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In your face, Japan! You may have far surpassed us humble Brits in the delicate art of building sturdy, reliable mass-market cars - and electrical equipment, and, er, just about everything else - but we're still the kings of the hot hatch.
That's why Honda has chosen to import the Swindon-built Civic Type R hatchback to Japan.
See, Japanese fans of high-revving loonmobiles can already buy the home-built Civic Type R saloon, but it seems there's some demand for the three-door hatchback variant - and Swindon's the only factory that builds it.
The Civic Type R hatch is already exported to South Africa and Australia (as part of a gap year programme, in exchange for which we receive several thousand improbably tanned bar staff) but it's something of a coup for the Japanese to admit they want their hot hatch back.
We'll do you a deal, Japan. You can have our Civic Type R... if we can have your Honda Zest Spark.
Now watch Clarkson thrash the Type R:
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
010010011010 commented on this article
at 12:56 pm on 10 August 2009
Why do you want the zest spark??
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Monkey_Dan commented on this article
at 01:28 pm on 10 August 2009
I'd rather just get the JDM type R
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IronicalBalls commented on this article
at 01:57 pm on 10 August 2009
Sidenote - Britain sure is the king when it comes to Hot hatches. Ford RS, Honda Civic Type R. The US, Germany sure would be fine target audience to sell British hatches. Economic recovery anyone?
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malfunction commented on this article
at 02:03 pm on 10 August 2009
WTF: http://www.honda.co.jp/dog/honda-car/zestspark2008/ ?
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Kirbdawg commented on this article
at 08:54 am on 11 August 2009
Zest spark? I pity the fool who wants one of those. That ain't gettin on no plane to come over to the UK or we're gonna have a Bad Attitude. I believe in the Golden Rule - The Man with the Gold.. rules, and this Zest Spark isn't gold.
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