SEMA 2017: Honda To Offer Civic Type R Crate Engine

The hype and high-demand for the 2018 Honda Civic Type R has made the hot hatch nearly impossible to get without falling victim to huge dealer mark-ups.

Though, it looks like there might be a way to pull off a DIY Civic Type R thanks to Honda’s announcement today that they will be establishing a crate engine program for the 300 horsepower turbocharged 2.0 liter engine found in the Type R.

Furthermore, Honda will ask only $6,519.87 for the complete engine!  That is a pretty good price considering what you’d be getting.

Though unfortunately there is a catch…

Honda isn’t making the Civic Type R crate engine available to everyone.  Potential customers have to be running a professional motorsport operation and must purchase the engine through the Honda Performance Development (HPD) Racing Line program.

While that makes things pretty prohibitive, I’m sure it won’t be long before some enterprising project car builder finds a loophole in the rules and we start to see this motor swapped into CRXs and EG Civics.

I for one, look forward to that day.

What do you think about this? Do you think Honda should open things up and offer these engines to everyone?  If you got a Civic Type R engine, what car would you swap it into?  Let us know in the comments below or tweet to us at @MotorworldHype.

Press Release:

Civic Type R crate engine for sale through Honda Performance Development (HPD) Honda Racing Line Program

• Production-based race cars on display to include Global Rallycross Civic, Team Honda Research West Endurance Civic Type R, Pirelli World Challenge Civic Si, and race-ready motorcycles from Honda Powersports
• Honda Off-Road Baja Ridgeline Concept Truck and new Honda-powered F3 racecar, fresh from U.S. Grand Prix debut, also on display

 

Oct 30, 2017 – LAS VEGAS  — Honda announced today at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show that the Civic Type R’s 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo engine – the motor that makes Type R the fastest front-wheel-drive production automobile in the world and the most powerful Honda ever sold in America – is now available as a crate engine for purchase through Honda Performance Development’s (HPD) Honda Racing Line program.

The Honda SEMA exhibit will feature a host of specialty and production-based Honda-powered racing machines, on two and four wheels, including the Global Rallycross (GRC) Civic; Team Honda Research West (THR-W) Endurance Civic Type R; new Honda-powered F3 race car; Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) Civic Si; 50th Anniversary Baja Ridgeline; Honda’s Powersports product line-up; Honda Factory Performance™ (HFP™) Accessories and the new Honda Genuine Accessories Civic Type R Red Carbon Kit.

Civic Type R Crate Motor
For years, Honda racing enthusiasts in the U.S. watched with envy, as Europe- and Asia-based amateur racers were able to load their cars with Civic Type R crate engines.  The wait is over. The 306-horsepower (SAE net) K20C1 engine that powers the new Civic Type R will now be available to U.S. grassroots and professional racers for verified, closed-course racing applications through the HPD Honda Racing Line program.

As the most powerful Honda automobile production engine made in America, the Civic Type R’s 2.0-liter DOHC direct-injected i-VTEC Turbo® powerplant produces 306 horsepower at 6,500 rpm and a peak 295 lb-ft of torque from 2,500 to 4,500 rpm. The engine and the Civic Type R are a direct manifestation of Honda’s racing spirit, experience and heritage. More so, the sale of the Civic Type R crate engine builds upon Honda’s long-term commitment to the support of grassroots racing.

The Honda Racing Line program, which has offered racing performance parts to Honda racers for many years, will sell the K20C1 turbocharged crate engine to racing enthusiasts in the U.S. for $6,519.87, excluding shipping cost.  For more information on how to apply, please visit: hpd.honda.com/racing-line.