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Video: New 2023 Honda Civic Type R Sets Record-Breaking Lap at Suzuka

Having rather big shoes to fill, with its predecessor still being the quickest front-wheel drive production car at different racetracks all over the world, the new-generation Honda Civic Type R is somewhat of a ‘racer’ itself.
2023 Honda Civic Type R 7 photos
Photo: Honda
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As a result, it now holds on to the fastest lap ever set by a front-wheel drive production vehicle at Suzuka. The record-breaking run took place on March 14, but for whatever reason, Honda has just made the big announcement, releasing two videos to back it up.

According to the Japanese automaker, the 2023 Civic Type R dealt with the 3.6-mile (5.8-km) long circuit in 2 minutes and 23.120 seconds. This means that it was almost one second quicker than the previous record-holder, the 2021 Civic Type R Limited Edition, a more track-focused version of the outgoing iteration.

As far as the unveiling date goes, the car firm states that they will present it this summer. It will continue to rival the likes of the Volkswagen Golf GTI, Hyundai i30 N, Renault Megane RS, and Ford Focus ST and should be one of the most exciting FWD hot hatches available.

Building on the latest-generation Civic, the new Civic Type R will feature a re-tuned chassis, with stiffer suspension and lower ground clearance, uprated brakes, and probably sharper steering. Expect the usual beefed-up design, joined by front sports seats with extra side bolstering and integrated headrests, and more exclusive upholstery and trim.

Powering it will still be a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, Honda has already confirmed, hooked up to a six-speed manual transmission and front-wheel drive. We don’t know anything about the output and torque yet, but in all likelihood, it should have about the same amount as its predecessor available via the right pedal, namely 306 hp and 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) in the United States.

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About the author: Cristian Gnaticov
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After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s.
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