The petition points out racing is an important part of Honda’s heritage and contends all markets should have equal access to the automaker’s performance-focused products. At the time of writing, the petition has been signed by a little over 9,200 people.
Honda’s North American division recently acknowledged the petition and thanked fans for their support. The automaker says the message is coming through loud and clear but it can’t promise it will sell the Type R on this side of the Atlantic regardless of how many people sign the petition because getting the hot hatch to comply with U.S. emissions and safety regulations would be a astonishingly costly endeavor.
Expected to land in European showrooms in early 2015, the next Civic Type R will be powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine tuned to send at least 280 horsepower to the front wheels via a manual transmission. The Type R stands out from the regular European-spec Civic hatchback thanks to a sporty-looking body kit, fender flares, quad exhaust pipes and performance-focused upgrades inside.
In the United States, the most powerful Civic available from the factory is the Si Coupe. It is powered by a 2.4-liter four-banger that churns out 205 horsepower and 174 lb-ft. of torque.
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