Australia does it again! First non-Euro market to nab Civic Type-R hatch
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As if our fellow car enthusiasts in Australia don't already have it good enough (what with the high-power Commodores, Falcons, Utes and assorted Ford Europe imports), now Honda UK's going to start exporting its Swindon-built Civic Type R 3-door to the island continent. When sale kick off in July, Oz will be the first non-European market to receive the Type R hatchback. It's also scheduled to make the trek to Eastern Europe, with sales in Russia and the Baltic states beginning by the end of the year. This Type R is an altogether different vehicle than the just-introduced JDM Civic Type R (gallery), which is based on the sedan.
Pricing should be in the vicinity of $40,000 Australian dollars (around $32K USD). The Civic Type R generates 201 horsepower at 8,000 RPM from its 2.0-liter DOHC i-VTEC powerplant, makes the run to 60 in around six seconds, and has a top end of 146 mph. It went on sale in Europe in March. As for us, the most recent rumors point to 2010 for a possible US-market Type R sedan. We'll wait patiently.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
geo.stewart 2:55PM (5/08/2007)
I just want the body style; EX, Si, Type R. get it over here and then we can finangle the sport versions....
&BTW, why the hell doesnt the new Astra XR come with the 180hp engine, and leave the 140hp to the XE?
Sorry, side rant but related to euro market...
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Peter 3:09PM (5/08/2007)
Yes, I love the Civic Hatch, why wasn't in brought over? I don't want the TypeR version though.
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The FedEx Man 3:16PM (5/08/2007)
No. 1. I think the US doesn't get the body style because, from here anyway, it seems you're a releltivly consevative market when it comes to styling, that's not to say there aren't some exceptions. Whenever a true US car comes over to the UK - that Chysler 300 thing, the Mustang, the old neon - they always seem either retro (Mustang) or just plain dull (Neon). Just my obeservation.
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Doc Lucas 3:25PM (5/08/2007)
IMHO, we don't get this in the US because the previous version (EP3 2002-05 Civic Si) did not sell well here. It was an odd duck...
Built in England - poor exchange rates
Manual trans only
Not fast enough for enthusiasts
Too loud
US drivers expect a Civic to get over 30 MPG
I bought one anyway. What I really want now is the US market Civic Si, which in many ways is the equal of the Euro Type R.
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The FedEx Man 3:25PM (5/08/2007)
I think you in the US don't get the hatch because the US market seems, from here anyway, to be relatively conservative in body styles. I mean whenever a US market car comes to the UK - the old neon, voyager, that Chrysler 300 thing, the mustang -they always look retro (mustang) or just bloody dull (neon). I think the civic hatch would just appeal to too few people. Just my, most probably wrong, observation.
I've seen a couple of the Type-R about and they look even better than in the pictures - especially in the black.
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Aki 3:32PM (5/08/2007)
"Manual trans only
Not fast enough for enthusiasts
Too loud
US drivers expect a Civic to get over 30 MPG"
The Si has essentially the same engine, makes 30+ MPG. Actually the USDM Civic Si is superior to the Euro CTR (not JDM CTR)--the EDM uses torsion beam suspension to free up some space in the back, so its handling isn't quite as sharp as the Civic Si's independent suspension.
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speedball3 3:38PM (5/08/2007)
The Euro Type R is weaksauce. It's essentially the USDM Civic Si in hatchback form. Honda, give us the JDM CTR or don't even bother.
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ClutchCargo 6:12PM (5/08/2007)
I think it really comes down to styling. I personally with but a few exceptions dislike sedans. Many Americans like dull sedan styling. That is not to say they will not buy a hatch back. They buy millions of them. They are just jacked up in the air posing as off roaders.
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geo.stewart 4:02PM (5/08/2007)
Fedexman, you are probably right that we are viewed as too conservative but the hatch market is making a comeback. but not all of us are :-)
for the other response. the last hatch didnt make it because it looked weak. The current euro/ JDM market hatch is more aggresive, especially withthe new gen nose.
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MikeW 4:07PM (5/08/2007)
The Euro Civic hatchback that was here previously stunk. Honda omitted the dual length intake manifold, and only had a 5 speed manual.
The price didn't help.
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Mike 4:22PM (5/08/2007)
fiance had a 2000 civic hatch... that thing was a rattle can deathtrap. Getting rid of it was the best decision she thinks she ever made.
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chris 6:10PM (5/08/2007)
Yeah, this stinks we're getting the Euro CTR instead of the JDM Type-R version of the Civic we already have. It's insane to give Australia a totally one-off car like this instead of the superior JDM version of the Civic Type-R when Australia already gets the JDM version of the Civic and not the Euro or American version.
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Don 7:25PM (5/08/2007)
Dude...we don't WANT the sedan...we want the hatchback!
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Nastinupe 6:33AM (5/09/2007)
This car sucks. It has about 100 hp less than it needs to have and it's FWD.
I'm going to sleep, wake me up when Honda get's their balls back and makes a new NSX and a Type R Civic/ Integra that can actually compete with the WRX Sti and Evo
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Bryan 12:09AM (5/09/2007)
Ugly Civic as usual. Keep it over there, we already have enough of the ugly turds clogging our roads.
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darren monk 4:18AM (5/09/2007)
The JDM Civic Type R is too hardcore for Americans,best if you stick with your soft suspensions and doughy rides.
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John R 9:05AM (5/09/2007)
JDM Civic type R is probably better and would be cheaper too, according to Sport Compact Car, rougly 25k USD I believe (if they brought it over).
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ZiiRO 1:06PM (5/09/2007)
Singapore got the UK hatch as well as the JDM. see http://www.honda.com.sg/typeR_ex.htm
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Colin Smith 3:44PM (5/09/2007)
It doesn't work because you bang your head on the too-low door frame every time you get in, and soon hate the bloody thing. Be warned.
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Pud 4:16PM (5/09/2007)
Same reason I got rid of my Ferarri. Kept banging my head on the door frame. What a stupid car.
(That Honda Hatch is hot! The USA is currently in a hot hatch "revolution" - It would make sense to get these over here asap.)
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