This 800-HP Honda Civic Type R Has All-Wheel Drive Using CR-V Parts
Using the all-wheel-drive system from a Honda CR-V and a turbocharged K24, this Type R is like no other FK8 in the world.
Looking at an old or crashed car and having grand dreams (read: delusions) about a project is one of the most natural instincts of a car enthusiast. Most folks seek out old metal, cars that stand to gain a lot from simple mods and care. But, there are a precious few who go further. YouTuber Devin Niemela looked at a crashed 2021 Honda Civic Type R, an already great performance car, and decided it needed all-wheel drive and 800 horsepower.
All-wheel drive swaps are one of the single most complicated things someone could undertake, especially if the car in question was never destined for it. There are usually two paths to a successful all-wheel drive swap: Cut the entire floor of the car out, or figure out that another tangentially related car has something that might work. Niemela did the latter, and found out that a previous-generation Honda CR-V has vaguely similar suspension mounting points to the Civic. More importantly, it has an all-wheel-drive system that could interface with the Honda-based parts he used.
It still took extensive modifications to fit the all-wheel-drive system. The entire front subframe from the CR-V was modified to fit the Civic, and the firewall was modified to accommodate the relocated steering rack. Then, the rear subframe was cut and channeled to mount the CR-V differential, while a custom driveshaft carried power to the rear.
But he didn’t stop there. He removed the stock turbocharged 2.0-liter K20C1 and used a built K24 with a colossal turbo instead. He K-swapped a K-powered car, which is about as meta as it gets. The build was not without troubles, with Niemela going through a few engines and drivetrain components on the way to making 800 horsepower. Practically all of the CR-V's original parts have been modified, with a reinforced transfer case coming up next for the Type R.
So, yeah, you could all-wheel drive swap a new Civic Type R. But maybe watch the video first before you decide.
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