Autosportfoto

British-built Civic Type R roars into final five for coveted World Performance Car of the Year 2016 title

- British-built Honda Civic Type R into final five for prestigious World Performance Car of the Year 2016 title
- Judged by 73 leading motoring writers from across the globe
- Type R becomes the first Honda to have ever made it into the final

The British-built Honda Civic Type R has roared into contention to be crowned World Performance Car of the Year (WCOTY) after reaching the final five in a competition judged by 73 leading motoring writers from across the globe.

The accolade marks the first time that a Honda has made it into the final, and the latest in a line of accolades for Honda's ‘race car for the road' on the back of scooping the Scottish Car of the Year award in November, and securing its first motorsport success with the drivers and constructors titles in the 2015 British Touring Car Championship.

News of the Civic Type R's success on the global stage is also a further huge boost and vote of confidence for the dedicated workforce at Honda's flagship car manufacturing facility, Honda of the UK Manufacturing (HUM), in Swindon. Not only is the Civic Type R built exclusively here for Europe, it was also recently announced that it will be exported from the UK to Japan for the first time. Such is HUM's reputation for engineering excellence and the highest quality standards that it will also become the global hub for production of the Civic hatchback following a further investment of £200m.

Mike Rutherford, World Car Awards Director and Vice-Chairman comments: "With the comparatively affordable and accessible Civic Type R, Honda has taken on all of the specialist performance car manufacturers - and, on this occasion, beaten the majority of them at their own game by qualifying as a World Car Awards finalist. The company is now one of only five firms in the running for the coveted World Performance Car title."

Phil Crossman, Managing Director of Honda (UK) comments: "We always knew that the Civic Type R was set to be a game-changer for Honda, and this latest accolade once again confirms it. It's great to be in the company of such premium performance car makers, and we've got everything crossed for success in New York in March. This news is also another big vote of confidence for our Swindon plant where the brilliant workforce can take a huge amount of credit for expertly crafting the most extreme Type R ever to wear the ‘Red H' badge."

The World Car of the Year jury is composed of 73 motoring writers from across 23 countries and regions globally. For cars to be considered they must be sold in at least five countries globally, on at least two continents. The first award was announced in 2004, with the performance car category added in 2006. with the winner set to be announced at the New York Motor Show on March 24th.

Honda has tasted success previously in the World Car of the Year awards, taking the World Green Car of the Year crown in 2006 (Civic Hybrid) and 2009 (FCX Clarity).

Billed as a ‘race car for the road', the all-new British built Honda Civic Type R is powered by the most extreme and high-performing Type R engine ever built. The direct-injected turbocharged 2.0 litre VTEC TURBO petrol engine delivers power, torque and performance figures unmatched in the front-wheel drive hot hatch segment. Peak power output is 310 PS at 6,500 rpm, and peak torque is 400 Nm at 2,500 rpm - both higher than for any previous Honda Civic Type R model.