Honda Civic Type R EK9 (1997–2000): specs, B16B VTEC engine and what owners say

Honda Civic Type R (EK9) in Championship White, AI illustration

Civic Type R EK9 · 1997–2000

182horsepower

140mph top speed

1.6-liter B16B DOHC VTEC, 185 PS (182 hp) at 8,200 rpm and an 8,400 rpm redline, 5-speed manual, front-drive. Japan only.

Why it's famous

The first Civic Type RName
Launched in Japan in August 1997, the EK9 was the first Civic to wear the Type R badge. Every Civic Type R since traces back to it.
Initial DAnime
In Initial D, Daiki Ninomiya of the Todo School drives an EK9 Civic Type R. The school’s Spoon Sports EK9 is the pride of its Honda fleet.
114 bhp per liter, no turboRecords
The 1.6-liter B16B makes 185 PS, about 114 bhp per liter by evo’s count. Wikipedia calls it one of the highest outputs per liter of all time for an engine without a turbo or supercharger.
A race car for the roadName
Honda gave it a hand-ported engine, a seam-welded body for stiffness, a helical limited-slip differential, red Recaro seats and a titanium gear knob. Its signature color is Championship White.
Gran TurismoGamesNot fully confirmed
Hagerty UK says the EK9 name stands tall with Gran Turismo fans.

Never sold new in the US. Never sold new in the US; the EK9 was sold only in Japan. A car becomes legal to import under the 25-year rule once it is 25 years old from its date of manufacture, so the first EK9s (on sale from August 1997) began to qualify in 2022.

On this site: Honda Civic Type R (FK8 and FL5, sold in the US) · Honda Civic · Acura Integra GS-R and Type R (DC2) · Honda B18C, the bigger engine the B16B is based on

Plain text from the sources listed: no race photos, anime stills, logos or likenesses. Items marked "Not fully confirmed" rest on one weaker source. Every JDM car

Sources

EK9 Civic Type R · 1997–2000

How fast is the Civic Type R?

3-door hatchback, 1997–2000. 0–60 times are magazine tests where we have one, otherwise the maker's figure.

Civic Type R

1997–2000

182 hp185 PS at 8,200 rpm (JDM)

A hand-ported B16B, a seam-welded body, a helical limited-slip differential, Recaro seats and a titanium gear knob. Honda says the body was 35% stiffer than a normal Civic’s. A facelift came in September 1998, and about 16,000 EK9s were built in all.

Torque: 118 lb-ftat 7,500 rpm (160 Nm, JDM)
Top speed: 140 mph225 km/h per Wikipedia; evo estimates 135 mph
Gearbox: 5-speed manual, front-driveclose ratios, helical limited-slip differential
Weight: 1,070 kg (2,359 lb)with power steering, ABS and airbag, from Honda’s 1997 launch table; evo gives 1,040 kg

Sources

Civic Type R x

1999–2000

182 hp185 PS at 8,200 rpm (JDM), same B16B

The last EK9, from December 1999, with more comfort kit: a CD player, power windows, auto air conditioning, keyless entry, aluminum pedals and a carbon-look center panel.

Torque: 118 lb-ftat 7,500 rpm (160 Nm, JDM)
Gearbox: 5-speed manual, front-drivehelical limited-slip differential

Sources

The engine: Honda B16B

1.6-liter inline-4, DOHC VTEC, naturally aspirated

LayoutInline-4, DOHC with VTEC, belt-driven cams; VTEC switches over at 6,100 rpm

Output185 PS (182 hp) at 8,200 rpm, 160 Nm (118 lb-ft) at 7,500 rpm

Bore x stroke81 x 77.4 mm, 1,595 cc, 10.8:1 compression

Redline8,400 rpm (rev limit 8,600 rpm)

Output per literAbout 114 bhp per liter, with no turbo

BuildHand-ported; uses the taller Integra Type R block, in effect a short-stroke B18C Type R engine

Engine's YouTube owner tone 56/100 (videos about the Honda B16B in every car that uses it, so it differs from this car's own tone below)

Honda B16B engine page →

Known issues

Oil use and blue smokeOutlet report
evo says some EK9s had a hunger for oil that not all owners kept up with, and to treat puffs of blue smoke as a sign the engine needs serious care. JDM Buy Sell suggests a compression or leak-down test.
Timing belt historyOutlet report
The B16B has belt-driven cams. JDM Buy Sell’s buyer’s guide says to ask for dated proof of the last belt change and have a mechanic inspect the car.
Swapped or wrong engineOutlet report
JDM Buy Sell says to confirm the chassis code reads EK9, the engine is a real B16B and the car still has its helical limited-slip differential.

Engine sources

What owners say on YouTube

56This car's YouTube owner tone, out of 100 · videos about this generation only (the engine's tone above covers every car with that engine)

Owners praise

Handling and steering11%

Looks10%

Power and acceleration7%

Owners complain about

Nothing stands out.

Share of the 181 most-watched Civic Type R videos that praise or criticize each topic (a praise or trouble word near it in the title or transcript).

Most-watched videos

[ENG CC] Spoon Civic EG6 B18C vs. Civic Type R EK9 B16B in Ebisu 1998miroshi · 1.9M views

[ENG CC] 11,000 Rpm B16B Spoon Civic Type R EK9 HV39miroshi · 1.6M views

This Award-Winning Civic EK9 Laughs In The Face Of RiceCar Throttle · 1.5M views

Should you buy a Civic Type R?

YouTube likes the 2000 best (57/100).
Repair costs: we don't have owner-reported repair costs for the Civic Type R yet.
Never sold new in the US, so NHTSA has no owner complaints or recalls for the Civic Type R. Imports: check the car's history and paperwork before you buy.

All sources (10)

Quick answers

How fast is the Honda Civic Type R?

The EK9 Civic Type R makes 182 hp and 118 lb-ft. Top speed: 140 mph (225 km/h per Wikipedia; evo estimates 135 mph).

What engine does the Honda Civic Type R (EK9) have?

The EK9 Civic Type R (1997–2000) uses the Honda B16B, a 1.6-liter inline-4, DOHC VTEC, naturally aspirated.

Why is the Civic Type R famous?

The first Civic Type R: Launched in Japan in August 1997, the EK9 was the first Civic to wear the Type R badge. Every Civic Type R since traces back to it. Initial D: In Initial D, Daiki Ninomiya of the Todo School drives an EK9 Civic Type R. The school’s Spoon Sports EK9 is the pride of its Honda fleet. 114 bhp per liter, no turbo: The 1.6-liter B16B makes 185 PS, about 114 bhp per liter by evo’s count. Wikipedia calls it one of the highest outputs per liter of all time for an engine without a turbo or supercharger.

Was the Honda Civic Type R (EK9) sold in the US?

No. Never sold new in the US; the EK9 was sold only in Japan. A car becomes legal to import under the 25-year rule once it is 25 years old from its date of manufacture, so the first EK9s (on sale from August 1997) began to qualify in 2022.

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Honda Civic Type R EK9 (1997–2000): specs, B16B VTEC engine and what owners say

Why it's famous

How fast is the Civic Type R?

The engine: Honda B16B

Known issues

What owners say on YouTube

Owners praise

Owners complain about

Most-watched videos

Should you buy a Civic Type R?

Quick answers

How fast is the Honda Civic Type R?

What engine does the Honda Civic Type R (EK9) have?

Why is the Civic Type R famous?

Was the Honda Civic Type R (EK9) sold in the US?

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