2017 Honda Type R is fastest FWD car on the Nurburgring

It seems Honda has been very busy with the Honda Civic Type R. Less than a month after the production model's debut at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, the car went on the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit on April 3 and set a new record lap time for front-wheel drive cars at seven minutes and 43.8 seconds--nearly seven seconds faster than the previous-generation model. According to the Japanese carmaker, the Civic Type R's last time was set on a dry track with optimum ambient temperatures to get the best performance out of the tires and the powertrain, which is comprised of a 2.0-liter VTEC TURBO engine that produces 316 hp and 400 Nm of torque through a low-gear ratio six-speed manual transmission. Also assisting the Civic Type R's record-setting run is its comprehensive aerodynamic package that "delivers outstanding high-speed stability, with a best-in-class balance between lift and drag." In addition, the Civic Type R's high-rigidity body frame is supposedly 16 kilograms lighter than the previous model while its torsional stiffness was improved by 38 percent which translates to improved steering response and cornering stability. Its new multi-link rear suspension also enhances stability under braking and reduces the car's lateral movement, allowing the driver to not only brake late entering into corners but also have higher cornering speeds. "The cornering speed achieved in the new Type R is higher because the car features a wider track and tires, a longer wheelbase, new multi-link suspension in the rear and optimized aerodynamics that improves stability," said Honda Civic Type R lead chassis engineer Ryuichi Kijima. "For example, drivers typically enter the corner after Metzgesfeld at around 150 kph. Even at this medium-speed corner, the speed is around 10 kph higher due to the new Type R's excellent stability. So, with improved cornering performance, we can increase the speed throughout the lap, helping the new Type R to achieve a much quicker lap time." According to Honda, despite installing a full roll cage in the car for safety reasons, the Civic Type R's lap time is technically representative of the high-performance car in its production specification since it (the roll cage) didn't provide any additional rigidity to the body frame, and that its extra weight was offset by the temporary removal of the infotainment system and its rear seats. And finally, the lap time was set using road-legal, track-focused tires. Check out the record-setting run of the Honda Civic Type R in the video below. [embed>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YSjItQneNM[/embed>