Civic Type R

Make
Honda
Segment
Hatchback

If you've ever looked at the intricate design of a wheel and wondered just what it takes to create such a thing, it's generally a really simple process. Most wheels are made from cast aluminum, where molten metal is poured into a die. That's all good and well, but it takes a lot of metal which adds a lot of weight. For Honda's 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition, that doesn't cut the mustard. So what would? Forged aluminum. In the below video, Honda shows us the process that wheel manufacturer BBS goes through to build a wheel that is lighter, stronger, and slimmer.

So why the new wheels? Well the 2021 Type R Limited Edition is a car built to dominate track records and has even been enlisted as a safety car. To do this, weight needs to be shed where possible, and the new forged wheels that BBS has created save 10 kilograms or around 22 pounds. BBS is one of the biggest wheel brands in the world and knows what it's doing when it comes to special wheels. The company has produced wheels for the likes of the Yaris GR and even the universally loved Mazda MX-5 Miata. Creating a forged wheel for Honda is just another day at the office for these guys.

Attention to detail is a core principle for Japanese manufacturers, and this is certainly evident with the special edition of the Honda Civic Type R. Three stages of forging go into these wheels and the final product is inspected by hand. This doesn't mean a random wheel is pulled off the production line - every single last rim is carefully checked by skilled workers to ensure the best possible product.

All of this means nothing if there is no positive outcome, but Honda's test driver says you can clearly feel the difference and we don't doubt this for a second. On a car as impressive as this one, seeing the process of creating something as "simple" as a wheel is truly special.