Video: Goodwood says goodbye to the Honda Civic Type R Ultimate Edition

That’s right, the Honda Civic Type R Ultimate Edition marks the end of the road for one of the most consistently brilliant hot hatchbacks we’ve ever had. In fact, it’s probably the most consistent of hot hatchbacks, with a near 30-year story that even Ford can’t contend with in terms of longevity.

Finished with Championship White paintwork, red decals, carbon detailing and delivered with a celebratory gift box, only 40 examples will be sold across the whole of Europe. They all have the same 2.0-litre turbocharged engine as other FL5 Type Rs, with 330PS (243kW) and 420Nm (310lb ft) of torque, as well as the same front-wheel-drive set-up and six-speed manual gearbox. The brakes are the same, too, as are the wheels, tyres, suspension and exhaust. But that’s OK — the FL5 is fun enough as it is. We can only imagine the person you see here going up the Hill has a big smile on their face. 

Why is the Type R significant, and why are we so sad to say sayonara? Well, what began as a Japan-only creation in 1997, the EK9 Civic Type R, gave way to a series of excellent vehicles. Varying slightly depending on where they were being sold, but all with their own special characters.

After the EK9 came the EP3 in 2001, the ‘breadvan’, built in Honda’s factory in Swindon, then the spaceship lookalike FN2 in 2007. Some consider it the weakest Type R, as it had the same naturally aspirated 2.0-litre VTEC engine as the EP3 but weighed more. But it still delivered a driving experience that many OEMs could learn a thing or two from today.

From the FN2 we arrived at the FK2 in 2015, Honda’s first turbocharged Type R, then the FK8 in 2017 and, most recently, the FL5. The first Type R in two decades to be built in Japan owing to the Swindon factory closure, it’s almost as if the Type R was heading to its spiritual home for its final roll of the dice.

We’ll miss you, Type R. When you’re blasting along a beautiful Japanese touge, think of us. 

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Photography by Joe Harding.