Honda pushing limits on & off the track

The Honda Indy Toronto is on, the cars are fast, the crowd is loud and the action is lively. One thing you’ll notice at this year’s edition is the pace car to be the recently unveiled 2023 Honda Civic Type R. The model, which was unveiled back in March making its debut at the Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, is just the latest in Honda’s focus on the auto enthusiast as it continues to push limits.

Honda Civic Type R

Firstly, the Honda Civic Type R is the most powerful model in the Type R’s 30-year history. Under its aluminum hood is a more powerful version of Honda’s K20C1 engine. Horsepower, torque and response are improved by a redesigned turbocharger, increased air intake flow rate, and a new more efficient exhaust system.

With a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine, the Type R produces 315 horsepower at 6,500 rpm (SAE net) and 310 lb-ft of torque at 2,600-4,000 rpm (SAE net). Combine this with greater stability and a smoother ride, this is sure to capture the attention of auto enthusiasts and Civic aficionados.

Honda Indy Toronto & the Future

The Honda Indy returns to Toronto for its 35th year this weekend and has race fans out in droves. Gent’s Post had the chance to catch up with Honda Canada spokesperson John Bordignon to chat about the race and Honda’s ever-growing involvement. “Honda Canada has been sponsoring the Honda Indy Toronto since 2009, and we have a long and storied tradition when it comes to automotive racing of all types, it is entrenched in our DNA,” he notes.

What’s more, Honda is a growing brand evolving its offerings beyond that of the traditional auto-lineup. “Honda is a brand that is exciting, fun, youthful and innovative. This is what we want to portray and what consumers know about our brand when considering and shopping for our cars, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, power equipment and marine products. We make a wide range of reliable products that our competitors don’t, from lawnmowers to private jets.”

Also under it’s umbrellas is the lineup of Acura offerings. “Our track and street performance inspired models like the 2023 Honda Civic Type R and 2024 Acura Integra Type S resonate with auto enthusiasts,” he notes. As the market shifts towards more electric options, the Honda Prologue and the Acura ZDX and ZDX Type S SUV are ones to watch. “Our path to an electrified future at Honda is accelerating. We are on track to achieve our goals of having 100% of our vehicles electrified in North America by 2040 and achieve carbon neutrality for all our products and facilities globally by 2050.”

Hot Lap

Yours truly had the chance to partake in the festivities with a first-hand experience in a 2-seater. Between going over 200 km/hour, the adrenaline going into turns and the fact that the entire lap took just over a minute (felt shorter), is a testament to the power and precision of these machines.