. In both cases, Honda and Acura must find ways to make their EVs as exciting as their combustion-engine predecessors.

Fortunately, there are examples of performance EVs that Honda can draw inspiration from. The Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is one such model. It proves that electric cars can be fun to drive, despite their quieter powertrains. Features like synthetic engine sounds and simulated gear shifts may sound like gimmicks on paper, but in practice, they recreate some of the sensations drivers expect from a performance car.

For Acura’s next-generation NSX, hypercars like the Rimac Nevera offer a compelling blueprint. While the electric NSX isn’t expected to match the Nevera’s stratospheric performance or price, it could adopt similar principles to deliver excitement in a new, electric form.

A Worthy Successor—or Nothing at All

One thing is certain: Honda won’t release an electric Type R unless it feels the car is worthy of the badge. If the engineers fail to capture the essence of the Type R, the name may retire alongside combustion engines.

For enthusiasts and Honda fans worldwide, the hope is that the automaker cracks the code. Until then, the question remains: Can an electric Civic Type R truly thrill drivers like its predecessors?