Saraba, Civic Type R! The hot hatch is on its way out of PH

The iconic and legendary Honda Civic Type R is set to leave the Philippines soon, eight years after it first arrived in the local market, and after gaining a very strong following from local car enthusiasts.

And for those planning to get their hands on a brand-new one, now’s your last chance as Honda Cars Philippines (HCPI) has announced that they are exhausting “the last few remaining units” of the legendary front-wheel drive performance hatchback’s current FL5 model.

The Honda Civic Type R first entered the Philippine market in 2017 with the FK8 generation, sparking a boost in the Japanese automaker’s presence in the performance car market. This was followed by the FL5 in early 2023, which continued to build on the nameplate’s iconic status and strong community.

HCPI’s press release reads: “As HCPI moves forward with upcoming models and innovations, the current generation Civic Type R will soon conclude its official run in the Philippines. This presents a unique opportunity for those who have always dreamed of owning their own unit of the halo model.

HCPI is proud to celebrate the legacy of the Civic Type R in the Philippines. The brand believes its impact on culture and the countless memories created behind its wheel will endure for years to come. HCPI does not view this as a goodbye, but a celebration of an unforgettable era. The Type R brand remains and HCPI is looking forward to whatever iteration it may be in the future.”

This also mirrors what we’re seeing in other markets, such as Europe, where Honda has released a limited 40-unit run of the Civic Type R Ultimate Edition as a send-off. This features various unique touches that set it apart from the “regular” Civic Type R.

READ: Honda sends off the Civic Type R in Europe with an Ultimate Edition

Here in the Philippines, the Mugen Civic Type R Group A was released last year with a very limited five-unit run. This featured aerodynamic improvements, lighter wheels, and a unique exhaust.

The performance hatchback (at least for the FK2, FK8, and FL5) is also well known for its K20C1 turbocharged engine that’s exclusively mated to a six-speed manual transmission, and makes up to 330 horsepower (depending on the market). It also remains as one of the very few Honda models to still make use of the well-revered K series engine.

In 2017, the pre-production FK8 was able to achieve the fastest lap ever for a front-wheel drive car at the Nürburgring with a time of 7:43.80. Beaten in 2019 by the Renault Mégane RS Trophy-R in 2019, the title was reclaimed by the FL5’s lightweight Type R S version with a time of 7:44.881 in 2023.

With the FL5 leaving a gap in Honda Cars Philippines’ lineup for a flagship model, this leaves a new spot open for a new car to fill in those shoes for those looking for a premium, sporty vehicle. Do these signs pretty much confirm that the Prelude will be taking its place once and if it officially launches and arrives in our country? 

After all, HCPI did say that “the Type R brand remains” and that they are “looking forward to whatever iteration it may be in the future.”

_{Photos by Hagin Busto, Julian Panlilio, and Sam Surla}