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 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.

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

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.

Wireless smartphone charging has been added along with an auto-dimming rearview mirror. You can have the car in your choice of Championship White, Crystal Black Pearl, Frame Red, Racing Blue Pearl, or Sonic Gray Pearl, but the latter costs an additional ¥38,500, which translates to $244 in American money.

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.