Emissions rules kill off Civic Type R in Europe but it survives down-under.
A hot-hatch that will be banned from UK and European roads from October will continue to be sold in Australia.
Japanese car maker Honda will remove its Civic Type-R from the key markets because the hatch’s high-revving 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine doesn’t comply with forthcoming (Euro 5) emissions regulations.
Australia’s lax emissions rules, which remain at the Euro 4 standard, mean the Type R can still be imported from its production plant in Swindon, UK. Australia is still to set a date for the adoption of the more stringent Euro 5 regulations, and has only recently adopted Euro 4.
The $39,990 Type R has been sold locally since mid 2007. Its 2.0-litre engine produces 148kW – impressively without the aid of a turbocharger.
The next-generation Civic is due in late 2011, and a new Type-R is likely to eventually figure in a range Honda plans to make lighter and cleaner than the current model.
Mazda’s RX-8 has also fallen under the emissions axe in Europe after the company decided against investing in an upgrade for the four-door sports coupe’s distinctive rotary engine.
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