Honda has launched the new Civic e:HEV RS in Japan. Hybrid model features the Prelude’s Honda S+ Shift tech. It mirrors the looks and chassis setup of the manual RS. Honda has rolled out a new Civic variant in Japan that pairs the RS’s visual bite with a hybrid powertrain. There’s no manual gearbox, so the car leans on a simulated shift system borrowed from the Prelude coupe to inject a bit of driver engagement. The e:HEV RS was previewed by a prototype at the Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this year, and now it arrives without the disguise. It carries over the RS cues, including the more aggressive front bumper, red badges, smoked headlights, and blacked-out trim. The 18-inch alloys come from higher-spec e:HEV trims and wear a Matte Berlina Black finish, while the dual exhaust outlets are present but sealed off. More: Honda’s Hottest Hatch May Be Preparing One Last Surprise For anyone wanting to push the look further, Honda Access offers a selection of extras. The catalog includes a rear wing, a ducktail spoiler, and more assertive bumper extensions, all aimed at dialing up the attitude without changing the fundamentals. The dark-themed interior has red accents and matching stitching on the leather seats and steering wheel. The biggest difference with the manual RS is the absence of a shifter; instead, Honda added buttons on the center console and paddles behind the steering wheel. More: Honda’s Most Iconic Roadster Got Traded For Its Least Exciting Coupe, and the Dealer Deleted the Evidence By pressing the dedicated button, the driver activates the “Honda S+ Shift” technology, introduced last year with the Prelude. The system mimics the sensation of a dual-clutch automatic transmission by tweaking torque delivery, RPM, and engine sounds. The paddles behind the steering wheel function as gear selectors, and when the system is deactivated, they control the level of regenerative braking. Under the hood lies the familiar e:HEV self-charging hybrid powertrain. It combines a naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter engine with dual electric motors, producing 181 hp (135 kW / 184 PS). This is incrementally more powerful than the turbo 1.5-liter engine of the non-hybrid RS, which is good for 180 hp (134 kW / 182 PS). More: The Next Honda Civic Is Getting Lighter, Sharper, And More Hybrid The good news is that Honda didn’t hold back on the sporty chassis setup. The RS treatment includes stiffer springs, retuned dampers, and quicker steering with a sharper response, for a more driver-oriented character. The new Honda Civic e:HEV RS is priced at ¥4,660,000 ($29,200), making it the most expensive version in the lineup, this side of a Type R. Furthermore, the hybrid RS is ¥261,100 ($1,630) more expensive than the non-electrified RS with the manual transmission. Honda
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