Honda brought several exhibits at the Tokyo Auto Salon this year, although one of them is more interesting for Japanese buyers as it will soon evolve into a production offering. The 2024 Honda Civic RS Prototype previews a sporty trim of the hatchback with a manual gearbox, set to fill the gap between the regular versions and the hardcore Civic Type R.
The Civic RS was presented with a
full-black livery, enhancing its stealthy appearance. The highlight of the
exterior is the redesigned front bumper with sharper surfacing and slimmer side
intakes. Furthermore, Honda added red RS emblems on both ends contrasting the
black paint. The subtle visual upgrades make the new trim look like a softcore
version of the Type R, even though the rest of the bodywork and the alloy
wheels are carried over from the standard Civic Hatchback.
The Honda Civic is already available with
a six-speed manual gearbox in the US market, but Japanese buyers are limited to
the CVT automatic. This will change in the fall of 2024 when the
manual-equipped Civic RS will launch in Japan. The company didn’t say what lies
under the hood, but chances are it will be powered by the non-electrified
turbocharged 1.5-liter gasoline engine. More importantly, Honda promised
“further refinements to the joy of driving”, hinting at a revised chassis setup
that would justify the sportier looks.
Reading between the lines, the JDM-spec
Civic RS could mirror the specs of the US-spec Civic Si. The latter benefits
from a limited-slip differential, rev-matching tech, stiffer springs, revised
dampers, thicker stabilizer bars, larger brakes, and 200 hp from the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine.
We will learn more information about the
2024 Honda Civic RS as we get closer to its debut in Japan this fall.
