October 3, 2006—Honda Motor Co., Ltd., today announced that the prototype 4-door Civic Type R, the sports version of the Honda Civic, has been selected as the official car for the 2006 F1 Japan Grand Prix, to be held at the Suzuka Circuit in Mie Prefecture, Japan, October 6-8, 2006. A production model, currently under development, is scheduled for release in Japan in spring 2007.

The 4-door Civic Type R prototype, fitted with a 2.0L DOHC i-VTEC engine with an output in excess of 220PS and a specially tuned sport suspension, delivers exhilarating driving performance in keeping with its bold, dynamic styling.

In addition to serving as the official car (red flag car) for the F1 Japan Grand Prix, the Civic Type R prototype will also be on display at Honda’s exhibit at Suzuka Circuit.

Civic Type R Prototype (4-door) Specifications
Engine: 2.0L DOHC i-VTEC
Output: over 220PS
Dimensions (L x W x H): 4,540 x 1,771 x 1,425mm