We're back in Atlanta following a great weekend in Sebring. I'm just getting started on editing some of the video footage and interviews from the race. In the mean time, you can check out these pics and commentary of the upcoming (JDM) Civic Type R, submitted to me just this morning by TOV Reader 'AkiraNSX' . NOTE AkiraNSX has sent an update saying that Best Motoring has stated that the JDM Civic Type R will launch on March 29, 2007.

Hi Jeff, I snapped a few photos of the Civic Type R prototype today. Nothing new on it, but I thought it would be nice to have a closer look at it. Rear diffuser extends all the way to the rear suspension. Rear lower arms are not aluminum but rear uprights seem to be. Bridgestone Potenza RE070 (custom tire for Civic R), and big muffler cutter details. Black chrome lug nuts to match the black chrome emblem set (not on prototype). Mesh grilles on functioning brake cooling ducts (as opposed to fake opening such as those on AP1 S2000). You can barely make out the air deflector on the lower suspension arm (like the ones on the NSX), but it's there. There is no front under body aero cover like NSX-R). You can get a good idea of the shape of the rear wing in this shot. It's not carbon, just black paint to mirror the NSX-R. The shape was decided at the wind tunnel, not the design studio. I didn't know for the longest time what the "exclusive Type R fender" was about until today. It's about 5mm wider than the standard Civic fender and has an ever so slightly more defined arch around the wheel. Black chrome headlight housing is listed as a Type R exclusive feature as well and sure enough it is on the prototype but isn't the exact same thing also on this Hybrid MXST?