---
title: "A Cheaper, Lighter Honda Civic Type R Might Be a Thing in 2018"
description: "Paying less money for less equipment: Are you taking notes, Porsche?"
date: "2017-04-22"
modified: "2017-04-24"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/9576/a-cheaper-lighter-honda-civic-type-r-might-be-a-thing-in-2018"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Civic"
  - "Civic Type R"
  - "compact"
  - "Hatchback"
  - "honda"
  - "Hot Hatchbacks"
  - "News"
  - "sports car"
---

# A Cheaper, Lighter Honda Civic Type R Might Be a Thing in 2018

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2017/04/11___2017_civic_type_r1-e1492846502174.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past year or so, you're probably [well aware](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/9146/production-spec-honda-civic-type-r-spotted-on-california-highway>) that the new [Honda Civic Type R](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/8572/honda-civic-type-rs-exhaust-note-is-perfectly-raspy>) is finally coming to American shores [very soon](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/8150/2017-honda-civic-type-r-slated-to-grace-u-s-soil-in-late-spring>). It's expected to be priced somewhere in the mid-$30,000s, similar to the [Ford Focus RS](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/4843/the-ford-focus-rs-is-the-worlds-finest-hot-hatch>)—pre-dealer markup, anyway. This makes the Civic Type R not a very cheap car at all and out of reach to many fast Honda fans on a budget.

However, a cheaper, lighter, stripped down model may be coming in 2018.

In a [tweet](<https://twitter.com/hondaprojason/status/854742929688190976>) from professional VTEC enthusiast [HondaPro Jason](<https://www.youtube.com/user/hondaproJason>), the only Civic Type R that's coming this year will be of the 'Touring' variety—that's Honda-speak for fully loaded. In 2018, however, two trims will become available: the Civic Type R Touring and the Civic Type R... not Touring.

https://twitter.com/_/status/854742929688190976

Denoted by codename FK8G2JEW, the 'base' Civic Type R will presumably be less well-equipped than the mid-$30k Touring model. Taking out creature comforts such as heated seats, LED headlights, big infotainment screens, and other luxury doodads should make Honda's hottest hatch a little more attainable without compromising what is arguably the car's biggest draw: the driving experience. If anything, less tech toys and luxuries should mean a lower curb weight, which might give the base Type R even greater street cred over its bloated, pricey Touring sibling—a Civic Type R Superleggera, if you will.

We predict the stripper-spec CTR to cost several thousand less than its mid-$30k launch price. Don't expect 8-way adjustable heated seats, though.

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)