New-gen Honda hatch beat current front-drive lap by nearly a second
The next-generation Honda Civic Type R has set a new front-wheel drive lap record at the Japanese Suzuka circuit ahead of its launch later this year.
Recording a 2 minutes 23.120 seconds hot lap of Suzuka, the upcoming Civic Type R shaved nearly a second off the 2 minutes 23.993 seconds time posted by the previous lap holder that that also happened to be a Honda Civic Type R (FK8), although that previous record holder was the more hardcore Limited Edition model.
Posting a video of the fast lap of the 5.8km circuit, some commentators have noted the video shows Honda had a rolling start, although a similar tactic was used by the previous non-Honda record holder, the Renault Megane RS Trophy-R. During the fast lap, 2023 Civic Type R hit speeds of up to 231km/h, with the fast Honda showing impressive high-speed stability.
It’s also worth pointing out that the Civic Type R driven had a six-speed manual and not the rumoured two-pedal version that may be introduced.
Sadly, no more new information has been released with the new vid.
It’s thought when it arrives, the new Civic Type R will have a mildly tuned version of the of the outgoing Type R’s 2.0-litre turbo-four (228kW/400Nm) that will be combined with the aforementioned six-speed manual and a limited-slip differential to boost traction.
With a bit more power, expect a 0-100km/h sprint of around 5.5 seconds and a 275km/h top speed.
Stay tuned, as more teases of the Civic Type R are expected in the build-up to its launch. It’s thought deliveries Down Under, meanwhile, should commence following the hot Honda’s reveal before the end of 2022 or early 2023 at the latest.
Keyword: Watch new Honda Civic Type R set Suzuka lap record