NSW police feel a jolt of Civic pride

HONDA has contributed to the New South Wales Police Force’s Eyewatch community engagement program by donating one of its Civic Type R hot hatches on a 12-month loan.

The special Type R will be used by the NSW police in a series of school and community events throughout 2019.

First created in 2012, the Eyewatch program aims to connect the police force with local communities via social media, while also offering crime prevention and safety tips, and working with the community to help locate missing or wanted people.

The Civic Type R is decked out in a special police livery, including the ‘Eyewatch’ logos, blue-and-white chequered patterns and the custom numberplate ‘000-TPR’, courtesy of Honda.

Its first official public appearance will be held at the Fairfield Police and Community Expo on March 16, where it will be shown alongside multiple NSW police force units.

The Civic Type R features a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engine producing 228kW/400Nm, driving the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission.

Honda Australia director Stephen Collins said the car-maker was happy to donate one of its performance hatches to the police.

“Honda Australia is delighted to partner with the NSW Police Force and take an active role in raising awareness of the Eyewatch program to help make our communities safer,” he said.

“(The Civic Type R) has proven to be immensely popular with customers, enthusiasts and the motoring media, so we’re positive the NSW Police Force will find it to be a great community engagement tool.

“At Honda we believe in the power of helping others, so this sponsored partnership with the NSW Police Force aligns seamlessly with work of The Honda Foundation and its goal of making a difference in the lives of people through giving back to the community that supports them.”

NSW Police Force assistant commissioner Joe Cassar said the wild styling of the Civic Type R would help turn heads and would particularly appeal to young people.

“The generosity of Honda Australia in providing this sponsored vehicle for 12 months also means it has the added benefit of being no cost to the taxpayer,” he said.

“The eye-catching design of the vehicle will hopefully be a great conversation starter while on display and get more people, especially younger people, more comfortable with approaching their local police.”

The concept of donating a car to the police for promotional use is not a new one, with vehicles such as the Mercedes-AMG GLE 63S and E43, HSV GTS and Volvo S60 Polestar used in the past, even for highway patrol duties in the case of the AMGs.

Due to its manual transmission, the Civic Type R is not eligible for highway patrol use.