Regardless of whether or not you’re a fan of the 2022 Honda Civic’s refreshed styling, the arrival of this eleventh-generation car is exciting for other reasons. That’s because we’ll inevitably get brand-new Si and Type R variants along with it. As competitors move to offer automatic transmissions, rumors suggested Honda would follow the same path.

However, a new live video covered by the CivicXI forum shows Carl Pulley, Honda Western Region Media Relations Manager, confirming the retention of the manual transmission. Aside from keeping the manual, these cars won’t offer an automatic transmission option.

Does the 2022 Honda Civic offer a manual transmission?

Before we dive in to cover the sporty Si and Type R models, let’s talk about the 2022 Honda Civic itself. As of writing, only the sedan variant has made its official debut for the U.S. market. In sedan form, this new generation currently offers four different trim levels, none of which are offered with a manual transmission.

Your two only engine options are a 2.0-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder pushing out 158 hp and 138 lb-ft or a smaller 1.5-liter turbo-four developing 180 hp and 177 lb-ft. Your only transmission option for these is a CVT.

As you might imagine, the 2022 Honda Civic won’t get stuck with just a sedan body style. While we won’t see a coupe variant, a hatchback version is due to arrive relatively soon. In the live video embedded above, Pulley confirms that the hatchback variant will offer a manual transmission. While we don’t know how many speeds it will offer, chances are it’ll be a six-speed unit as in previous generations.

The Si and Type R will only exist with manual transmissions

Aside from the standard 2022 Honda Civic Hatchback getting a manual, the Si and Type R variants will do so as well. Up to this point, these sporty variants didn’t offer an automatic transmission option, a decision that will carry on into the future.

As a quick refresher, the last-gen Civic Si offered up 205-hp from a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. A six-speed manual transmission sent all of the available power to the front wheels. The Si existed as both a coupe or sedan, and pricing started at just over $25,000.

In contrast, the Type R offered serious performance boosts. For starters, you got a larger 2.0-liter turbocharged engine pushing out 306-hp. Again, a six-speed manual transmission sent all of that available power to the front wheels exclusively. In terms of major differences, the Type R exists only as a hatchback. Additionally, it carries a significant premium, starting at $37,895.

When will the 2022 Honda Civic Si and Type R arrive?

Since the 2022 Honda Civic is so fresh on the scene, these sporty variants could take their sweet time before arriving. However, Motor1 estimates that the Si variant could go on sale toward the end of this year. Since the Type R will likely remain a hatchback, chances are we’ll have to wait until next year before we get to see it in the flesh.