No logic to Euro-Spec Civic hatchback import with 2016 HR-V ready for sale

Sure, hardcore Honda enthusiasts would love to see the arrival of a 10th generation Honda Civic Type R hatchback to North America, and rumors persist on the internet as to that happening in 2015. Funny thing is, our friends at American Honda Motors, outside of informing Torque News that “something big” is to be announced at the 2015 New York Auto Show; with a wink and a nod of acknowledgement remain silent on hot-hatch-speculation as 2016 Honda HR-V goes into production.

You see...From a market standpoint, cost efficiency and auto-line congruity; it may not make $ financial sense for American Honda Motors to (possibly) stymie the forward-momentum of the most popular automotive lineup in the United States; with a handful of imported Euro-Spec hatchbacks. Would there be a market for a U.K. built Honda in the U.S.? We don’t know, how many British-built cars do you find driving the streets of the U.S. today? Very few!

Besides, and we touched on the possibility in this HR-V article, Honda holds in the manifestation of the Fit-world-car platformed 2016 HR-V, the easy makings of a mid to high performance coupe-like sub compact hatchback.

2016 HR-V is not as small as you think

While Torque News won’t expound on the driving and performance experience that is HR-V, we can tell you that based on the photographs, and viewing HR-V in person at the Los Angeles Auto Show, that HR-V’s engine room and drivetrain components could accommodate a 1.8L or 2.0 Litre turbocharged or supercharged engine. In fact, we believe that it’s just a matter of time before Honda offers this “Made in North America” crossover hatchback in a serious “Sport” edition.

Import transportation cost and “duty” fees may kill the (possible) import of a Civic Type-R

While a slightly larger than Honda Fit sport-hatch built in Mexico would most likely not feature a 300+ turbocharged front end loader, It could conceivably meet or beat the performance levels of the current Honda Si; not an off-the line slouch by any measure.

Torque News is just as giddy as any Honda fan at the possible arrival of the 2016 Euro-spec Civic Type-R to North America. However, we’re not holding our collective breath. In the mean time to all our tuner friends: We wish you all zero traffic tickets and safe, trouble-free driving.