• The 2023 Honda Civic Kind R has set the file for the quickest front-wheel-drive manufacturing automobile on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
• Honda says the brand new Kind R circled the 12.94-mile course in 7:44.881, beating the 2019 Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy-R’s time of seven:45.399.
• The record-setting CTR wore a set of Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 observe tires, that are supplied as a $1780 dealer-installed choice.

The brand new Honda Civic Kind R is a front-wheel-drive beast. We have recognized this for awhile now, and as we speak the remainder of the world is reminded of its greatness as Honda pronounces it is the quickest front-drive manufacturing automobile to lap the well-known Nürburgring Nordschleife.

The 315-hp hatchback circled the 12.94-mile observe in 7:44.881. That point beats the earlier FWD file of seven:45.399, which was set by a 2019 Renault Mégane R.S. Trophy-R. Whereas the Trophy-R wore Bridgestone S007 rubber, the CTR lapped the ‘Ring sporting Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s. These race-focused tires may be bought by common clients as a part of a $1780 dealer-installed choice. Watch the R-rated Civic set the lap file from contained in the cockpit within the video beneath.

Individuals who keep in mind a last-gen 2017 Civic Kind R posting a faster Nürburgring lap time of seven:43.80 may be scratching their heads proper now. That is as a result of some issues have modified on the Nürburgring since then, as our colleagues at Street & Observe have detailed. In a nutshell, the individuals who function the observe have began regulating lap instances, which incorporates new guidelines about the place a lap begins and finishes.

Beforehand, the Nordschleife’s was 12.8 miles from starting to finish, however now it is 12.94 miles. The added 0.14 mile and official timekeeping clearly means lap instances set earlier than the 2019 rule adjustments cannot be immediately in contrast to people who got here after.

So, no, the brand new CTR is not slower than its predecessor. We noticed this firsthand throughout our most up-to-date Lightning Lap, the place the 2023 Civic Kind R turned the quickest FWD automobile we have ever lapped at Virginia Worldwide Raceway (VIR). Its time of two:58.8 was additionally 1.9 seconds faster than the previous Kind R Restricted Version.

Senior Editor

Eric Stafford’s vehicle habit started earlier than he may stroll, and it has fueled his ardour to put in writing information, evaluations, and extra for Automobile and Driver since 2016. His aspiration rising up was to develop into a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like automobile assortment. Apparently, getting wealthy is tougher than social-media influencers make it appear, so he averted monetary success solely to develop into an automotive journalist and drive new vehicles for a residing. After incomes a level at Central Michigan College and dealing at a each day newspaper, the years of mainly burning cash on failed venture vehicles and lemon-flavored jalopies lastly paid off when Automobile and Driver employed him. His storage presently features a 2010 Acura RDX, a handbook ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.