Lap record at the Nürburgring with Honda Civic R
HONDA A Civic Type R achieved a new lap record for front-wheel drive road vehicles on the legendary Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. The technical specifications of the production version correspond to the vehicle with which the new lap record was driven. Following the world premiere of the new Civic Type R at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, Honda achieved a [...]
Following the world premiere of the new Civic Type R at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, Honda achieved a new lap record for front-wheel drive road vehicles on the legendary Nordschleife of the Nürburgring. On April 3, 2017, the test team realized a time of 7 minutes and 43.8 seconds with a pre-production Civic Type R vehicle.
Seven seconds better than predecessor
The test team achieved the lap time in the final phase of the test program on a dry track. The optimum ambient temperature ensured the best tire and powertrain performance. Compared with the predecessor model, the new lap record represents an improvement of almost seven seconds.
Tenth model generation
For the development of the tenth generation of the Civic model family, Honda triggered the most extensive development program in the company's history. The new Civic Type R was created as part of this development; with the aim of offering the best driving experience in the compact sports car segment both on the road and on the racetrack. Several factors contributed to the new Civic Type R's best time on the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The optimized 2.0-liter VTEC turbo gasoline engine with a maximum of 320 hp and maximum torque of 400 Nm serves as the powerplant. New and tighter reduction ratios of the 6-speed manual transmission further optimize acceleration.
Aerodynamics optimized
The new Civic Type R's cleverly designed aerodynamic package also offers outstanding stability at high speeds, with best-in-class values for the balance of lift and drag. The high-strength body structure weighs 16 kg less than that of the previous model, with a 38 percent improvement in torsional rigidity, which has a positive effect on steering response and cornering stability. The new multi-link rear axle increases stability under braking and reduces vehicle roll, enabling a later braking point before turning into the corner and thus higher cornering speeds on the racetrack.
Technically almost identical
The test vehicle with which the lap record was realized is representative of the production model from a technical point of view. For safety reasons, a roll cage was installed which, thanks to its "floating" design, could not absorb any additional forces from the body structure. The engineers compensated for the extra weight by temporarily removing the infotainment system and the rear seats. The vehicle used for the lap record featured race-prepared tires that are also approved for use on the road. Series production of the new Civic Type R will start in summer 2017 in Swindon, United Kingdom. From there, the Civic Type R will be exported to other European countries and other key markets around the globe, including Japan and the United States. With its arrival in North America, the Civic Type R will be the first Honda model with the "H" emblem ever officially offered for sale there.
Video footage of the best time drive is available here:
