An old or damaged vehicle can often spark ambitious visions among car enthusiasts. Many gravitate towards older cars that can greatly benefit from simple enhancements and care. However, a select few take it a step further. YouTuber Devin Niemela, after laying eyes on a wrecked 2021 Honda Civic Type R, a vehicle that already boasts impressive performance, felt the urge to equip it with all-wheel drive and 800 horses under the hood.
Converting a car to all-wheel drive is among the most intricate endeavors one could embark on, especially when the vehicle wasn’t originally designed for it. Typically, there are two approaches to a successful all-wheel drive conversion: either dismantle the entire floor of the car, or identify a loosely related vehicle with components that could potentially work. Niemela chose the latter and discovered that a prior-generation Honda CR-V shared some suspension mounting points with the Civic. More crucially, it sported an all-wheel-drive system that could be integrated with the Honda components he selected.
Extensive modifications were still required to integrate the all-wheel-drive system. The front subframe from the CR-V was extensively altered to fit the Civic, and adjustments to the firewall were made to accommodate the relocated steering rack. Subsequently, the rear subframe was adjusted to house the CR-V differential, with a tailor-made driveshaft delivering power to the rear wheels.
This was just the beginning. Niemela swapped out the stock turbocharged 2.0-liter K20C1 for a tuned K24 engine paired with a massive turbocharger. The spectacle of K-swapping a K-driven vehicle couldn’t get more meta. The project wasn’t without its challenges, as Niemela encountered issues with several engines and drivetrain components while pushing for 800 horsepower. Virtually all original CR-V components have been altered, with plans underway for fortifying the transfer case further for the Type R.
So, yes, a conversion to all-wheel drive is plausible for the latest Civic Type R. However, it might be wise to view the video before jumping to conclusions.
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