F1 Driver Stoffel Vandoorne and Honda Civic Type R in Australia

F1 Driver Stoffel Vandoorne First to Get Behind the Wheel of New Honda Civic Type R for Australian Unveiling

• Local debut for eagerly anticipated Honda Civic Type R following its global reveal at the recent Geneva International Motor Show
• Honda Civic Type R features 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine with 235 kW and 400 Nm
• All-new Honda Civic RS hatch also unveiled to the public; on display at Hilton Melbourne South Wharf during the 2017 Formula 1^® Australian Grand Prix

MELBOURNE, March 23, 2017 – McLaren-Honda Formula 1 driver, Stoffel Vandoorne, has become the first person on Australian soil to get behind the wheel of the all-new Honda Civic Type R. The young Belgian enjoyed a brief stint in Honda’s high-performance hatch, ahead of what will be a thrilling opening to the 2017 Formula 1^® Rolex Grand Prix in Melbourne. It is the first public showing in Australia for the Honda Civic Type R following its global debut at the Geneva International Motor Show earlier this month. “It’s a superb looking car and faithful to the ethos of what makes the Type R great — a superb engine, excellent dynamics and Honda’s proven quality and reliability,” Vandoorne said. “As a high-performance hatch showcasing Honda’s technological expertise, it’s also perfectly at home in the world of Formula 1.” Flanking the Honda Civic Type R on its arrival at the Hilton Melbourne South Wharf were the Civic sedan and soon-to-go-on-sale Civic RS hatch. Honda Australia Director, Mr. Stephen Collins, said having the Civic trio lined up for the first time, signaled to buyers that there were distinct models to suit the diverse Honda Civic customer base. “We now have a defined Civic family look that unites all three models,” he said. “The sedan and hatch are bold and distinguished while the Type R justifiably represents the pinnacle of performance in the Honda Civic line-up.” The Honda Civic Type R shares the same fundamentals as the Civic hatch and has been designed from the ground up to reward enthusiast drivers. The 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo ‘heart’ of the multi-award-winning previous generation Type R has been optimised and refined for the all-new model to produce 235 kW of power and 400 Nm peak torque, along with improved throttle response and driveability. It is matched to a smooth and precise six-speed manual transmission that now features a rev match control system, ensuring no compromise in the Type R’s intimate, rewarding connection with the driver. The Honda Civic Type R will go on sale in Australia in the fourth quarter this year. Pricing and specifications will be announced closer to launch. The new Honda Civic RS hatch will be on display in the foyer of the Hilton Melbourne South Wharf over the 2017 Formula 1^® Australian Grand Prix weekend – its first official public display before arriving in Honda dealerships in May.