The Honda Civic Type-R is only available with a six-speed manual and the automaker won’t be putting an automatic in it for one very good reason: weight.
Because the Civic Type-R is front-wheel drive, keeping weight to a minimum was of the utmost importance for Honda engineers. The engine puts a significant amount of weight over the front wheels, so pairing it with a dual-clutch automatic or something of that sort would have made the powertrain too heavy. Not only would an automatic have put too much weight up front, it also would have thrown off the car’s delicate weight distribution.
“The Type R being a lightweight front-wheel drive means there is a need for lightweight powertrain systems,” Honda powertrain boss Yuji Matsumochi told “So the engine has big power and relatively heavy weight, so the transmission needed to be lightweight.”
“If we tried to have an automatic transmission (option) or DCT for over 400Nm, then the powertrain would be very heavy weight, which would mean additional front weight, and upset the weight balance.”
SEE ALSO: 2017 Honda Civic Type R Review
We doubt there are very many prospective Civic Type-R owners that an automatic transmission with the car. It’s a 306 horsepower hatchback that set a record for front-wheel drive cars at Germany’s 12.9-mile Nurburgring. To say it’s marketed solely toward car enthusiasts would be an understatement, and those who find themselves in that sect typically love a three-pedal setup. Besides, if you want a performance compact with a good automatic, VW would be happy to sell you a DCT Golf R.
[Source: Motoring]
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