Although the Honda Civic Type R has now established itself as one of the best performance cars on the North American market, the fabled nameplate is still in its relative infancy on these shores.The history of the red R badge on the back (and indeed, side) of a Civic goes back almost two decades, leaving the US devoid of some of the greatest cars under the moniker. Including this ultra-rare factory gem that we’re willing to bet you’ve never even heard of. America Missed Out On The Best Honda Hatches For Decades Via: Honda 2017 was the first time a Honda Civic Type R was sold on American soil, with the introduction of the FK8 generation. Type R had appeared in North America once before with the Acura Integra Type R, but the story of that badge extends well beyond those models globally.The first Type R model came in 1992 with the introduction of the Honda NSX-R. This version of the NSX sports car focused further on an engaging driving experience with aggressive weight reduction, shorter gear ratios and a stiffer suspension setup. The result was an even more raw, inviting and entertaining version of an already driver-focused machine. A masterpiece, if such a thing could ever be applied to a road car.Although a rare model, it would serve as a template for a line of Honda’s most performance-focused model variants going forward.white Honda Acura Integra 1995 would see the introduction of the Honda Integra Type R for the Japanese market, using a B18C 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 197 horsepower, paired up with a close-ratio five-speed manual gearbox and with a limited-slip differential on its front axle. The result was a car still considered among the greatest front-driven cars ever built.In 1997, the first Honda Civic Type R, the EK9, would follow suit. Its B16B 1.6-liter engine producing 182hp and placed into a stiffer chassis with upgraded sway bars and strut bars. Although limited to Japan, it would be a hit, and every single generation of Civic since then has had a Type R version. Even The 'Worst' Type R Was Forbidden Claire-Kaoru Sakai / HotCars FN2 Honda Civic Type R Specs Not all Honda Civic Type Rs have gone down as greats in history, though. In 2007, the European market got its own Type R hatch (and sold in Japan as the Type R Euro) for the first time with the FN2 Civic.It had a very difficult act to follow. Before it came the EP3 Honda Civic Type R, which had been an instant hit with enthusiasts. It started the use of the legendary K20A 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine in Type R models and paired that with superb handling, partly down to the use of independent rear suspension, which lent well to lifting a rear wheel up under really hard cornering while maintaining impressive grip across the front. That was even without an LSD on European models, though Japanese market cars had this sought-after upgrade.So when the FN2 came, you can imagine the hype. It had spaceship styling that looked favorable compared to the breadvan design of the EP3, a much-improved interior and carrying over the same K20A engine as its predecessor. It had many of the ingredients to be a real hit.Sadly, it had its downsides, though. In a bid to reduce production costs, the FN2 dropped independent rear suspension and instead used a torsion beam across the rear axle. Not the end of the world, as some of the great European hot hatches used a similar setup, but weight was the big killer for the FN2, carrying 139lbs over the EP3.It did have extra horsepower. Although quite literally one, for a total of 198hp, and a little less torque. As a result, it never felt as exciting to drive as the EP3, yet no faster, either. Its killer blow was an overwhelmingly negative review from Jeremy Clarkson on British TV show Top Gear at the height of its popularity and influence, condemning the FN2 to a life in the shadows of what came before. It Served As The Base For A Rare Legend mugen-civic-type-r-fn2-4 Mugen Civic Type R Specs That didn’t stop Honda trying to make something truly special out of the FN2 Civic Type R, though. For that, it turned to the European arm of closely-associated tuner Mugen to extract everything it could from the widely criticized hot hatch. The result was the succinctly-named Mugen Civic Type R.Under the hood was a heavily reworked version of the K20A engine. With a set of Mugen pistons, exhaust, intake and ECU tune, it produced a massive 237hp while torque came in at 157lb-ft, up from 132. More crucially, that peak horsepower came in at a 8300rpm, making this a classic VTEC screamer.mugen-civic-type-r-fn2 (1)-1The FN2’s suspension was reworked by Mugen as well. Stiffer springs and dampers bespoke for the model were fitted, helping to mask some of the negative traits of the twist beam rear axle. A limited-slip differential improved drivability, and 4-piston front brake calipers placed over 310mm rotors sat behind a set of Mugen-designed 18-inch forged alloy wheels.It looked crazy, too. An extended front splitter and side skirts added aggression to its design, along with an aero-focused rear bumper. That gigantic rear sign wasn’t just for show, either, said by Mugen Euro to produce real downforce.mugen-civic-type-r-fn2 (2) It was a gigantic leap ahead of the car it was based on. Reviewers praised it for its much sharper handling, savage free-revving engine and overall exciting approach to the hot hatch formula. It had a pretty significant catch, though.Only 20 of the Mugen Civic Type R were built and exclusively sold in the United Kingdom in 2010. It wasn’t exactly cheap, either. A retail price equivalent to around $52,000 put it around $20,000 more than the base car, and into the realm of serious performance cars.All sold, though, and are incredibly hard to find today. The most recent documented sale was way back in 2019, and for the equivalent $60,000. Finding one when they’re legal for US import in 2045 will involve a lot of searching and plenty of cash. The Next-Best Type R Is One You Can Legally Import Via OXGNG EP3 Honda Civic Type R Specs Good news for Honda Civic Type R enthusiasts looking to import forbidden fruit, though. The EP3 Civic Type R we’ve talked about here was first introduced in 2001, making 2026 the first year the model is legal for import to the US, and plentiful.You can find them in left-hand drive from various European countries, although right-hand drive models from the UK are more plentiful owing to the popularity of the model there. According to Hagerty UK, you can expect to pay anywhere from $4600 through to $23,000 for early versions of the Type R.Desirable facelift models, featuring revised suspension, updated styling and improved power steering, will be eligible for import from 2028. These command slightly higher, but not dramatically so, prices. Of course, you would need to factor in shipping fees and the cost of making it legal for use on US roads on top of all that.The most sought-after models are Japanese-market cars. You will have to deal with a right-hand drive model, but JDM EP3s had a limited-slip differential, a lighter flywheel and significant engine mods. These include high-lift cams, higher compression pistons and a reworked ECU, for a total of 212hp.Why only JDM models? Well, the EP3 was built in the UK, so we can only assume Japan wanted to put its own spin on the model for its homegrown enthusiasts. Expect to pay at least an extra $6000 for these models.