Honda is contemplating a new high-performance variant that would sit above the Type R and Type S trims.

      Acura

      While SUVs, which are often lucrative, attract a wide audience, Honda remains committed to producing some of the most accessible cars for enthusiasts. Models such as the Honda Civic Si, Type R, and their Acura counterparts like the Integra and Type S provide a great mix of street performance and track capabilities. But is there a possibility of a more intense, hardcore version beyond the Type R or Type S?

      At the 2025 Rolex 24 at Daytona, Honda Racing President Koji Watanabe spoke to the media, indicating that Honda ought to develop higher-performance models utilizing authentic HRC parts.

      “Today, I cannot share the exact plan yet, but yes, we should create such performance models in collaboration with HRC racing technologies,” Watanabe stated. “The American side [HRC US] has already begun developing performance parts.”

      Watanabe's remarks came in response to a question about whether Honda would explore the idea of producing and selling ultra-high-performance models similar to Ferrari’s XX program. However, when I inquired if this would include something like the ARX-06 IMSA GTP prototype or the RB17-style hypercar he mentioned in 2024, he clarified that these enhanced models would derive from current Honda and Acura nameplates.

      Acura

      “We don’t have any specific plans yet, but the initial model would be based on current offerings like the Integra Type S or Honda Type R,” Watanabe shared with The Drive.

      Although Honda’s racing chief did not elaborate further, his mention of HRC’s American branch already working on performance parts for existing models suggests that this is more than just a distant dream. At last year’s Monterey Car Week, the company introduced the track-oriented Acura Integra Type S HRC Prototype, a unique build that received positive feedback from F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda after a short drive, who even requested the company president to bring one to Japan for him.

      Jon Ikeda, senior vice president of HRC US and a key figure behind that prototype, explained to The Drive that this next level could indeed represent an HRC trim.

      “You have the Type S or Type R for everyday driving and then on the other side, you have a race car available for the track—so this would fit in between—right at that point where your significant other might not want to join you,” Ikeda commented. “If you’re going to label it with the HRC brand, that’s the message you’re sending [indicating it’s the ultimate iteration of that model], and it must remain street legal.”

      Ikeda noted that he isn't yet certain which parts or enhancements would comply with safety standards and other required certifications, but the vision is for customers to select options akin to what Porsche and others offer. “But everything must be certified because we won’t compromise on safety.”

      Both HRC executives emphasized that this is still in the early stages and there is no definitive timeline, but it’s thrilling to consider the performance potential of a factory racing-inspired Civic or Integra. We’ll keep an eye on developments.

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