Honda Civic Type-R
Ultimate Edition
Ultimate Edition
26th June 2025
You know, it’s a bit of a kick in the gut, really. Another proper driver’s car getting pushed out. We’ve seen it happen too many times, especially here in Europe, with all the rules and regulations. But the Honda Civic Type R? That car has been a absolute legend for nearly thirty years. It’s given us so many thrills, so much pure driving fun, that it feels proper gutting to see it go. And yeah, it’s waving goodbye to Europe in 2026.
But here’s the thing about Honda: they don’t just quietly let things fade away. Nope. To mark this big moment, they’ve gone and built something seriously special, a final, shout-it-from-the-rooftops tribute: the Civic Type R Ultimate Edition.
This isn’t just a flash in the pan; this is Honda throwing everything they’ve got at one last, brilliant firework display for us enthusiasts. There are only 40 of these Ultimate Editions being made for all of Europe, and get this – only 10 are coming to the UK. So, you’re not just buying a car here; you’re bagging a slice of history, a real collector’s piece. For anyone who loves a Honda hot hatch, this is it. The actual final European model. If you want one, you’d better move quicker than a Type R around the Nürburgring.
Before we get totally stuck into what makes this Ultimate Edition so special, let’s just take a minute for the incredible journey of the Civic Type R. Since that first EK9 hit the scene in 1997, the Type R has always rewritten the rulebook for front-wheel-drive performance. It was never just about big horsepower; it was always about how everything worked together – the clever engineering, how it felt when you were pushing it, and how it handled like it was glued to the track.
Every single version, from the screaming EK9 and the agile EP3, through the turbocharged madness of the FK2 and the wild FK8, right up to the current, much-loved FL5 Type R – they all just kept getting better. Honda’s famous VTEC engines, with their incredible sound when you rev them high, became a calling card for the Type R badge. These weren’t just fast cars; these Honda hot hatches were built to be cars you could drive every day, but then instantly turn into proper track machines. They gave you a driving experience that was easy to get into but still proper exciting, something most other cars just couldn’t manage.
And it’s not just talk, either. The Civic Type R’s reputation is built on solid proof, setting front-wheel-drive lap records on some of the toughest tracks out there. That shows Honda’s relentless push for perfection and their full-on commitment to performance.
The FL5 Type R, which is what this Ultimate Edition is based on, came out looking a bit smarter, maybe less “out there” than the FK8, but it kept every single bit of its incredible performance. Everyone raved about how balanced it felt, how precise the steering was, and even how surprisingly comfortable it was for a hardcore car. It just cemented the Type R’s spot as the absolute king of the hot hatches.
The Honda Civic Type R Ultimate Edition keeps all the brilliant mechanical bits from the standard FL5, which is great, because that car is already fantastic. But it adds a load of carefully chosen visual tweaks and special touches to make it stand out. This car isn’t just about going fast; it’s about making a statement, about being cherished, and about being a lasting memory for those lucky enough to own one.
Every single one of these 40 Ultimate Edition cars will be painted in Honda’s classic Championship White. This isn’t just white paint; it’s a proper nod to Honda’s racing history, that clean, crisp colour you see on their race-winning machines. To go with that, you get eye-catching red stripes that run across the bonnet and down the sides of the car. These aren’t subtle; they’re bold, in-your-face graphics that really boost the car’s aggressive look and scream Type R.
It also gets a black roof, which looks really cool and makes the car look even lower and more aggressive. And of course, carbon fibre – the proper stuff they use in motorsport to save weight and look cool – is everywhere on this Ultimate Edition. That massive rear wing, a classic Type R feature, is made from carbon fibre, saving weight and adding a touch of class. Carbon fibre also shows up on the door sills, with the Type R logo on them, so every time you hop in, you know it’s something special.
Inside, the carbon fibre theme keeps going with a special carbon panel on the centre console. It’s a small detail, but it makes the cabin feel even more premium. The already driver-focused FL5 interior gets even better with extra ambient lighting. This light is dotted around in key spots like the door linings, cup holders, and footwells, making the inside feel super exclusive. And for a truly cool touch that screams “Ultimate Edition”: when you open the front doors, a Type R logo is projected onto the ground in white and red. It’s a proper welcome, and it makes sure everyone knows this isn’t just any old Civic.
Crucially, the Honda Civic Type R Ultimate Edition keeps the exact same awesome engine and setup as the regular FL5. So, you get the brilliant 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo engine, putting out a strong 329 horsepower and 420 Nm of torque. This engine, hooked up to a perfectly precise and super engaging six-speed manual gearbox, means you get a proper, direct connection to the car – something that’s getting rarer these days, and something we’ll all really miss.
Honda’s engineers have basically perfected front-wheel-drive performance, and the FL5 Type R is proof. The car’s clever chassis, smart adaptive suspension, the brilliant limited-slip differential, and its perfectly tuned steering all work together beautifully. They give you amazing grip, super quick handling, and a fantastic feel for what the car is doing. While some special models might get a few tweaks to the suspension, the Ultimate Edition focuses more on looking unique and being a tribute model, rather than changing how it drives. And frankly, the FL5 already drives so well, they didn’t need to change a thing.
It still sprints from 0-62 mph (0-100 km/h) in a blistering 5.4 seconds, and it’ll hit a top speed of 171 mph (275 km/h). Those numbers are impressive for any performance car, but for a front-wheel-drive hot hatch, they’re just wild. It just shows how good Honda’s engineering really is. So, the Ultimate Edition isn’t just a pretty face; it’s a serious performance machine – a track monster and a road rocket, happy to give you thrills on winding roads or at a track day.
Beyond just the car itself, Honda is making sure that owning the Civic Type R Ultimate Edition is an experience you won’t forget. Every single one of the 40 lucky owners will get a special gift set, designed to reflect how unique this final edition is. This special box includes a numbered plaque that matches your car’s build number (from 1 to 40), proving how rare it is. You also get a cool carbon fibre key ring and special floor mats, and a tailored car cover to keep your pride and joy protected. These little extras really make it feel like you own a piece of motoring history.
The reason the Civic Type R is leaving Europe? Mostly down to the tough new Euro 7 emissions rules. These stricter laws make it much harder for car makers to keep selling high-performance petrol cars like this one, as they have to meet overall emissions targets for all their models. This makes the Ultimate Edition even more significant – it’s not just the end of a car model, but quite possibly the very last chance to experience this kind of raw, exciting driving in Europe.