Nothing has changed in the US. For now.
Honda has reportedly stopped taking orders for its Civic Type R hot hatch in Japan due to high demand and a parts supply shortage. This news comes from the Japanese language publication Car Watch Impress following an announcement posted (translated below) on Honda's official Japanese website.
“Apology for temporary suspension of orders for customers considering Civic Type R. Thank you for considering our vehicle. Since its launch, Civic Type R has been well received by customers, and we have received a large number of orders. On the other hand, due to the impact of the spread of the new coronavirus infection, chronic semiconductor shortages, unstable parts arrival, and delays in logistics, it is difficult to forecast future production. In order to ensure the delivery of Civic Type R to all customers who have already placed orders, we have temporarily stopped accepting orders. Regarding the resumption of orders, we will inform you again based on the future production situation. We deeply apologize for causing great inconvenience to customers who are considering it. Thank you for your understanding.”
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Fortunately, this does not appear to affect the US market, but CarBuzz has reached out to Honda North America seeking comment. We'll update this space if we receive a relevant response. Production of the FL5 Civic Type R is handled solely in Japan, which means any constraints at that factory could have a global impact. Curiously, however, the engines are manufactured at the Anna Engine Plant in Ohio before being shipped to Japan.
The latest generation Civic Type R has been immensely popular on our continent as well, which has led to significant dealership markups. At least in one case, it reached as high as $79,000. MSRP for 2023? A far more reasonable $42,895. The cheapest markup discovered was $5,000, which is still excessive.
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All Type Rs come powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine rated at 315 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque but a recent test proved Honda purposely downgraded those figures. The sole gearbox offered is a lovely six-speed manual.
Being the most powerful production model Honda has ever sold in America, the Civic Type R is understandably in high demand so we wouldn't be too shocked to find out there's a supply shortage. While the hot hatch is only built in Japan, the base hatch version is built in Indiana and the sedan is assembled in Ontario, Canada, so any supply issues with the Type R will not affect the standard variants.
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Source Credits: Car Watch Impress
Keyword: Honda Halts Civic Type R Orders In Japan Following High Demand