To commemorate the 30th anniversary of the launch of the first Civic, Honda is launching a special edition Civic Type-R 30th Anniversary model, and a new Civic three-door 1.6 Sport.

To be unveiled at next week's Paris Motor Show alongside the new Accord range, the Type-R 30th Anniversary features red Recaro sports seats, a Momo leather-trimmed steering wheel and red door linings, plus tinted glass on the rear windows and a special '30th Anniversary' decal, but is otherwise identical to the standard model. It will go on sale in December 2002.

If you can't quite run to a Type-R, then Honda is launching a look-alike model, the three-door 1.6 Sport. This has Type-R-style front and rear spoilers, aerodynamically-shaped side sills, a rear spoiler, a mesh-type front grille, 15-inch alloy wheels, black-plated headlamp sub-reflectors, body-coloured licence plate surround and door handle trim, a Type-R steering wheel, leather gearshift knob and black and white instruments. It also bears a '30th Anniversary' decal.

This year also marks the 10th anniversary of Honda's factory in Swindon; production of the Accord started there in October 1992, and Civic production in 1995; since then, over 500,000 Civics have rolled off the Swindon production lines.