Honda To Sell Civic Type R Crate Engine, But Most Can’t Buy It

Honda is rolling into SEMA with all kinds of neat performance items, not the least of which is rather big news for Civic fans. The automaker will offer the Civic Type R's 306-horsepower, K20C1 turbocharged four-cylinder as a crate engine, complete with intercooler. Better news is that pricing for the mill is $6,519.87 – a curiously specific figure to be sure, but one that we suspect could be within reach for mere mortals, eager for a proper Type-R swap on that Civic project in the garage.

Don't get your hopes up though, because there's a major catch. Honda will only sell the crate engine to members of its Honda Racing Line program. To become a member, one must also belong to a professional racing organization, and have available official race results from the last two races in which you competed. In other words, to build your Honda race car, you must already have a Honda race car. As for those who just want a cool Civic for the street, you're out of luck pal.

Of course, you could always go buy a brand new Civic Type R, which is completely road legal and emissions compliant in all 50 states with the exact same engine. That would set you back a bit more than $6,519.87, however, which we suspect is Honda's true motivation behind this very strange decision to not offer the crate engine to everyone.

For Honda fans not as interested in all things Type R, the automaker will also showcase a range of race cars and motorcycles at SEMA. Among them are Civics from the Red Bull Global Rallycross and Pirelli World Challenge Series, a pair of recently unveiled Formula 3 cars for the F3 Americas Series, as well as the company's 2017 Baja Ridgeline Concept Truck. Something Honda enthusiasts can buy is the HFP Series Kit, which includes a body kit with suspension, wheel, and accessory upgrades for Civic models. A Red Carbon Kit is also now available for the Civic Type R, which as the name suggests adds a range of red-trimmed accessories for the Type R.

Both kits, cars, and a range of products from Honda Powersports will be on display during the 2017 SEMA Show, running October 31 – November 3.