Honda's Hot Hatch at Targa Tasmania

TULLAMARINE, AUSTRALIA – April 24, 2009: Honda’s hot hatch, the Civic Type R, will assist at this year’s Targa Tasmania Tarmac Rally, to be held from 28 April to 3 May.

The Type R will be assisting the Motorsport Safety and Rescue paramedic team as they perform their important duties on each section of the course for the duration of the rally.

Targa Tasmania is a tarmac rally with competitive stages on closed roads. Its inaugural year was 1992 when Tasmania hosted this distinguished international motoring classic.

The Civic Type R is as good on the road as it is on the track. Powered by a 2 litre i-VTEC engine, the Civic Type R delivers 148kW and 198Nm for a ride that is well engineered and exciting – elements true to Honda’s DNA.

The Type R recently received some enhancements and a new colour.

Mechanically, the Type R now features a limited slip differential. Around Honda’s test track in Tsukaba Japan, the ‘white hot’ Type R shaves 1.44 seconds off the non LSD equipped car’s time.

Other enhancements include 18 inch graphite coloured alloy wheels; a contrasting smoke chrome finish on the badges, door handles and lower front grille; and exclusive Type R plaque. It also features a tyre deflation warning system and rear parking sensors.

The Civic Type R starts at $41,990 excluding dealer delivery or on-road costs.