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HONDA BIDS EUROPE AN EMOTIONAL TYPE R FAREWELL WITH THE CIVIC TYPE R ‘ULTIMATE EDITION’

Published: 2025-06-06 12:02:58 Last Updated: 2025-06-06 12:12:29

After nearly three decades of chasing apexes, terrorising racetracks, and thrilling diehard enthusiasts, the iconic Civic Type R is bowing out of the European market - and Honda’s giving it the send-off it deserves with the limited-run Civic Type R Ultimate Edition. Just 40 individually numbered examples are available across Europe, each dressed in Honda’s signature colour scheme and armed with a few nostalgic touches to remind us what made the red badge so damn special. Finished exclusively in Championship White - a hue forever inked into Type R folklore - the Ultimate Edition is layered with bespoke red decals, a contrasting gloss black roof, and a healthy dose of carbon fibre detailing. Think carbon wing, carbon doorstep garnish, and that race-inspired presence that’s made every Type R feel like it belongs more at Suzuka than in suburbia. Inside, the attention to detail continues with a carbon centre console, custom ambient lighting (door cards, cupholder, footwell, and under the seats), and a Type R logo puddle light that beams proudly when the front doors swing open. Each owner also scores a slick presentation gift box with a numbered emblem (1–40), a carbon keyring, bespoke floor mats, and a car cover - ideal for those who prefer their garage queen kept under wraps between spirited blasts.
While it looks like a tribute, this special model still has all the bite. Underneath, it’s every bit the current FK8-based Civic Type R - turbocharged 2.0-litre VTEC engine, 6-speed manual, rev-matching tech, and front-wheel drive honed to perfection. The same recipe that made it a track-day weapon and Nürburgring lap record-setter for front-wheel-drive production cars.

The Civic Type R story began in 1997 with the Japanese-market EK9, a high-revving, stripped-down, track-bred hatch that instantly earned cult status. From there came the EP3 with its screaming i-VTEC and a gear lever sprouting from the dash; the FN2, more divisive in design but popular across Europe; the FK2, which brought turbo power into the mix; the FK8, that earned its ‘Green Hell’ stripes with Nürburgring dominance; and finally the latest FL5, the most mature, refined and dynamically capable Type R to date. Across those six generations, Honda didn’t just build hot hatches—they built front-wheel drive benchmarks, setting lap records at circuits like Spa, Magny-Cours, Estoril, Hungaroring, Silverstone, Suzuka, and even Mount Panorama. Type R was never about outright horsepower; it was about feel, balance, and the joy of wringing every ounce out of a razor-sharp chassis. And while the showroom chapter might be closing for Europe, the Type R’s legacy is alive and well in the garages, racetracks, and hearts of petrolheads worldwide. It’s also a car that dominated touring car series like the WTCC and WTCR, proving its mettle in real-world competition and adding multiple championship titles to its resumé. This Civic Type R Ultimate Edition isn’t simply another sticker pack, oh no, this one is a rolling tribute to one of the most celebrated nameplates in performance car history. For European fans, it’s your last chance to own a slice of this legacy straight from the factory, before the hot hatch game changes forever. And let’s be honest: if you’re going to wave goodbye, do it with carbon, puddle lights, and Championship White

Take a look at the YouTube video from the chaps that live their lives according to all things VTEC as they give their thoughts on this final edition of the iconic Civic Type-R for the EU market: Civic Type R Ultimate Edition (Honda Kills the Type R) | VTEC Academy

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Article Tags: Cars #SXdrv #UltimateEdition #TypeR #CivicTypeR #CTR #Honda