British-built Civic Type R to be sold in Japan

The acclaimed 3-door hot hatch, manufactured at Honda’s plant in Swindon, is to be shipped to Japan where it will go on sale during 2010.

The model will be called the Type R EURO, to distinguish it from the Japanese-spec 4-door Civic Type R saloon, and will be sold in limited numbers.

Japan is the third country outside Europe to import this high-revving hot hatch with the red ‘H’ badge, following Australia and South Africa. The demand for the UK-produced car in Honda’s domestic market is testament to the dedication and skill of Associates at Honda’s Swindon factory – the only production facility in the world that builds the Civic Type R 3-door.

Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM) also builds the 5-door Civic, Civic Type S and CR-V for Europe and will start production of the Jazz for Europe, from this Autumn.

Japan also imported the previous Swindon-built Civic Type-R (EP3 model) in 2001.

UK-spec Type R specification:
Power: 201PS @7,800rpm
Torque: 142lb.ft @ 5,600rpm
Top speed: 146mph
0-62mph: 6.6 seconds
Combined mpg: 31