The Civic Type R EP3 is probably the most well known hot hatch produced by a Japanese manufacturer around its time. It has around 198bhp from the factory, made possible by the world famous VTEC system using different cam profiles to increase acceleration after around 5,500rpm.
The shape of the 'EP' Civic Type R was sold from the year 2001 to 2005 and used the K20 engine block as first seen in the Honda Integra DC5 a year or two before. This was at a time when Honda had just moved away from the B series engines used in the previous Civic VTi's (also known as the EK4), EK9 Type R's and Integra DC2's. The shape of the Civic Type R body was changed at this point, from the previous sleek, low and long front end to the 'modern' aerodynamic teardrop shape of many cars post 2000. The EP3 bonnet was a lot shorter in comparison which radically changed the looks which was unusual as the EG shape Civic (sold in 1991-1995) to the EK Civic (1996 - 2000) were considerably more subtle changes.
The EP3 was the first Civic Type R that was actually produced for the UK market, as the first Civic Type R being the EK9, was only sold in Japan at a time when everyone crazed about JDM (Japanese Domestic Market). Before the EP3 the Civic to buy from the UK Honda dealer was the VTi which was 158bhp.
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