It's the end of the line for the current generation of the Civic Type R in Europe as Honda today announced its wedgy hot hatch will no longer be sold in many areas of the continent from the end of 2010, due to forthcoming Euro V emissions regulations. Production of the Civic Type R for the European market will cease in October 2010, with sales ending during December.
Honda said the decision to axe the Civic Type R across most of Europe has been taken because the car does not currently meet the Euro 5 emission regulations. "The introduction of Euro 5 means the Type R can only be sold up until the end of 2010 in markets where those rules apply," the Japanese maker said in a statement.
Production of the exclusively UK-manufactured 3-door Civic Type R will continue at Honda's factory in Swindon, to supply market where regulations allow it, including Australia and South Africa.
The commemorate the end of its European career, the Japanese firm is planning to bring together fans of its Type R models at a special event at Silverstone this month (22 August).
Honda also announced lower pricing and better finance deals for the remaining Civic Type R models in the UK with the Type R GT now available at £19,495, which represents a saving of £2,230.
The current Civic Type R, which is powered by a high-revving 2.0-liter four-cylinder i-VTEC with 201PS that maxes out at 8,000rpm, made its debut in concept form at the Geneva motor show in 2006 and in production guise at the Paris Auto Show the same year. Since its market introduction in January 2007, Honda has sold over 12,000 examples of this generation model in the UK alone.
The next generation of the Civic is due to make its debut in 2011, with a Type R model expected (but not confirmed)to be in the mix.
