There’s been a lot of excitement surrounding the new Honda Civic Type R, largely because it’s finally coming to the U.S. But what’s gotten lost in the understandable hype surrounding the new Civic hot hatch is the fact that it isn’t scheduled to hit dealerships at least until the latter half of 2017. For now, the predecessor to the 2017 model is still holding court, or at least just finished doing so since the last of current Civic Type R models has just come off the production line. And like most models that pull at our emotional heart strings, Honda has decided to commemorate the end of the current Civic Type R by launching a special edition version called the Black Edition.

The model is formally known as the Civic Type R Black Edition, but let’s not get into any debates about that. The important thing is that it’s limited to just 100 units and with the how the hot hatch Civic is trending up in the eyes of collectors, it has the potential to be a diamond in the rough and turn into a sought-after car years from now.

For now though, the Civic Type R Black Edition is what it is. It has a number of extra upgrades and features that sets it apart from all other Civic Type Rs that came before it. It also has features the same power and performance credentials, thanks in large part to a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that packs an incredible 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, enough to propel it from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds before peaking at a top speed of 167 mph. That kind of performance even took the Civic Type R to the top of lap time records for front-wheel drive cars at the Nurburgring before it was usurped by the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S.

It’s safe to say that the Honda Civic Type R is one of the purest performance cars on the road today. Now it’s getting its own special edition model? Evidently, Honda knows how to end the production of the model on a high note.

Continue after the jump to read more about the Honda Civic Type R Black Edition.

2017 Honda Civic Type R Black Edition

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  • Model: 2017 Honda Civic Type R Black Edition
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What makes the Honda Civic Type-R Black Edition so special?

Well, the easy answer is that it’s technically a special edition version of a car that was already limited to just 2,500 units to begin with. That should make it doubly important, right? Exclusivity aside, the Civic Type R Black Edition also gets plenty of unique features that’s largely tied into Honda’s history of Black Edition models. The most obvious take-away here is the hot hatch’s black exterior paint finish, which has a few similarities to the exterior treatment that was given to the 2014 Honda Civic Black Edition from, well, 2014. Remember that triple-black (black body, black accents, and black wheels) look on that special edition sedan?

Note: photo of the 2014 Honda Civic Black Edition.

The Civic Type R Black Edition does set itself apart from that model with the number of red accents populating the body of the hatch. The Honda badge on the front grille is dressed, as are the outlines on the front spoiler lip and the 19-inch wheels. The biggest splash of red though can be found on the hot hatch’s massive rear wing where the end plates are completely dressed in red, creating a nice contrast with the black wing itself.

Move to the interior and you’ll see more of the same black-and-read treatment. The cabin itself is predominantly dressed in black, but there are plenty of red accents to be found too, including the back rests of the sports seats, the steering wheel (see, there’s that 12 o’clock red strip in there too!), and the outlines of a number interior components. Not surprisingly, even the contrast stitching on the black leather is also red.

Aesthetically, the Honda Civic Type R Black Edition is as unique a Type R as you can get without going to the aftermarket route. Mechanically, it’s still the same Civic Type R that, as I mentioned earlier, carries a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that produces 310 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. That 5.7-second 0-to-60-mph is impressive enough in it of itself, but it only gets better once drivers realize that they can go up to as high as 167 mph to enjoy the full spectacle of the Civic Type R’s performance capabilities.

And did I mention it’s going to be extremely limited with only 100 units set to be produced? If you think that this car isn’t going to be a collector’s item in the future, let Phil Webb, Honda U.K.’s head of cars, explain to why it’s going to be. “There are only going to be 2,500 of the current Civic Type Rs on U.K. roads, so the car is going to be pretty special as it is – but with the addition of this special limited run of 100 Black Editions to the product line up, owners will have a real collectors piece on their hands.”

Convinced, yet? If you are, you should be prepared for when the Civic Type R Black Edition hits the market in the second half of 2017. Pricing for the car is based on the existing GT model so you’re looking at a starting tag of £32,300 in the U.K., which would amount to just under $40,000 based on current exchange rates. It’s an admittedly steep price to pay, but for what the Civic Type R Black Edition represents and what it could turn into in the future, I’d say it’s worth the amount Honda’s asking for it.

Then again, if the car and what it represents aren’t your cup of tea, then there’s always the alternative: wait for the 2017 Honda Civic Type R to arrive. Something tells me that hot hatch is also going to be worth the price of admission.