CMST Honda Civic Type R FL5 Carbon Fibre Kit
The CMST Honda Civic Type R kit is a dry-carbon aero package for the FL5-generation Civic Type R (2022 onward), covering the front lip, canards, fenders, side skirts, rear lip, rear bumper vents and a full carbon bonnet, topped by an OEM-size carbon rear wing. Every aero piece is formed in dry carbon fibre — the lightest, stiffest carbon process — and the kit is shaped to the factory FL5 body so it adds downforce and weave-finish detail without changing the car's proportions. A standout option is a carbon bonnet with a clear central window that shows the Type R's red-top K20C1 engine.
- Vehicle: Honda Civic Type R FL5 (2022 onward), 2.0-litre VTEC turbo
- Material: Dry carbon fibre (prepreg autoclave) throughout the aero pieces
- Key pieces: Front lip, 4-piece canards, fenders, side skirts, rear lip, 2-piece rear vents, rear wing
- Bonnet options: Style A full carbon; Style B carbon with a clear central window
- Finish: Gloss 2x2 twill weave under clearcoat, sized to the OEM body
Why owners add carbon to the FL5 Type R
The FL5 Civic Type R is already a serious performance car. Its 2.0-litre turbocharged VTEC engine, sharp front-drive chassis and proven track record make it one of the most capable hot hatches on sale, so the aim of a carbon kit here is not to fix the car but to build on it. Dry carbon removes weight from the panels it replaces, the aero pieces add a measure of downforce and front-end stability, and the bare weave gives the FL5 a more purposeful, motorsport-derived look. The kit is designed to complement the Type R's existing aggression rather than bury it.
Because the panels are sized to the factory body, this is a bolt-on-and-bond styling and aero upgrade, not a widebody conversion. If you are researching the range, AME carries the full CMST catalogue and the dedicated Honda Civic Type R body kit collection.
Front aero: lip, canards and fenders
The front of the kit does the most aerodynamic work. The dry-carbon front lip extends the leading edge below the factory bumper, reducing the volume of air slipping under the nose. Paired with it is a 4-piece canard set on the bumper corners, which generates small vortices that help cut front-axle lift and add front downforce — useful on a fast front-drive car where keeping the nose planted at speed directly helps turn-in and stability.
The carbon front fenders replace the steel guards and carry vent detailing along the top edge. As well as showing the weave on the car's shoulder line, those vents let high-pressure air escape the wheel arch, which is a genuine aero function rather than pure decoration. Together the lip, canards and fenders sharpen the FL5's already aggressive face. You can see the front pieces in the CMST front lip for Honda range.
Side profile: skirts and stance
Along the flanks, the dry-carbon side skirts tidy the airflow between the front and rear wheels and visually drop the car towards the road. On the FL5 the skirts also tie the front lip and rear lip together into one continuous lower line, so the car reads as a single designed shape rather than separate add-ons. It is a subtle change in isolation but an important one for the overall stance.
Rear aero: lip, vents and wing
At the back, the kit adds a carbon rear lip around the lower bumper and a 2-piece set of rear bumper vents, giving the tail a diffuser-style appearance and framing the Type R's triple-exit exhaust. Above the boot sits an OEM-size carbon rear wing. CMST deliberately keeps the wing to the factory footprint so it integrates cleanly with the FL5's roofline while still working in cleaner air above the boot to generate rear downforce.
That balance matters: front canards and a lip add front load, so a matched rear wing keeps the car neutral at speed rather than nose-heavy. The result is improved high-speed stability without the twitchiness an unbalanced aero setup can introduce. The wing options sit in the CMST wing for Honda collection.
The carbon bonnet — and the clear-window option
The bonnet is the centrepiece of the kit and comes in two styles. Style A is a full dry-carbon bonnet that replaces the steel item, removing weight from the highest, most forward part of the car — exactly where shedding mass helps handling — while showing the twill weave across the largest single panel on the car.
Style B is the talking point: a carbon bonnet with a clear central window that frames the Type R's red-top K20C1 engine. Carbon fibre earned its reputation in aerospace as a high-strength, low-density material, and here it does double duty — cutting weight while turning the engine bay into a feature. For owners who are proud of the FL5's heart, the clear-window bonnet is a way to show it off without opening the bonnet. Both styles are listed under CMST hood for Honda.
Dry carbon vs other materials
| Material | How it is made | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Dry carbon fibre | Prepreg carbon cured under heat and pressure in an autoclave | Lightest, stiffest panels with a true 2x2 weave show finish |
| Wet-lay carbon | Carbon cloth laid into a mould with resin by hand | Lower cost carbon look, but heavier and less consistent |
| FRP (fibreglass) | Glass fibre and resin laid into a mould | Complex painted shapes; heavier and needs paint to finish |
This kit uses dry carbon throughout the aero pieces, which is why the weight saving and the weave quality are consistent across the lip, fenders, skirts, rear pieces, wing and bonnet. The clearcoat that protects the weave is UV-sensitive, so the trade-off for that finish is a little extra care.
Frequently asked questions
Does the CMST kit fit my Civic Type R?
The kit is designed for the FL5-generation Honda Civic Type R, built from 2022 onward. It is sized to the factory FL5 body, so confirm your car is the current FL5 Type R before ordering rather than an earlier FK8.
Is the whole kit dry carbon?
Yes. The aero pieces — front lip, canards, fenders, side skirts, rear lip, rear vents, wing and bonnet — are all dry carbon fibre, which is autoclave-cured prepreg carbon. It is the lightest and stiffest carbon process and carries a visible 2x2 twill weave under clearcoat.
What is the difference between the Style A and Style B bonnets?
Style A is a full carbon bonnet with no window. Style B has a clear central window that shows the Type R's red-top engine. Both are dry carbon and both save weight over the steel original; the choice is whether you want to display the engine bay.
Will the wing and canards actually add downforce?
In general terms, yes. The front lip and canards reduce front-end lift and add a measure of front downforce, while the OEM-size rear wing works in cleaner air above the boot to add rear downforce. Keeping the wing to the factory size helps balance the front aero so the car stays stable at speed. The exact figures depend on speed and setup, and we do not quote invented numbers.
How do I look after the carbon finish?
The exposed weave is protected by a clearcoat that degrades under prolonged UV. Park undercover where you can, wash with pH-neutral products, and consider a UV-stable ceramic coating or paint protection film to keep the weave from yellowing over time.
Build your FL5 Type R with AME Motorsport
If you are adding carbon to an FL5 Civic Type R, AME Motorsport can supply the CMST dry-carbon pieces and advise on fitment here in Australia. Browse the CMST side skirts for Honda and the full Civic Type R body-kit range, then get in touch to confirm the right pieces for your build.