The Japanese Market Civic Type R - A Full 24BHP More Powerful Than Its Euro Counterpart
Living in aged, laid-back rural Japan where tail-back inducing octogenarian drivers, dawdling 660cc keijidousha (micro cars), and blanket 50km/h speed restrictions hold sway, and with the keys to nothing more exciting than a Subaru R1 (and the non-supercharged model at that) at my disposal, your trusty correspondent's current automotive life is somewhat devoid of high-octane excitement. Indeed, it is in the pages of this blog that I seek solace, living out my high-performance Japanese driving dreams vicariously through the written word.
However, several weeks ago, on the 30th March, a Honda press release announcing the launch of the Japanese market Civic Type R seemed to allude to the promise of light at the end of the low-octane tunnel. Despite its most bucolic of locations, surely my local Honda dealer, offering as it does every conceivable model in the Honda range for test drive, would be augmenting its test drive fleet by procuring one of the new Type Rs for my and other local enthusiasts' delectation. Having racked up considerable mileage on a European-market Accord Type R and having revelled in that vehicle's incredible front-end grip and the schizophrenic nature of its ebullient VTEC engine, I thus waited, eager to once again sample the delights of a new and hopefully further improved Type R Honda.
Passing the dealership several days after the new Type R went on sale, there she was, a box-fresh Civic Type R in pristine white - a shimmering high performance oasis in the desert of underpowered 660cc tedium. Perhaps more important however, were the 試乗車 stickers which had been applied to the car's immaculate flanks, duly indicating that this was indeed the demonstrator vehicle I had been waiting for and available for immediate test drive. And yet, the end to my period of enforced abstinence from high-performance motoring was not to be forthcoming. The usual array of work commitments precluded instant gratification, and any hopes of a test drive were thus regrettably consigned to the following weekend's "to do " list.
Having successfully navigated my way to the end of the working week, salivating with an ardour to match even the most rabid of Pavlov's dogs, I duly resumed efforts to appropriate a new Type R to provide a brief respite from my automotive ills. So it was that I found myself pacing back and forth in front of my local Honda dealer at a most ungodly hour one Saturday morning. Rousing myself prematurely from slumber however proved to be futile, for the sales staff, upon their arrival, duly informed me that the sole Civic Type R they had been allocated was already in the hands of a fortunate owner before proceeding to offer scant consolation in the form of some quality time with one of the umpteen "mini" vans in the Honda range. Thwarted and maintaining that I had little need for such a commodious vehicle I duly declined the kind offer and took my leave.
The Type R's Front Racing Style Seats
Having once again resigned myself to a life bereft of visceral automotive excitement a recent press release from Honda confirmed my suspicions that it would be best to abandon any notion of ever finding a new Civic Type R available for test drive. Indeed, according to Honda's blurb it would appear that the new Type R is selling extremely well - if not a little too well for those like me awaiting a test drive - and with sales so strong and demand outstripping supply it seems highly unlikely that demonstrator models will be winging their way back to showrooms anytime soon. In the month since the new JDM Civic Type R went on sale Honda dealers have received over 2100 orders for the high-performance model, far exceeding initial forecasts, which predicted somewhat meagre sales of only 400 units per month.
Any Colour So Long As Its White
While metallic black has traditionally been the prevalent hue for Euro Type Rs, the Japanese tend to be a little more patriotic in their colour selection, with the vast majority of Type Rs on Japanese roads showboating lustrous white paintwork to accentuate the red Type R detailing and evoke images of the Japanese national flag - it is also no coincidence that white is the national racing colour of Japan. It thus duly follows that of the 2100 vehicles ordered thus far a disproportionate number - 84% - have been specified with the Championship White paintwork option, with a mere 9% of customers opting for their vehicles in Super Titanium Metallic, and even fewer - 7% - electing Vivid Blue Pearl as their paint tone of choice.
Unloved - Type Rs in Vivid Blue Pearl and Super Titanium Metallic
Honda's press release also offered an insight into the types of buyer responsible for this disparity between supply and demand, citing, perhaps unsurprisingly, that demand for the Civic Type R is strongest among single twenty to thirty-somethings who enjoy their high-performance driving. However, in a bid to widen the Type R's appeal and lure more family-focused buyers and their offspring into the hot Civic's sculpted bucket seats, Honda will shortly be introducing the Super Deluxe Type R baby and toddler car seat. The Super Deluxe Type R baby seat, upholstered in the same contrasting black and red alcantara of its full-sized relatives, directly mimics the design of the Civic Type R's body-hugging front seats, duly ensuring that there will be no infants flying around the cabin as a result of high cornering speed and/or forces. The bad news however, as with the Type R itself, is that supply of the Super Deluxe Type R baby seat remains strictly limited, with only 300 of the seats going on sale at Honda dealers from July. Those wanting their offspring to ride in Type R style are thus advised to get in quick. Those of us with slightly larger posteriors to accommodate will however have to wait until the initial clamour for the new Type R dies down before being able to experience the sculpted goodness of the Civic Type R's racing seats.
The Super Deluxe Type R Baby Seat
