Civic Type R (re)sets FWD Nürburgring record

HONDA has set a new lap time record for a front-wheel drive car at Germany’s famed Nürburgring Nordschliefe.

During “performance evaluation” of the model, the Civic Type R clocked a staggering lap time of 7 minutes 44.881 seconds, conclusively demonstrating that the all-new model is “further improved” in its dynamic performance when compared with its predecessor, says Honda.

The Japanese manufacturer said the Civic Type R was developed with the goal of achieving the “ultimate (in) pure sports performance” by attaining the ultimate in both speed and driving pleasure.

It attributes the blisteringly quick lap time of the 20.83km circuit to not only driver talent, but also Honda’s improved 2.0-litre VTEC Turbo engine which in the 2023 Civic Type R develops 243kW of power and 420Nm of torque.

Improved engine cooling and aerodynamic performance were also credited with helping the five-door hatch achieve the record time, Honda saying the more effective downforce offered by the enhanced aero components improved stability when “driving at the vehicle’s full potential”.

Of course, being able to haul the Type R to a manageable pace for the ‘Green Hell’s’ tighter turns is part and parcel of achieving a record time, Honda’s two-piece disc brake system, inherited from the previous generation Type R, assisting in “further improving controllability of the brake for the entire speed range”.

The record-setting Civic Type R was shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber for its history-making lap, the tyre a development of the standard-issue Michelin Pilot Sport 4S, and one Honda says “further enhances the circuit performance of the vehicle”.

Speaking on the achievement publicly this week, Honda Civic Type R development leader, Hideki Kakinuma, said the car was always designed with besting its own past achievements in mind.

“To our Civic Type R fans all over the world: Under the concept of Ultimate Sport 2.0, we developed to all-new Civic Type R with the spirit of ‘going beyond our past achievements’ and strived for the ultimate front-wheel drive sports car by refining the ‘essential value’ and ‘emotional appeal’ unique only to our Type R models,” he said.

“Since the start of sales in Japan in September 2022, we have received numerous customer feedback from all around the world, filled with amazement and joy, far exceeding our expectations. However, we still had one more mission to fulfill, which was to claim the title as the world’s fastest front-wheel drive car with a Nürburgring lap time.

“Six years after the lap record was set by the previous-generation Civic Type R (FK8), we reached this new dimension as a result of the passions we poured in and all the advancements we made for this Type R model. Finally, our wish to share this title with all Type R fans all around the world came true.

“We sincerely hope that all current and prospective owners of the Type R will enjoy and love their vehicle with the pride we share with you,” he concluded.

The 2023 Honda Civic Type R is now available priced from $72,600 drive-away.

Nürburgring Nordschliefe (production) front-wheel drive records: