Next-generation Type R lowers the front-wheel-drive benchmark at Japan’s most challenging track

Next-generation Type R lowers the front-wheel drive benchmark at Japan’s most challenging track

The FK8 Honda Civic Type R arrived in 2017 and promptly swept all before it, most notably becoming the fastest ever front-wheel drive car to lap the Nurburgring as well as several other major circuits.

So the new one - seen here in a camo wrap for the first time back in October - has a rather tough act to follow. And we’ve just received our first bit of evidence suggesting it’s more than up to the challenge.

Honda has announced that the new Type R has set a front-wheel drive lap record at Suzuka, one of the most demanding circuits on the F1 calendar and home to fabled sections like the S Curves and the 130R corner.

In its final development phase last month, the FL-gen Type R lapped the 5.8km track in 2 minutes 23.120 seconds, shaving 0.873 seconds off the previous best of the hardcore Limited Edition model set in 2020, shortly before life as we know it went out the window.

Still no word on what powertrain configuration is being used to make that next step in speed and performance, but Honda says it’ll share more info ahead of the car’s European launch later in 2022.

And don’t forget, the Mk11 version of the standard hatch is also coming later this year. Approve of the new look?