NOW that Honda has opened its second production centre at Swindon to build new cars for the world market, so it has also introduced its new three-door Civic, which has immediately gone on sale, and also its super-speedy Civic Type-R which goes on sale next month.

The three-door follows the launch earlier this year of the extremely roomy five-door. It uses the same engines, a perky 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre, and overall the range mirrors the five-door versions.

However, this particular newcomer is aimed to appeal to a younger audience, and rather than call its top model the SE Executive, as it does the five-door model, it has decided to name it the SE Sport, to reflect its more dynamic and youthful character.

It is with the engines that any change, compared to predecessors, is most noticeable. Essentially similar to those driving the five-door models, the engines, both VTec (Variable valve timing with electronic control) have been developed to improve the mid-range pulling power, fuel consumption and emissions, rather than squeeze more power from them.

To show off its new cars, Honda took 1.6-litre models and motoring journalists to the Isle of Man, where there was the chance to drive on roads reasonably clear of other traffic. The manual version, with its facia-mounted gear lever, carries an on-the-road price of £12,995, while the automatic, optionally available on 1.6-litre models, is £13,895. There will be a new 1.7-litre turbocharged diesel engine available next year, using common rail technology which improves fuel efficiency and economy as well as performance.

But the highlight of the trip to the Isle of Man was really with the Type-R. For those not familiar with this name, "R" means Racing and signals Honda's approach to lean, mean and focused road-going race cars.

The Civic version of the hot hatch is powered by an all new 200PS 2.0-litre i-Vtec 16-valve engine, with a six-speed manual gearbox, riding on low profile sports wheels producing a top speed of 146mph and an acceleration kick-start time of 8.6-seconds to 62mph.

The striking looks of the Type-R helps set the tone. It is the flagship of the Civic range, and next year will also be seen on the race/rally circuits of the United Kingdom.

Most of the visits I have made to the island have been in the rain. The couple of days with Honda were not to be any different, except that some of the mountain roads were deeply shrouded by low cloud.

The Isle of Man of course, is the centre of international motor cycling on public roads, providing lots of swooping bends and hard curves, lots of roadside warning notices of what lies ahead for the competitor, and also, sadly, lots of roadside bouquets showing where a two-wheel enthusiast has paid the ultimate price for a misjudgement.

For the Isle of Man motorcycle championships, the island's roads are closed to public use ... and, thankfully, this was to be for the Type R as well! Not all of the circuit, but about 10 or so miles, enough to put the car through its paces.

There were a dozen cars lined up for the start, and we left at 15-second intervals headed by a blue-lighted police car. I was fourth away, and never saw the police car again until the finish, and was also overtaken by two over-keen young drivers, on the way.

Apart from stabbing my way through the low cloud and hoping I was not going to run out of road, I had a nagging doubt that the police had actually done their job and cleared the road of oncoming traffic. Consequently I kept mostly to my side of the road, when I could have used, quite safely, its full width. Nonetheless, I was still able to break the ton barrier, just, while some others within the group said they had the speedo needle stuck at 145mph.

Buy the Swindon-built Type-R and it will set you back £15,995. But you get for the money a high performer, with an extremely rigid body and highly tuned suspension, with heavily sculpted competition-style seats, white instrument faces and an alloy gear knob, titanium metallic colour finish to the centre console trim and door and seat inserts, mesh-type front grille, black-plated headlamps, twin chrome exhaust pipes, spoilers - roof and under - and buckets of speed.

The engine is new and outstanding, with the power output rising to a prodigious 200PS at 7,400rpm with peak torque delivered at 5,900rpm, altogether producing more power than that in the high-acclaimed Integra Type-R. The high-powered car also has an high-powered braking system backed by ABS anti-lock and electronic brake force distribution.

In Europe, the Integra set the tone for the Type-R series, and this was followed by the Accord Type-R, which provided the race technology for Honda's European Super Touring Car programme.

The three-door Civic is the latest incarnation and one not to be missed.

Fact file:

Model: Honda Civic 3-Door 1.6-litre.

Price (on the road): £12,995 (manual), £13,895 (automatic)

Dimensions: Length 4140mm, width 1695mm, height 1440mm, wheelbase 2570mm

Engine: 1.6-litre, sohc, four cylinders in-line, 1590cc. Electronic fuel injection.

Maximum power: 110PS art 5,600rpm.

Maximum torque: 152Nm at 4,300rpm

Transmission: Five-speed manual (four-speed automatic option for 1.6-litre models)

Performance: Acceleration 0-62mph10.2-secs; top speed 116mph

Economy: Urban 32.8mpg, extra urban 51.4mpg, combined 42.8mpg.

Suspension: MacPherson strut, coil spring, gas pressurised shock absorbers front, double wishbone, coil spring rear with anti-roll bars front and back.

Steering: Electric power steering

Brakes: Front ventilated disc, rear solid. ABS anti-lock, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist

Details in brief:

Model: Honda Civic Type-R

Price (on the road): £15,995

Dimensions: As Civic three-door

Engine: 2.0-litre 16-valve dohc i-Vtec, four cylinders in-line, 1998cc. Electronic fuel injection.

Maximum power: 200PS at 7,400rpm.

Maximum torque: 196Nm at 5,900rpm.

Performance: Acceleration 0-62mph at 6.8-secs, top speed 146mph

Economy: Urban 23.0mpg, extra urban 40.4mpg, combined 31.7mpg

Transmission: Front-wheel drive, six speed manual

Suspension, steering: As Civic three-door