EK9 (1997 to 2000)

Introduced in 1997, the Honda Civic Type R EK9 was the first-ever Type R–badged Civic and set the template for all Type R models that followed, combining lightweight construction with a high-revving naturally aspirated engine and motorsport-focused tuning. Built exclusively for the Japanese market, the EK9 was powered by the legendary B16B 1.6-litre VTEC inline-four, producing 185 hp and revving to 8,400 rpm, paired with a 5-speed manual, factory helical LSD, seam-welded chassis, stiffer suspension, and weight-saving measures throughout. Widely regarded as one of the purest front-wheel-drive performance cars ever made, the EK9 was produced in approximately 16,000 units worldwide between 1997 and 2000. In the Australian market, the EK9 was never officially sold and exists only as an import, making clean, unmodified examples highly sought after, with values driven by originality, matching numbers, low kilometres, and provenance, as collectors increasingly recognise it as the spiritual origin of the global Type R lineage.