The all-new Honda Civic Type R is officially the fastest front-wheel drive car ever to lap the Nürburgring, after setting a new record nearly seven seconds quicker than its predecessor.
Honda says that the record was set earlier this month as part of the new car’s testing programme, with a development car tackling the infamous Nordschleife circuit in 7 minutes 43.8 seconds.
The previous front-wheel drive record holder, the Volkswagen Golf GTi Clubsport S ran it in 7:49.21 last year, itself only 1.4 seconds quicker than the outgoing last-generation Civic Type R.
Honda has cited the numerous updates made to the car as being the reason it was so fast around the circuit, including shortened gear ratios to deliver improved acceleration.
The new Type R is also 16kg lighter than the last model, around 38 per cent stiffer and has made significant improvements in downforce courtesy of its revised aerodynamic package.
Add to that the fact that its 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine is 10bhp more powerful, with a maximum output of 316bhp and 400Nm of torque, and the fact that it sits on a widened track with fatter tyres.
Ryuichi Kijima, the new Type R’s lead chassis engineer, said: “The cornering speed achieved in the new Type R is higher because the car features a wider track and tyres, a longer wheelbase, new multi-link suspension in the rear and optimised aerodynamics that improve stability.
“For example, drivers typically enter the corner after Metzgesfeld at around 150kmh. Even at this medium-speed corner, the speed is around 10kmh higher due to the new Type R’s excellent stability. So, with improved cornering performance, we can increase the speed throughout the lap, helping the new Type R to achieve a much quicker lap time.”
Watch the lap here:
The all-new Civic Type R will begin production in Swindon this summer, with pricing estimated to start from around the £32,000 mark.
