Honda Has Finally Addressed the Over-the-Top Red Interior of the Civic Type R

The Honda Civic Type R is one of the finest performance cars on sale today, but nothing is ever perfect, and the Japanese automaker has now revealed an enhanced version for its home market. Meet the Civic Type R Racing Black Package. That's quite a long-winded name and something of a misleading one, too, as no performance upgrades have been mentioned.

This implies that the 2.0-liter turbocharged K20C1 four-cylinder engine continues to deliver 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, with power routed to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. Nevertheless, there are multiple significant enhancements that justify its higher price compared to the standard CTR (details to follow).

Honda Revamps the Civic Type R with a Sporty Interior Redesign

If you're using your car instead of just letting it collect dust in the garage, then the view you'll be seeing most often will be that of the interior, and what an interior Honda has created. Everything is black besides a few key accents that should stay as they are in the regular car - such as the red Honda badge on the steering wheel and the aluminum shift knob, center console, door card inserts, and dashboard trim. What makes this special - arguably even more so than some other premium interior packages - is that Honda has trimmed everything it could in black suede.

This means that the complete dashboard and front door cards are adorned with Ultrasuede upholstery, extending to the armrest, steering wheel, and bucket seats, which typically feature a polarizing red hue. To elevate the elegance, white accent stitching is included, while glossy black knurled knobs contribute to a sleek look. The finishing details of this upscale package include various pinstripes—black encircling the vents and silver framing the window switch panels—capping off the aesthetic enhancements.

Several Technical Enhancements, Featuring An Innovative Paint Formula For The RS

The new features include wireless smartphone charging and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. You can select from several colors for the car, including Championship White, Crystal Black Pearl, Frame Red, Racing Blue Pearl, or Sonic Gray Pearl. However, opting for Sonic Gray Pearl will incur an extra charge of ¥38,500, which is approximately $244 in U.S. currency.

That brings us to the price gulf between this Civic Type R with the Racing Black Package and any other CTR. In Japan, the regular car goes for ¥4,997,300 ($31,694), but this interior treatment brings the cost to ¥5,998,300, or $38,043. That's an increase of a little more than 20%, but in context, perhaps it's worth it. In America, a Civic Type R starts at $47,045 (including $1,150 for destination), and we're stuck with red seats no matter how much we spend. Unless, of course, you're willing to spend a ridiculous amount of the aftermarket to let a company like Mugen transfrom the Civic Type R with overnight parts from Japan.

On a more practical note, Honda says that it's developed a new clear coat for its paint, which will roll out in Japan on the Civic RS before making its way to other models. This supposedly "increases the gloss of the body and improves durability by more than 1.5 times compared to the conventional material." Several automakers (including Tesla in 2020 and Mercedes the year after) have been dealing with paint issues, and with 2024 being the hottest year on record (as reported by CNN this morning), this small upgrade could make a big difference.