Just in time to
spread a little holiday cheer, Honda’s UK outpost has confirmed that Blighty enthusiasts will be the lucky
recipients of a Civic Type R variant in 2007.
According to Reuters UK, the Tabasco-infused Civic will be built in
Honda’s Swindon factory, which produced the outgoing ‘EP’ Civic Si hatchback sold in
the States. While the latter failed to garner sales and critical acclaim Stateside, the not-for-U.S-consumption
Type R model became something of a hot hatch icon in Britain, where it sold 18,000 units. Performance targets
and specifications have not been released, but that surely won’t stop the speculation gristmill. As the
new-for-’06 platform is substantially improved upon, it promises to be an even better steer.
No word yet
on a CTR for American showrooms, but if it’s only produced in the five-door hatch form, U.S. enthusiasts
would do well not to hold their breath.