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The next generation Honda Civic Type R will be made in Japan after confirmation the brand's British production plant in Swindon will be closing in 2022.
That's around the time the next-generation Civic will be launched, and with the British plant shutting down, production of European and North American-market Civic hatches - as well as all Type R hatches - will likely relocate to Japan.
Despite a move in production source, Honda Australia will be completely unaffected by the switch thanks to sourcing the majority of its cars - Jazz, City, HR-V, CR-V and Accord - from Thailand, while the NSX is made in North America and the Odyssey comes from Japan.
“The Civic’s full model change a is still few years away, and the Civic Type R will be re-sourced, possibly from Japan” said Honda Australia director, Stephen Collins.
“Otherwise it has no effect on Australia.”
Asked if the Civic Type R could potentially become cheaper because of its move to Japan and the free-trade agreement that exists between that country and Australia, Mr Collins suggested Honda Australia was happy with the Type R’s positioning.
“We’re really happy with Type R in Australia. We’re happy with its price, we’re happy with how well it sells, and we just love the car in general, so making it cheaper isn’t on our radar.”
The Type R brand is due to stay specific to the Civic model line for now, with no plans to introduce cars such as a Jazz Type R or an Accord Type R.
“The Type R brand has spent a lot of time turning Civics into genuine sports cars, and for the foreseeable future will not move beyond the Civic,” said Mr Collins.
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