Thursday, 10 March 2016

Will Australia Ever See a Honda Civic Type-R?


The new Honda Civic Sedan 2016 will be arriving this quarter, and it will be shortly followed by the hatch. There may even be a turbo petrol, and a diesel variant available and there are whispers of a hybrid engine. However, sadly there will be no Honda Civic Type-R this year and perhaps not at all. There are several reasons for this decision, and we will look at why Honda have chosen this course of action here.

Availability is Limited

The Honda Type-R is made in the UK which adds a host of logistical problems for exporting it to Australia and Asia. Combined with this, demand in both the UK and the rest of Europe is very high. Essentially, Honda has hungry customers right on their doorstep, so of course like any sensible business they go for most efficient and profitable sales. The production of the car is high enough to meet the current demand, but there is another reason why Honda cannot simply increase production.

A Short Production Cycle

The current version of the Honda Type-R is the 9th generation model. This model has been designated as a short production cycle car that will only be made for a limited period. As such, raising the number of Type-R cars that may need to be made is a problem. Couple this with the necessary lead in time for building and shipping a vehicle to the other side of the world and the problem becomes obvious. There simply isn’t enough time for Honda to get the Type-R to Australia before the next generation car arrives. If Honda did go this route, the mk9 Civic Type-R would be available for sale for six months at most. The 10th generation Type-R is waiting in the wings, it may be arriving in Europe at the end of 2016, but early 2017 seems far more likely.

Never Say Never

At the moment, Honda has stated that the next Honda Type-R will not be available in Australia. Now, this may seem like a cruel move to taunt petrolheads, but let’s bear in mind that the NSX will arrive here later this year, ahead of the US! Honda Australia boss Steven Collins has stated clearly that the focus at the moment is firmly on the NSX and the next generation of Honda hybrid vehicles. However, he has gone on record as stating that he is confident that Australia will get the mk10 Civic Type-R, possibly as early as 2018. It is also rumoured that this next Type-R will feature the new VTEC turbocharged petrol engines that caused such enthusiasm at the Tokyo Motor Show back in 2013.

If you’re looking for a Honda Civic sedan 2016, contact us here at Prestige Honda. We have an extensive stock of both new and used Honda cars for sale. We can also arrange a test drive for you at your earliest convenience. For more information, get in touch with our sales team, they can advise you on the latest Honda Civic Sedan 2016 price. They will also be available to answer any further questions regarding the purchasing, insuring and servicing of Honda cars.