2026 FL5 Speculation Thread

[optronix]

I just think its so weird for them to do a press release of the HPD ITS Prototype, showcase it off at the Monterrey Car Show and then go radio silent.

Imo seeing that car become a "special edition" is more feasible than seeing a FL5 LE

That feels more and more like nothing but marketing to push a few more ITS units out the door. I've been sitting on my hands waiting for more information around what parts will actually come to market from that prototype (especially coilovers...) and nothing but crickets. I've lost interest and now looking at Ohlins and DSC/TPC racing.

Also there will just be more options in the future than I had anticipated. Manufacturers have taken heavy losses and are abandoning their EV plans, and some of the exciting news out of the Toyota camp has given me the impression that all bets are off as to what's coming next. I feel like Honda said the next R would be hybrid. Perhaps they're changing their tune.

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[Rhorn]

That feels more and more like nothing but marketing to push a few more ITS units out the door. I've been sitting on my hands waiting for more information around what parts will actually come to market from that prototype (especially coilovers...) and nothing but crickets. I've lost interest and now looking at Ohlins and DSC/TPC racing.

Also there will just be more options in the future than I had anticipated. Manufacturers have taken heavy losses and are abandoning their EV plans, and some of the exciting news out of the Toyota camp has given me the impression that all bets are off as to what's coming next. I feel like Honda said the next R would be hybrid. Perhaps they're changing their tune.

I had to re-read your comment like 5 times because I thought you were quoting my other comment about coil overs I was so confused

As far as the CTR being hybrid I'm conflicted. Realistically I don't see Honda developing a new engine to replace the K20C1, so even if they made another ICE Type R it would be on the same engine and we'd see the same arguments that we saw with the FK8 and FL5. Hopefully I'm wrong though. Would be cool to see a gen 2 K20C1

 

[optronix]

I had to re-read your comment like 5 times because I thought you were quoting my other comment about coil overs I was so confused

As far as the CTR being hybrid I'm conflicted. Realistically I don't see Honda developing a new engine to replace the K20C1, so even if they made another ICE Type R it would be on the same engine and we'd see the same arguments that we saw with the FK8 and FL5. Hopefully I'm wrong though. Would be cool to see a gen 2 K20C1

I wouldn't rule out anything at this point. I'm not connected to the industry in any meaningful way so there's my disclaimer- but seeing the writing on the walls, all the investment manufacturers have been making for the past 5+ years has done nothing but put them in a horrible place as consumers continue to be turned off by EVs and flooding the market has really only made things worse. Porsche for example has completely backed off from their previous stance of killing off their cash cow ICE Macans, and even the Boxster/Cayman are back on the table. The hybrid 911 GTS is kind of a shit show from what I understand too- essentially Turbo or GT3 money for a car that isn't even welcome on some race tracks. God KNOWS how much money Porsche spent developing that car, and the people who would be expected to buy it are left shrugging their shoulders and placing orders for Carrera Ts instead.

In any case we won't hear about it for quite some time, so it'll be very interesting to see what Honda does in the interim, but I am sort of half-expecting them to reverse course and have at least a refreshed version of this generation Civic Type R, or move forward with a full revision with another ICE.

I just think it's very promising to see the recent revelations for Toyota. What the competition is doing can absolutely influence the approach Honda takes. I think some of this has yet to be verified, but a new MR2, Celica, and next-gen Supra, all with ICE! Depending on how that actually manifests can go a long way to figuring out what this next-generation of enthusiast cars will actually look like.

Of course, a hybrid Supra and the evolution of the LFA are expected too, so maybe the next R steps up to compete with them. But then what's left to compete with the leftover ICE cars that enthusiasts will flock to? I'm not sure I'm ready to accept that Honda will sit out of that market entirely...

Rumors of ICE's death appear to have been greatly exaggerated.

 

[JTypeR]

I wouldn't rule out anything at this point. I'm not connected to the industry in any meaningful way so there's my disclaimer- but seeing the writing on the walls, all the investment manufacturers have been making for the past 5+ years has done nothing but put them in a horrible place as consumers continue to be turned off by EVs and flooding the market has really only made things worse. Porsche for example has completely backed off from their previous stance of killing off their cash cow ICE Macans, and even the Boxster/Cayman are back on the table. The hybrid 911 GTS is kind of a shit show from what I understand too- essentially Turbo or GT3 money for a car that isn't even welcome on some race tracks. God KNOWS how much money Porsche spent developing that car, and the people who would be expected to buy it are left shrugging their shoulders and placing orders for Carrera Ts instead.

In any case we won't hear about it for quite some time, so it'll be very interesting to see what Honda does in the interim, but I am sort of half-expecting them to reverse course and have at least a refreshed version of this generation Civic Type R, or move forward with a full revision with another ICE.

I just think it's very promising to see the recent revelations for Toyota. What the competition is doing can absolutely influence the approach Honda takes. I think some of this has yet to be verified, but a new MR2, Celica, and next-gen Supra, all with ICE! Depending on how that actually manifests can go a long way to figuring out what this next-generation of enthusiast cars will actually look like.

Of course, a hybrid Supra and the evolution of the LFA are expected too, so maybe the next R steps up to compete with them. But then what's left to compete with the leftover ICE cars that enthusiasts will flock to? I'm not sure I'm ready to accept that Honda will sit out of that market entirely...

Rumors of ICE's death appear to have been greatly exaggerated.

"Rumors of ICE's death appear to have been greatly exaggerated."

I agree but this only applies to north america lol Rest of the world is going hybrid at the very least and full electric at the most.

My issue with all of this is no matter what the prices will continue to climb and the sale numbers already show mid to low tier sports car dont sell anymore. The Porsche 911 Outsold The Z, Supra, BRZ, LC, Z4 Combined. Funny part even the 911 is hybrid now. I think as enthusist we want another ICE car but regulations such as in China and other countries is going to kill that.

The best case scenario we have a reverse 90s japans where north america gets all the cool ICE cars but I cant imagine the sales to justify it or we are going to see insane priced Type r that will be closer unabatinable for the majority of the demographic.

 

[optronix]

"Rumors of ICE's death appear to have been greatly exaggerated."

I agree but this only applies to north america lol Rest of the world is going hybrid at the very least and full electric at the most.

My issue with all of this is no matter what the prices will continue to climb and the sale numbers already show mid to low tier sports car dont sell anymore. The Porsche 911 Outsold The Z, Supra, BRZ, LC, Z4 Combined. Funny part even the 911 is hybrid now. I think as enthusist we want another ICE car but regulations such as in China and other countries is going to kill that.

The best case scenario we have a reverse 90s japans where north america gets all the cool ICE cars but I cant imagine the sales to justify it or we are going to see insane priced Type r that will be closer unabatinable for the majority of the demographic.

I admittedly haven't followed the global trends as well as I should... but it's the European manufacturers that seem to be slamming the brakes the hardest on their EV plans.

https://electrek.co/2025/02/07/porsche-plans-new-gas-powered-cars-because-profits-come-first/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterlyon/2024/02/28/mercedes-benz-gets-cold-feet-with-ev-only-plan/

Just a few recent examples... China is doing their own thing but they can only influence the global market so much. A lot... we still have the 4-banger 718 thanks to the Chinese market... but Porsche backed off on that nonsense too eventually.

I don't have a crystal ball but I don't think it's as doom and gloom as initially feared. For better or for worse lol.

I won't even get into whatever the hell is going on with this current "administration", for lack of a better word. Whatever the agenda is to roll back regulations/privatize the federal government, etc.... or to sell Teslas on the white house lawn... I'm not going to offer up any guesses on whatever is going on there. So for now just consider that variable removed from my calculus.

 

[Baby blue]

Well is April 5th and no news? No spy shots? Yet?

 

[Cueyo]

Well is April 5th and no news? No spy shots? Yet?

Yeah I don't think it's coming any time soon if it is, tariffs were the nail in the coffin

 

[Robo7]

Agree. Tariffs will make newly imported FL5s prohibitively expensive to the US. This just went from a $47k MSRP to a something in the high $50ks. Maybe Honda takes the hit and keeps pricing where it’s at for the rest of the 2025 model year, but they would absolutely need to update pricing on a 2026 model year and that would be DOA at that price.

 

[TypeRD]

I had to re-read your comment like 5 times because I thought you were quoting my other comment about coil overs I was so confused

As far as the CTR being hybrid I'm conflicted. Realistically I don't see Honda developing a new engine to replace the K20C1, so even if they made another ICE Type R it would be on the same engine and we'd see the same arguments that we saw with the FK8 and FL5. Hopefully I'm wrong though. Would be cool to see a gen 2 K20C1

The lead engineer said, probably over a year ago, he felt he has pushed the K20C1 as far as he can while maintaining long term reliability. Doesn’t mean he can’t backpedal or that Honda won’t continue to use the engine, but I tend to believe what he said. He went on to say that he felt the next Type-R engine would be a hybrid or another technology.

With how the automotive landscape has changed and the economy is in flux, maybe they’ll work on a K24C1 next? Japan would have to back-off on their noise reduction regulations though, I think.

 

[JCZ5]

If FL5 truly does not go into MY26, then the new GRMN Corolla takes back the mantel as the best "hot hatch". Albeit at a much higher price point...

Bye bye days of "affordable" hot hatches. I remember growing up hot hatches were a commonplace for new enthusiasts.

 

[citrus]

If FL5 truly does not go into MY26, then the new GRMN Corolla takes back the mantel as the best "hot hatch". Albeit at a much higher price point...

Bye bye days of "affordable" hot hatches. I remember growing up hot hatches were a commonplace for new enthusiasts.

To be fair, a 205 GTI or CR-X SiR had no hope of keeping up with 964s. We've come a long way since then.

 

[Nikw91]

The lead engineer said, probably over a year ago, he felt he has pushed the K20C1 as far as he can while maintaining long term reliability. Doesn’t mean he can’t backpedal or that Honda won’t continue to use the engine, but I tend to believe what he said. He went on to say that he felt the next Type-R engine would be a hybrid or another technology.

With how the automotive landscape has changed and the economy is in flux, maybe they’ll work on a K24C1 next? Japan would have to back-off on their noise reduction regulations though, I think.

Well most Type R owners are pushing at least another 100whp with basic bolt ons and tune over stock.

So is he saying our longevity is not going to be that long? Lol

 

[TypeRD]

Well most Type R owners are pushing at least another 100whp with basic bolt ons and tune over stock.

So is he saying our longevity is not going to be that long? Lol

Depends on how you measure longevity, my friend.

 

[blinkme323]

I'd be very, VERY surprised at this point if we see a refresh or even just a continuation of the FL5. I was skeptical before the tariffs, but the cost/benefit just can't be there for Honda now. I think they'll let the ITS carry the mantle for a few years and then we get the next gen.

 

[Baby blue]

MW was just doing a review on a 2026 pilot , Sooooooo

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