The FL5 doesn't sound bad fully stock, yet some peeps demand a more aurally pleasing soundtrack from the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine hiding underhood. AWE Tuning recently launched two different systems for the 2023 Civic Type R, namely road- and track-oriented exhausts that promise up to 14 extra horsepower at the hot hatchback's front wheels.
The dyno-proven gains further include up to 13 pound-feet (18 Nm). How do these exhausts differ, though? For starters, the Touring Edition is a bit pricier at $1,545 with chrome tips or $1,695 with black tips. By comparison, the Track Edition retails at $1,195 and $1,245. Both are 50 state legal because AWE Tuning doesn't tamper with the vehicle's emission controls.
Prospective customers will also be happy to hear that both versions are covered by the Pennsylvania-based tuner's no CEL guarantee, as long as the AWE Tuning exhausts are installed as intended. Both include a 3.0-inch frontpipe, which is joined by a midpipe resonator. Made from T340L thick-walled stainless steel, both exhausts boast a limited lifetime warranty that doesn't cover normal wear & tear or cosmetic changes.
The Touring Edition cat-back exhaust includes a rear-mounted resonator with AWE Tuning's drone-canceling 180 Technology. The Track Edition features a straight section, which may be a bit loud for certain ears. The Touring and Track are finished with three double-walled tips. The 4.5-inch tips are individually adjustable.
As per AWE's Mustang chassis dynamometer, the FL5 develops 326 horsepower and 300 pound-feet (407 Nm) completely stock. With the Touring Edition cat-back exhaust, the numbers improve to 340 horsepower and 313 pound-feet (424 Nm) at the front wheels. As a brief refresher, Honda's crankshaft figures are 315 horsepower and 310 pound-feet (420 Nm) of twist.
For the money, and given the no-drone resonator out back, the Touring Edition is a rather tantalizing proposition. The downside is that aftermarket exhausts will void Honda's exhaust warranty. Some voices argue that anything back of the cat won't impact the warranty, but on the other hand, bear in mind any modification could result in a voided warranty if said upgrade causes a failure.
Still marked up like crazy, the FL5 is listed on Honda's website with a starting price of $43,795 (excluding the destination charge). The value-oriented sibling of the 2024 Acura Integra Type S isn't available with a two-pedal tranny, but only a rev-matching stick shift.
As expected of a performance-oriented hatchback, the Civic Type R sweetens the deal with a limited-slip differential that minimizes torque steer, improves traction, and reduces individual wheelspin. The single-turbo engine up front isn't exactly frugal, though.
The EPA's combined test cycle estimate is 24 miles per gallon (9.8 liters per 100 kilometers). By comparison, the 1.5-liter turbo in the Civic Si averages 31 miles per gallon (7.6 liters per 100 kilometers).
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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