The legendary sedan is one of the rare cars of this type that still defies the current crossover mania in the automotive industry. More than 200.000 units have been sold last year and if we add to this the 2021 facelift, it’s pretty much for sure that the current generation will remain in production for another year or two. Most likely, the current generation will remain in production as long as Honda doesn’t come up with an electric version of this sedan. Therefore, it’s no wonder that many sources suggest that Honda is preparing a proper goodbye to this era. That goodbye would come in the form of a 2023 Honda Accord Type R.
At this point, we don’t know much about this model. The officials are still quiet, while all we can find comes from unofficial sources. Therefore, we can only speculate about this performance sedan, so make sure to take the following paragraphs with a big reserve.
2023 Honda Accord Type R Design
Of course, this version would come with all kinds of upgrades. Still, the overall layout would be heavily based on the standard model, which was updated last year. That update brought things like the new front-end design, as well as some other mechanical updates.
In this case, we would see modifications not just in terms of aesthetics, but also in terms of mechanics. Aesthetically, we would expect to see a completely new body kit, which would include new bumpers, side skirts and all other parts that usually come with performance cars. Furthermore, we count on exclusive wheels designs and color options.
Mechanically, we expect to see all kinds of upgrades, particularly in terms of the chassis and suspension setup. We presume this model would come with stiffer suspension, performance dampers, lower ground clearance and similar things. Bigger brakes are another thing we expect to see.
2023 Honda Accord Type R Engine
Of course, this would be one of the most interesting aspects of the 2023 Honda Accord Type R. The current model already comes with a pretty capable 2.0-liter turbo-four. This engine is rated and 252 horsepower and 273 pound-feet of torque but we believe it has even more power in reality, as the acceleration is impressive.
The 2023 Honda Accord Type R would come with the same engine but even more power. We presume we would see the same version of the engine that powers the Civic Type R. Some rough estimation would be around 320 horsepower, which would ensure 0-60 sprint in a little bit more than five seconds. Also, we are pretty sure that the Japanese manufacturer would bring back the manual transmission, which was dropped last year from the offer. The 10-speed automatic transmission should be on offer too.
Another thing that comes to mind is the all-wheel-drive system. Currently, the Accord is available only with front-wheel drive, but some sources suggest that the 2023 Honda Accord Type R could come with the company’s famous Super-Handling All-Wheel-Drive (SH-AWD).
Interior
Interior modifications would come too. At this point, it’s early to talk about details but we presume we would see a typical Type R treatment. The first thing that comes to mind is the upgraded seats, while we would also expect to see things like an upgraded instrument cluster, aluminum pedals etc. Of course, more exclusive, sporty materials are another thing that comes to mind.
Despite the upgrades, the overall cabin layout would remain the same, which means a spacious and comfortable cabin, with plenty of room in both rows of seats. Also, you may count on a pretty generous cargo area, with 16.7 cubic feet of trunk space.
Features
As this is going to be the most expensive version of the Accord, we have no doubt that the list of standard equipment will be pretty long. All models should come standard with goodies like an 8-inch touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, HD Radio, satellite radio, eight- and 10-speaker stereos, Wi-Fi hotspot etc. Despite the performance character, the 2023 Honda Accord Type R should also come with a lot of convenience features, such as dual-zone automatic climate control, remote keyless entry, remote start etc.
The same thing is with safety and driver-assistance features. We expect that the list of standard equipment will include a rearview camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, automatic high beams, parking sensors, head-up display, blind-spot monitoring etc.
2023 Honda Accord Type R Release Date and Price
We believe that the 2023 Honda Accord Type R could arrive sometime in the last quarter of the year. At this point, it’s still early to talk about the price, but we believe that such an Accord could easily go up to 50.000 dollars.