Another Front-Wheel Drive Hatchback Just Broke 8 Minutes At The 'Ring

Back in March, the Seat Leon Cupra 280 became the front-wheel drive car to shatter the eight minute lap time at the Nürburgring. Its victory was short-lived. Renault announced today that their Megane RS 275 Trophy-R destroyed that record by a whole four seconds. Sacrebleu!

Earlier this year the Seat lapped the 'Ring in 7 minutes, 58 seconds. But the UK's CAR magazine reports that "the GT3 of Meganes" clocked a ring time in mid-May of 7 minutes and 54 seconds. That's one hell of a takedown.

The Trophy-R is an even lighter and more track-focused version of the 275 horsepower Megane RS, weighing in at just over 2,800 pounds. It's definitely more hardcore than the Seat was, ditching the standard Trophy's rear seat, air conditioning, infotainment system and other non-essentials for a titanium exhaust, adjustable dampers and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Just 250 of these special edition cars will be made.

It's an incredible achievement. Now the question is this: What is Honda going to do about it? They're prepping the new Euro-spec Honda Civic Type R for a 'Ring run, and their goal is to shatter the same record. After today, that just got a little bit tougher.