But well, is it possible? Since the Nissan GT-R, nicknamed Godzilla because there is no car that can't be humiliated and especially in the "green hell" that is the Nurburgring, can it be humiliated by a two-liter front-wheel drive? The Japanese (the others, those Honda guys) seem to have performed the ultimate miracle: The new Civic Type R clocked 7:50:63 at the "Ring," taking the title of the fastest front-wheel drive car on the planet and humiliating such behemoths as the GT-R, Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4, Porsche 911 turbo 996, Ferrari F430 F1 and many more.
Before the Type R was introduced, we all thought that the absolute (until recently) ruler of front-wheel drive, the Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy R (which did 7:54) would... give it a run for its money in the Ring. And understandably so, since we all thought that a car putting 305 horsepower out to the front wheels couldn't possibly set a better time. Well, the Japanese set out to drive us all crazy, as they not only built a model that not only resembles a UFO but behaves like one, sticking their tongue out at the laws of physics.
The Honda equaled the times of the ultimate, by many (myself included) BMW E46 M3 CSL and the Porsche Carrera S (the 997). And with an arrogance (justified, now) that makes Honda geeks swell with pride, in front of the list of some of those who ate its dust. Behold:
Chevrolet Corvette C5 Z06 (7:56)
Porsche 911 Turbo - 996 (7:56)
Porsche Panamera Turbo (7:56)
Caterham R500 Superlight (7:55)
Ferrari F430 F1 (7:55)
2008 Nissan GT-R (7:54)
Porsche 911 Turbo - 997 (7:54)
Renault Megane RS 275 Trophy-R (7:54)
Mercedes CLK DTM AMG (7:54)
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 (7:52)
Watch the Civic Type R now, having a cup of tea at the Nurburgring (video shot by Honda in 2014, during development testing)
