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Sep 20, 2023

Why We Desperately Want The 2023 Honda Civic Type R Milltek Upgrade

Milltek's take on Honda's latest 2023 hot hatchback unleashes the full sonourous

Milltek's take on Honda's latest 2023 hot hatchback unleashes the full sonourous potential of the Japanese performance car.

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R gets a bespoke exhaust system from Miltek. The United Kingdom-based, after-market parts developers take the internet by storm with their parts. Specifically with their exhaust systems, infamously their take on the Lamborghini Gallardo. Miltek produces parts for each generation of Honda Civic Type R. With the new FL5 arriving with customers and soon to become another tuner darling and king of the hot hatchbacks.

Honda's latest Type R seems set as the last before electrification takes over. A last gasp of affordable driving purity. Honda writes: "Inspired by racing. The Civic Type R is designed to deliver an exhilarating driving experience while standing out from the crowd".

Milltek's take on Honda's latest 2023 hot hatchback unleashes the full sonourous potential of the Japanese performance car.

RELATED:EXCLUSIVE: Honda Takes Us Behind The Scenes Of The 2023 Civic Type R

The Civic Type R since its inception in the 1990s took its place among tuner legends. With the high-revving V-TEC Engine, those old EK9s still are some of the most popular hot hatches. These still demand high prices.

But now the latest Honda Civic Type R the FL5 takes to the stage. The previous FK8 stole hearts, taking front-wheel drive lap records around the globe at a reasonable price. With a manual gearbox, the FK8 was one of the last true hot hatches. The FL5 has big shoes to fill, the last true hot hatch, and the last Civic Type R before hybridization or electrification.

RELATED:Here's How Accurate ChatGPT's Review Of The 2023 Honda Civic Type R Is

Living up to the model's heritage the 2023 Honda Civic Type R has a growing aftermarket. Milltek's first parts for the FL5 are now available for sale. Milltek launches always attract plenty of attention, the company makes some of the loudest and most aggressive exhausts on the planet.

So far critics only praise the new Civic Type R. While not radically different to the FK8, Honda evolved the design into the Civic's ultimate form. Tightening up the gearbox, power delivery and handline. But as the world clamps down on loud performance cars, the exhaust may leave you wanting a little more. With their new exhaust system Milltek remedy this.

These Milltek parts are now available for sale at approved Milltek dealers. This bespoke range of parts specifically is for this Civic. These systems use seven different components front flex pipe, front silencer or bypass section, center silencer or bypass section, rear connecting pipe, dual rear silencer, 15 percent larger valve outlet, and choice of tailpipe tips. With a few options, each exhaust has a somewhat custom nature.

According to Miltek: "The system reduces back pressure by over 20%, increasing engine power across the rev range and enhancing the performance of the turbo. Milltek Sport's bespoke revised exhaust valve design has also resulted in a 15% increase in diameter, allowing the driver to control exhaust note and volume via the factory selectable Civic Type R driving modes."

With a wide diameter and reduced back pressure, this increases performance, but more importantly sound. Some options from Miltek are officially tracked only due to the volume. The Honda Civic Type R FL5 has a 315 horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo engine. While not a dizzying amount of power, the Civic Type R with this system will get the boisterous nature of the hot hatch.

Miltek has non-resonated and part-resonated systems on sale along with sports cat and catless exhausts. The vast majority of these are already sold Miltek cites a figure of 70% of the first batch.

Customers also get to choose between Cerakote Satin Black, Brushed Titanium, Polished Stainless, Blue Titanium, and Carbon Fibre finishes. As per usual for the humble Civic Type R, the FL5 will soon see major modification once in the hands of customers. With these different finishes, the Milltek exhaust can fit in on any build, without clashing with its aesthetic.

Over the past two generations, the Honda Civic Type R seems to have gotten a little softer. With the accouterments, one wants from a daily driver, like adaptive damping and an infotainment system. Now the latest car does come with things like Apple CarPlay. But with the addition of Milltek exhaust, there's a little more of that screaming EP3 in this new Honda Civic Type R.

After all, racing is to propel forward what we can achieve with automotive engineering. Milltek writes: "Milltek Sport has been closely linked with Honda's hottest hatch for years and remains title sponsor of the Civic Cup – one of the most exciting one-make championships on the race meeting calendar."

Designed at Milltek's Advanced Manufacturing Centre in Derby, UK, and the Nurburgring the system seems durable with aircraft grade stainless steel, dynamic, and rather good-looking with that centrally mounted triple tailpipe exit.

Milltek adds a little more flair to this favorite hot hatch from enthusiasts. With a little more dynamism than the stock car taking the new Civic to Milltek for a little modification seems like an appealing prospect.

Douglas Hamilton is a British gearhead with a degree in Literature. He grew up surrounded by F1, Need For Speed, and classic cars. He has a worrying obsession with Jaguar.