Honda Civic Type R clocks 7:50.63 front-drive 'Ring record
Tue, Mar 3 2015
Seat was first to claim the crown with the Leon Cupra at 7:58, which was subsequently beaten by the Renaultsport Megane 275 Trophy-R at 7:54. All the while Honda pledged to take the record with the new Civic Type R. And that's just what it's done.
As you can see from the video above, Honda's new hot hatch clocked a time of 7:50.63, making it the fastest front-driver ever to lap the Nordschleife and blindingly fast by any account.
Honda suggests that the lap was clocked while testing the stock street-legal rubber (and not on slicks) and claims that the roll cage clearly seen in the video was fitted "for safety reasons and not to add rigidity," with extraneous equipment like the front passenger seat and audio system were removed to compensate for the cage's weight.
Of course with no official sanctioning body verifying these times and the equipment in which they're achieved, they're a subject of much debate, but there's no getting around the fact that the new Civic Type R is one very serious piece of machinery indeed.
NEW HONDA CIVIC TYPE R THROWS DOWN NURBURGRING GAUNTLET
- Honda announces Nurburgring lap time for Civic Type R development car
- 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time is unmatched in the front-wheel drive hot hatch class
- Lap time achieved in development car with technical specifications representative of the final production car
At the world premiere of its all-new Civic Type R at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show (5 - 15 March; Stand 4250, Hall 4), Honda announced that a development car had achieved a 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time of the legendary 20.8 km/12.9 mile Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany.
This time is unmatched by any other front-wheel drive performance hatchback.
The lap time was achieved during the final phase of pre-production testing in May 2014 by a Civic Type R development car. The development car was in a standard state of engine tune, with suspension, drivetrain, exhaust, brakes and the aerodynamic package identical to those of the production Civic Type R.
The removal of equipment such as air conditioning, the front passenger seat and audio equipment offset the additional weight of a full roll cage (installed specifically for safety reasons and not to add rigidity).
During the test cycle, the development car used production-specification high-rigidity 19-inch alloy wheels. these were fitted with 235/35R19 road tyres being developed in conjunction with a major European tyre manufacturer especially for the new Civic Type R. The test cycle during which the 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time was achieved was part of the tyre's development and testing process.
Honda has now vowed to follow up this achievement by sending a production Civic Type R around the Nurburgring Nordschleife later this year with the aim of setting a new lap record for a front-wheel drive production car.
Highlights of the latest generation in Honda's cult car dynasty is a world-first application of Honda's new 2.0 litre VTEC TURBO engine, aggressive function-led styling, and advanced new chassis technologies, combining to deliver one of the most immersive and rewarding driving experiences available in any sector.
The new Civic Type R goes on sale across Europe in summer 2015.
- Honda announces Nurburgring lap time for Civic Type R development car
- 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time is unmatched in the front-wheel drive hot hatch class
- Lap time achieved in development car with technical specifications representative of the final production car
At the world premiere of its all-new Civic Type R at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show (5 - 15 March; Stand 4250, Hall 4), Honda announced that a development car had achieved a 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time of the legendary 20.8 km/12.9 mile Nurburgring Nordschleife in Germany.
This time is unmatched by any other front-wheel drive performance hatchback.
The lap time was achieved during the final phase of pre-production testing in May 2014 by a Civic Type R development car. The development car was in a standard state of engine tune, with suspension, drivetrain, exhaust, brakes and the aerodynamic package identical to those of the production Civic Type R.
The removal of equipment such as air conditioning, the front passenger seat and audio equipment offset the additional weight of a full roll cage (installed specifically for safety reasons and not to add rigidity).
During the test cycle, the development car used production-specification high-rigidity 19-inch alloy wheels. these were fitted with 235/35R19 road tyres being developed in conjunction with a major European tyre manufacturer especially for the new Civic Type R. The test cycle during which the 7 minutes 50.63 seconds lap time was achieved was part of the tyre's development and testing process.
Honda has now vowed to follow up this achievement by sending a production Civic Type R around the Nurburgring Nordschleife later this year with the aim of setting a new lap record for a front-wheel drive production car.
Highlights of the latest generation in Honda's cult car dynasty is a world-first application of Honda's new 2.0 litre VTEC TURBO engine, aggressive function-led styling, and advanced new chassis technologies, combining to deliver one of the most immersive and rewarding driving experiences available in any sector.
The new Civic Type R goes on sale across Europe in summer 2015.
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By Noah Joseph
See also: Honda's hot new Civic Type R finally hatches in production form [w/video] [UPDATE], Weekly Recap: Car-pedestrian crashes remained elevated in 2014, Remembering the glory days of the Honda Civic Si.