Honda to Unleash Mugen Type RR in Japan

Japan is set to receive a special edition of the Civic sedan, the Mugen Type RR, which will have a retail sticker price of $39,000. Come September this year, Japanese car enthusiasts will be able to get their hands on the hottest Civic Type R yet – those who are quick and moneyed enough at least – for only a very limited 300 units will be available.

The beast, designed to be the ultimate front-engined/front-wheel-drive performance car gets 240 horsepower, a sport suspension and brakes, lowered ride height and Recaro seats.

But the heart of the Type RR is Honda's magnificent DOHC 2.0-liter i-VTEC four-cylinder. Mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, the engine delivers the whopping 240 horsepower and 161 pound-feet of torque.

The Type RR sits on Bridgestone Potenza RE070 performance tires (225/40R18 all around) and weighs a mere 2,734 pounds. Honda- maker of top of the line parts like Honda control arm - has also upgraded the vehicle’s dual exhaust system and revised its air intake. The Mugen Type RR will come in Milan Red finish.

Honda’s Type R models are special performance editions of their respective model families, with the design of Type R ("R" for "Racing") models originally focused on race conditions, emphasizing on minimizing weight, and maximizing performance potential (e.g. engine tuning, suspension set-up, etc).

Type R vehicles traditionally have a red Honda badge and Championship White paint as an option to relate to their first F1 winning car. Honda's racing and F1 cars often feature a red Honda badge.

The first Honda car to carry the nameplate was the NSX-R, a stripped-out version of Honda's NSX supercar. More affordable Type Rs followed, including the Integra Type R which debuted in the U.S. in 1997.

The Civic Type R has never been sold in the United States (including its latest model). In Europe, the Civic Type R is an alternative to age-old favorites, such as the VW Golf GTI.

Each Type R model is bound by a common philosophy — to deliver a raw, edgy, race-derived driving experience. A high-revving, normally aspirated engine is a must, as was a quick-fire gearbox. The original Civic Type R delivered all of these things, but its harsh ride and poor refinement made long journeys extremely difficult. Today’s models however, now offer a greater breadth of ability, whole maintaining the Type R philosophy.

Honda had earlier released the new Civic Type R in Japan March this year.