Honda Malaysia has collected more than 200 bookings for its very limited (just 19 units) allocation of the FL5 generation Honda Civic Type R for the year 2023. More units will come in 2024 (with possibility of a higher price) but buyers who want to get their cars this year, at its current RM 399,900 price will have to jostle with at least 200 more fans clamouring for the car.

Since the announcement in Budget 2024, logistics – including vehicle transport – will now be a taxable service at 6%, and other services – like pre-delivery inspection for cars – will be taxed at 8% (up from the current 6%), there is a possibility that the current price may go up further next year.

With more than enough orders collected since its launch one month ago on 27-September, Honda Malaysia will soon commence its balloting for the lucky 19 owners.

The ballot process will be done at Honda Malaysia’s head office in Petaling Jaya. It will be a physical process, and will be recorded on video and audited by both internal (Honda Motor’s regional office) and external parties, just like its financial documents.

To qualify for the ballot, buyers will have to pay a RM 3,500 booking fee (RM 2,500 for duty-free Langkawi and Labuan areas).

Unsucessful buyers will get a full refund. To ensure that only genuine buyers enter the ballot, those who succeeded in the ballot but chose not to proceed with the purchase will only get a 75 percent refund.

Given the fluidity of the global supply situation for an ultra-hot model like the Civic Type R, Honda Malaysia has yet to confirm its allocation for 2024, but assures buyers that more units will be coming and dealers are still accepting orders for 2024 models.

In Japan, there’s now a 2-year waiting period for the Civic Type R.

The reason? The Honda Civic Type R is imported from Japan. The Yorii plant that makes the Civic Type R is still working on clearing its huge backlog orders for its regular, higher volume models like the ZR-V, which has a 6-month waiting period.

Also, fans of the Type R understand that the FL5 will be the last Civic Type R as we know it.

The next generation Civic Type R will almost certainly be a hybrid. As if adding turbochargers didn't already dilute the high-revving spirit and linear throttle response of naturally aspirated engines, introducing electric motors - while certainly enhancing torque - is perceived as one step too far by Type R enthusiasts.

RM 400k may sound steep, but if you think about it, there’s no reason why the next generation hybrid Civic Type R, which will likely set yet another lap record on the Nurburgring, won't get any cheaper when it has to accommodate additional motors and a battery.

More importantly, no matter how much better the performance of the electrified Civic Type R becomes, it won’t be as special as the last pure combustion engine Type R. For these reasons, those in the know and who are in a position to afford one, will buy one.