European Honda Civic Type R Hatch to be Sold in Japan

Following Australia and South Africa, Japan will be the third country outside Europe to receive the British-built Civic Type R 3-door hatchback. The model, which will be called the Civic Type R EURO to distinguish it from the Japanese-market 4-door Civic Type R saloon, will go on sale in Japan from 2010 in limited numbers. The European-spec Type R is powered by a high-revving 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four that makes 201 HP at 7,800 rpm and 142 lb-ft of torque at 5,600 rpm.

The 3-door Type R can accelerate from zero to 62mph (100 km/h) in 6.6 seconds and achieve a top speed of 146mph or 235 km/h while returning a combined fuel economy figure of 31mpg UK - that's 25.8 mpg US or 9.1 lt /100km.

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

Honda's decision to import the latest Civic Type R from Europe also suggests that the 240HP Mugen Type R concept, teaser photos of which were released in July, will most likely make it into production.