As we fully expected, Honda has taken its all-new 2017 Civic Type R hot hatch to Germany in order to break the front-wheel drive lap record at the Nurburgring. With an officially clocked time of 7 minutes and 43.8 seconds, the Civic Type R has taken back its crown from the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport S, which managed a time of 7 minutes and 49.21 seconds last May. For those who recall, the previous Civic Type R was nearly seven seconds slower than its new successor.

Honda says the new lap time, completed during the hot hatch's final testing phase, was achieved on a dry track with an ideal outside temperature to help ensure proper tire and powertrain performance. Of course, there were other factors that contributed to the new record time.

For starters, the engine, a 2.0-liter turbo VTEC four with 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, is paired to a six-speed manual with lower gear ratios that further improve acceleration. The exterior is decked out with an aerodynamic package that offers best-in-class balance between lift and drag. Furthermore, the high-rigidity body frame is 35 pounds lighter than the previous model's, and has a torsional stiffness improvement of 38 percent, providing better steering response and cornering stability. There's also a new multi-link rear suspension that enhances stability under braking and reduces the total roll movement, allowing for later braking into corners and higher cornering speeds during the lap itself.

Included above is the official hot lap Nurburgring video from Honda showing the Civic Type R in action at the Ring. Remember, this Honda Civic Type R is coming to the US for the first time, and it's identical to the one sold overseas. Production is slated to get underway in the UK this summer and will arrive in the US shortly thereafter. We can't imagine Honda will have a difficult time finding anxious buyers anywhere in the world.