Honda has erased Renault’s name from the top spot for Front-Wheel drive cars around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. Being half a second quicker, Honda achieved a record time of 7 min, 44.881 seconds in their all-new Civic Type R-S wiping out the 7 minutes, 45.39 seconds recorded in the Megane RS Trophy-R.
The last time the Civic Type R made it to the top of the front-wheel drive categories was back in 2017. Honda set a time of 7:43.80 in the FK8 Type R. However, it was completed on the shorter track and is therefore not representative of the latest record attempts.
Did Honda cheat?
Honda’s record hasn’t come without some criticism. Unsubstantiated reports have made their way online claiming that the actual Civic Type R used for the lap record “was modified beyond what the Japanese automaker had disclosed” according to Drive Australia. At which point after announcing its new record, Honda Europe then came forward to clarify that the car used was a lightweight Europe-only edition labeled as the ‘S grade’ (or R-S).
Honda said the A/C system was removed from the car to reduce weight and the tires were changed to the 'Michelin Pilot Sport CUP 2 Connect tires. Now, the Civic Type R comes standard with 'Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S' tires but Honda is now saying you can order the CUP 2 Connect tires through their dealers. There are also claims that the lap record Type R was tuned to accelerate quicker and push out more power than not only standard showroom models but also more than the special edition European model. Honda Japan and Honda Europe have not yet commented on these claims about power adjustments. But let’s look at some of the key technologies Honda has highlighted that attributed to their lap record.
Key technologies behind the fastest lap time
Powering the latest Civic Type R is a potent 2.0-litre VTEC turbocharged four-cylinder engine, inherited from its predecessor but improved upon. It now pushes out 243 kW of power and 420 Nm of torque. The engine is paired with an updated six-speed manual transmission. It sprints from 0-100 km/h in 5.4 seconds and reaches a top speed of 275 km/h.
The new sleek design and detail-oriented body parts were developed with aerodynamic performance in mind. Things like the angle of the rear wing and underfloor elements all assist with driving stability and generating downforce. The front grille area and the opening area of the radiator were enlarged to assist with cooling performance and heat release.
The two-piece disc brake system, also inherited from its predecessor, was modified to further improve the controllability of the brake for the entire speed range, from low speed to high speed.
Lastly, the 'Michelin Pilot Sport CUP 2 Connect tires, which were jointly developed with Michelin, are attributed to its record. These tires enhance the circuit performance of the vehicle, improve dry grip performance, and realize well-balanced handling.
The Honda Civic Type R Development Leader, Hideki Kakinuma, shared a warm message:
To our Civic Type R fans all over the world: 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 of the world’s fastest FWD car with a record Nürburgring lap time.We reached this new dimension as a result of all of the passion 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.
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Watch Lap: