LAS VEGAS: Honda has announced at the SEMA show that the Civic Type R's 2.0-litre 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.

For years, Honda racing enthusiasts in the US 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 US grassroots and professional racers for verified, closed-course racing applications through the HPD Honda Racing Line programme.



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.

The Civic Type R's 2.0-litre DOHC direct-injected i-VTEC Turbo powerplant produces 306hpat 6,500 rpm and a peak 401Nm of torque from 2,500rpm to 4,500rpm.

The Honda Racing Line programme, which has offered racing performance parts to Honda racers for years, will sell the K20C1 turbocharged crate engine to racing enthusiasts in the United States for US$6,519.87 (around RM28,000).

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