The Fastest Japanese Cars To Ever Lap The Nürburgring

The 12.9-mile Nürburgring Nordschleife track in Germany has become the ultimate benchmark where the mettle of performance cars is measured. Ford’s recent sub-7 minute drive with the 800 hp Ford Mustang GTD is a case in point – the manufacturer has spent millions of dollars to achieve that Sub-7, making it the first American brand to achieve that goal.

But what about Japanese cars? Has a Japanese brand managed to break through that famed 7-min barrier? We took a look at Japan’s top sub-8-min Nürburgring cars – and one sub-7 special.

This list is compiled using various Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record sources, as well as official information and videos from Japanese car companies.

6 Honda NSX Type R

Lap time: 07:56.73

The quintessential Japanese supercar, the Honda NSX is a performance car legend – and thank the driving gods it also made it to The Ring.

The NSX made its debut in 1990, powered by a mid-mounted 3.0-liter V6 engine producing a modest 270 hp, and revving to a delightful 8,000 rpm. Honda’s aim was to create an engine that could compete with the period’s Ferrari V8s, but offer more reliability and affordability. Still, some enthusiasts felt that the NSX should have been a more dedicated track weapon.

Enter the 1993 NSX Type R, the car that would head to The Ring. The V6 was now a 3.2-liter, power was 290 hp and it had a six-speed gearbox. It weighed less too (under 3,000lbs), and had carbon fiber parts like the hood and rear wing. The cabin was stripped of virtually all amenities, and two Recaro racing seats replaced the stock leather versions. The Type R’s suspension was specifically tuned for the racetracks, with input from a man called Ayrton Senna.

It was a thing of rare beauty – only 483 Type Rs were made. Ahead of its launch in 1993, pro driver Motoharu Kurosawa tackled The Ring, and set the sub-8 minute time with other cars on the track.

And then a man called Ayrton Senna drove a Honda NSX with loafers and white socks at Suzuka. Put on some earphones, because the F1 legend really makes that V6 sing.

5 Toyota GR Supra

Lap time: 07:52.17

Okay, so the Toyota is a bit of an automotive mongrel, with its German BMW drivetrain and interior bits and bobs. But, Toyota’s GR engineers spent a lot of time refining the ride and handling performance of the Supra at The Ring, giving it a one-up on its German cousin, the Z4 M40i.

The time of 07:52.17 was set during German publication Sport Auto’s Hot Lap Supertest at The Green Hell, and the Supra was around 3 seconds faster than the BMW Z4. The Supra’s 3.0-liter inline-6 has a single twin-scroll turbo and produces 382 hp and in The Ring car the power is sent to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic gearbox (a six-speed manual is also available).

A Supra party trick is the adaptive variable sport (AVS) suspension, working in conjunction with the Active Rear Sport differential and a Brembo brake set-up. The AVS system automatically adjusts the dampers according to road (or track) conditions, providing a great compromise between a comfortable on-road ride and razor-sharp track weapon.

This time was set over a single flying lap by Sport Auto test driver Christian Gebbert. A proper Toyota GR effort will most certainly result in an even faster time. Let’s hope Toyota will attempt it with the final, and most powerful edition of the Supra.

4 Honda Civic Type R

Lap time: 07:44.81

In 2023, Honda took its Honda Civic Type R to a new front-wheel drive record, snatching the crown from the 300 hp Renault Megane RS Trophy R by just half-a-second.

The Civic hatch is powered by a 2-liter VTEC Turbo engine with 325 hp of power at 6,500 rpm. The hot hatch comes standard with a lightweight single-mass flywheel, helical limited-slip differential and a six-speed manual gearbox.

Honda says this latest version of the Type R has improved aerodynamics and cooling, downforce is enhanced by using detail-oriented parts, the cooling of the brakes was improved, and specially developed Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect tires were fitted.

The company also said that this version was a special lightweight version, called the Type R S, which would be available in some European markets. The special Cup 2 R tires are not standard either, but the owner can order those from Michelin.

The record run has been controversial. Several Type R owners who frequent The Ring, as well as Nürburgring YouTube royalty, Misha Charoudin, have claimed that there appear to be some anomalies in the fifth and sixth gear ratios used for the record run, as well as the level of boost compared to a stock production car.

Be that as it may, the record stands, as per official Nürburgring timing.

3 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition

Lap time: 07:14.64

The Lexus LFA V10 is a Japanese motoring icon that took 10 years to develop. The 4.8-liter 1LR-GUE V10 engine produced 553 hp, enough for the LFA to reach a top speed of 202 mph. The body is light, consisting largely of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, which combined with aluminum, titanium and magnesium ensures a curb weight of just over 3,000 lbs.

Virtually every nut and bolt on this Lexus is bespoke. The gearbox was a special unit built by Aisin, a six-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission, with paddle shifters. The Lexus team initially looked at a dual-clutch transmission, but they felt it was too smooth… Yep, this is a driver’s car, by driving enthusiasts.

For customers who felt the LFA was still too, well… soft, Lexus created the limited edition Nürburgring Package. It had 10 more horsepower, gearshifts were faster by 0.05 seconds, it had a front splitter and active rear wing with 33% more downforce, stiffer and more adjustable suspension, and lighter magnesium wheels.

In 2011, Lexus driver Akira Iida sent the special LFA around The Ring, setting a time of 07:14.64.

2 Nissan GT-R Nismo

Lap time: 07:08.67

A list like this would not be complete without a Nissan GT-R of sorts. In 2013, German racing driver Michael Krumm wrestled a 592 hp Nissan GT-R Nismo special edition around The Ring at 07:08.67 – coming tantalizing close to breaking through the 7-minute barrier. Krumm really wrestled the big all-wheel drive Nissan… the not-so-lightweight Nismo (3,300 lb) heading flat-out towards the notorious foxhole corner in sixth gear – it required some big, er… brakes.

The Nismo came standard with a mechanical limited slip differential, special Bilstein dampers, substantially more aerodynamic downforce than the stock GT-R, including a new rear spoiler, and a reshaped front spoiler. The roof is crafted from carbon fiber. Recaro carbon black racing seats provide suitable seating support in the cabin.

The twin-turbocharged 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine is hand-built by an expert technician, and the power is sent to the rear wheels only via a dual-clutch sequential six-speed gearbox. The GT-R is still one of the most complete all-rounder performance cars, at home on track or road.

But wait, there’s more: This lap time was even more controversial than the Honda Civic Type R’s would turn out to be. Other car companies claimed it was an impossible feat, despite the video evidence supplied by Nissan. It was later revealed that the Nismo used for the record may or may not have completed the lap with a non-standard, Nürburgring specific engine tune, providing not only more horsepower, but also improved torque on critical parts of the track.

Sour grapes, or the real deal? Who knows for sure? But it was an amazing time, set in an amazing piece of Japanese kit.

1 Subaru WRX STi Type RA NBR Special

Lap time: 06:57.5

In 2017, Subaru of America sent a team to the Nürburgring Nordschleife, armed with a 600 hp Subaru Impreza WRX STi AWD time attack car. The Subaru had already smashed a lap record at the Isle of Man TT and came third overall in the Goodwood Festival of Speed hill climb.

The custom, all-wheel drive race car was built by Prodrive using a stock 2017 WRX body. The rest is all bespoke and magnificent, no cost spared to turn this into a time-attack monster. It uses a modified 2-liter Subaru WRC specification engine, producing more than 600 hp. It has a custom-made WRC competition gearbox, shifting gears in 25 milliseconds. It went to The Ring with an updated aerodynamic package, and at top speed (180 mph) the aero provided 650 lb of downforce.

Its massive rear wing also included a Formula One-style drag reduction system (DRS). The computer-controlled system uses sensors to measure all the relevant parameters, and actuates electric and hydraulic systems that open the Gurney flap on the straights for more top speed, and closes it for maximum downforce in the corners. These changes happened inside 20 milliseconds.

In 2013, the time was the fastest ever achieved by a four-door sedan. The driver was Richie Stanaway, who has lots of Nürburgring experience racing for the factory Aston Martin team in the world endurance championship. Obviously the time doesn’t count because you can’t go out and buy one of these things, but it is technically the fastest Japanese car to ever lap the Green Hell.