New Honda Civic breaks Nürburgring record

The new Honda Civic Type R hot hatchback, officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show on Wednesday, is now also officially the world's fastest front-wheel-drive car.

As well as taking the wraps off the eagerly awaited 306bhp, 167mph (269km/h) car, Honda also revealed that in testing it had posted a lap time of just 7 minutes and 50.63 seconds when driven on the legendary German racetrack, shaving nearly four whole seconds off the current fastest time.

In recent years, the 20.8km circuit has become the de-facto proving ground for any car that wants to claim sporting credentials and in March 2014 a Seat Leon became the fastest front-wheel drive car ever to lap the circuit, setting a remarkable time of 7 minutes and 58.4 seconds.

However, just two months later, spurred on by Seat's achievement, Renault broke the record again with a tuned Megan, setting a time of 7 minutes and 54.3 seconds.

But as well as obliterating the existing record, the Honda Civic Type R, which goes on sale this summer, priced from €40,000, may have just also thrown down the gauntlet to the competition.