In an interesting twist of fate Honda has introduced a new model year version of its hard-revving British-built Civic Type R Euro in Japan. The 2011MY vehicles will be the last of this model series to be exported to Japan as production of the current generation three-door Civic Type R was recently terminated in Europe because its 2.0-litre VTEC engine can’t meet the Euro V emissions regulations. So while European Honda fans now miss out, Japanese Honda enthusiasts benefit.
This isn’t the first time Honda has imported the Civic Type R Euro from Britain with over 1,850 examples coming across in late 2009. This time round, Honda will bring only 1,500 units of the 2011 Type R hot hatch to Japan. There are few changes over the previous model year but there is the addition of a new Crystal Black Pearl color, some trim updates such as the different finish of the fuel cap and some very minor cosmetic changes.
Technical specifications remain unchanged with the Type R keeps it’s high-revving, naturally aspirated inline four-cylinder 2.0 litre engine that pumps out 150kW at 7800 rpm and 193 Nm of torque available from 5600 rpm. Power is sent to the front wheels through the same 6-speed manual gearbox. Acceleration to 100 kph is done in 6.6 s and top speed is 235 km/h. The vehicles will be priced at 3,000,000 Yen or around $48k in NZ money.
Hopefully in the future some of these 2011 Type R Euro models will come to NZ in the form of used imports, allowing us the chance to gobble them up at bargain prices.
