Before finally unveiling the production form of the 2023 Civic Type R this year, Honda had it undergo various tests. During its final performance testing and evaluation, the next-gen Civic Type R proved it’s the real thing by setting a new track record for a front-wheel drive car at the legendary Suzuka Circuit in Japan.
2023 Civic Type R Is The Fastest FWD At Suzuka Circuit
Honda revealed a fully camouflaged prototype of the next-generation Civic Type R at the 2022 Tokyo Auto Salon earlier this year. But at the time, the Japanese carmaker has yet to complete all the needed tests and evaluations. Around two months since the prototype reveal, the final development prototype of the 2023 Civic Type R hurdled the final performance testing and evaluation at the home of the Formula 1 Japanese Grand Prix – the Suzuka Circuit.
During this final performance testing and evaluation on March 14, the next generation of the Honda Civic Type R completed a lap at Suzuka Circuit in just 2 minutes 23.120 seconds. A single lap in the figure-8 Suzuka Circuit covers a distance of 3.6 miles. This is around 53 seconds slower than the fastest car on the circuit – the Mercedes-AMG F1 car – with Lewis Hamilton setting the record during the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix.
Breaking The Record Of 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition
Nevertheless, the 2023 Honda Civic Type R’s lap time of 2 minutes 23.120 seconds is good enough to erase the previous track record time of 2 minutes 23.993 seconds. Incidentally, a lightweight, specially-tuned, track-focused version of the current generation Civic Type R held the previous record. A street-legal yet track-focused 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition set the previous record in mid-2020.
Interestingly, the 2021 Honda Civic Type R Limited Edition was a production spec with no modifications. Honda had it well-equipped for such a track performance, with the car boasting reduced weight, optimized dampers, recalibrated steering, and improved engine cooling.
Power came from a race-bred 2.0-liter VTEC Turbo engine, delivering 306 hp of max output and 295 lb-ft peak of torque. A close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission and limited-slip differential deliver power from the engine to the front wheels.
Civic Type R’s Rival Is A Civic Type R
The record-setting performance of the all-new 2023 Honda Civic Type R provides a glimpse of what it is – an evolution of the previous generation. Just by completing the Suzuka Circuit at the fastest pace an FWD car can achieve, the next-gen car proved that a Type R’s only rival is a Type R.
Source: Honda