In an interview with Auto Express (via Motor1), the head of Honda’s Japanese BEV Development Center Toshihiro Akiwa, explained why Honda can’t just slap a Type R badge on an E

Honda Civic Type R is a beast in its own right, but a competitor or two could give you more bang for your buck.

Just like the Toyota Supra, Chevrolet Corvette Z06, or Porsche 911, the Honda Civic Type R is a legendary performance vehicle, one that has delighted enthusiasts for several decades and vehicle generations.

Honda wants the Civic Type R to stick around in the electric era, though only if future versions are as fun to drive as the current gas model.

The Honda Civic Type R Racing Black package lives up to the name and swaps out the red interior accents in the Type R for a monochromatic black design. This new package features black Ultrasuede on the dash and door panels, black seats and what Honda Japan calls special color stitching on the seats, steering wheel, and shifter boot.

Anything with the red H badge receives the utmost care and attention to make it as close as possible to ideal for driving enthusiasts — and the company is, apparently, finding it difficult to translate that Type R feeling into an electric vehocle.