Honda turned plenty of heads at the Tokyo Auto Salon with the Civic Type R FL5 HRC concept. As FK8 owners ourselves, it’s always interesting to see how Honda continues to evolve the Type R formula,even if this particular version isn’t destined for the UK.
The HRC badge isn’t something Honda sticks on lightly, and while this is still officially a concept, the changes give a clear indication of the direction Honda’s motorsport arm has in mind.
What’s New on the HRC Version?
Based on the information shared by Auto Express and a few images that have surfaced, the HRC model brings a handful of notable additions, including:
Reworked Front Bumper and HRC Intercooler - The front bumper has been redesigned with a more motorsport‑influenced layout. Behind it sits an intercooler wearing the HRC logo. It’s a subtle but telling upgrade, suggesting Honda has considered cooling improvements rather than purely cosmetic tweaks.
Updated Aero Package - The wings and rear spoiler have been reshaped. Nothing wild, but enough to hint at aerodynamic refinement. The FL5 already has a stable, predictable feel at speed, so these changes likely aim to sharpen that further rather than reinvent it.
Revised Rear Spats - The rear spats extend slightly further than on the standard FL5. Again, it’s a small detail, but it contributes to the more purposeful stance and may help tidy up airflow around the back of the car.
Overall Presence - Even under camouflage, the HRC concept looks like a more focused version of the FL5 rather than a dramatic overhaul. It feels like Honda exploring the next logical step rather than trying to make a headline‑grabbing special.
Final Thoughts
If you're outside of Japan, the FL5 HRC is another special edition unavailable to us outside of the country. We expect to see a limited number of models imported into the UK and across the rest of the world, with that being said, expect a huge premium on top of the already expensive FL5 list price, which may mean that the small amount of cars that do depart Japan could be sat in collections as an investment piece as opposed to being driven as Honda intended.
