Motor Authority - blog Tag: nurburgring

It seems like every few weeks or so either Porsche or Nissan comes out with a new Nurburgring lap time for their respective 911 Turbo and GT-R models. The last we looked, Nissan was claiming a 7m 26.7s Nurburgring lap time for its 2010 ‘Series II’ GT-R, while General Motors was boasting an even better time of 7m 22.4 seconds for its Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 supercar.

While manufacturer claims should be taken with a grain of salt--there are just too many variables that can affect the lap times--the numbers always raise a multitude of questions, especially when a company like Porsche makes an announcement.

The German sports car...

It seems like every few weeks or so either Porsche or Nissan comes out with a new Nurburgring lap time for their respective 911 Turbo and GT-R models. The last we looked, Nissan was claiming a 7m 26.7s Nurburgring lap time for its 2010 ‘Series II’ GT-R, while General Motors was boasting an even better time of 7m 22.4 seconds for its Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 supercar. While manufacturer claims should be taken with a grain of salt--there are just too many variables that can affect the lap times--the numbers always raise a multitude of questions, especially when a company like Porsche makes an announcement. The German sports car manufacturer has posted a new time of 7m 39s for its latest 2010 911 Turbo, which is exactly 10 seconds quicker around the 13-mile Nordschliefe track than the non-facelifted model. For the 2010 model year, the 911 Turbo was given an extra 20-horsepower, better handling, and the optional seven-speed PDK dual-clutch gearbox. Porsche even managed to shave 40-pounds off the car’s curb weight, so it’s no surprise that the 2010 model outperforms the previous car. [Autocar] Read More

The supercar that almost wasn’t, and still might not be, the 2011 Lexus LF-A, was recently spotted again in prototype form ahead of a rumored debut at next month's 2009 Tokyo Auto Show.

The LF-A has been spotted testing on a number of occasions, so it's well past the 'pure concept' stage, but its production future still remains murky at best. The Japanese company's investment in the LF-A earlier this year at the Milan Fashion Week, however, lends credence to the idea that it is in fact going to be built, and the continuous stream of prototypes tracking the 'Ring go a step further.

The LF-A's powertrain has previously been speculated...

The supercar that almost wasn’t, and still might not be, the 2011 Lexus LF-A, was recently spotted again in prototype form ahead of a rumored debut at next month's 2009 Tokyo Auto Show. The LF-A has been spotted testing on a number of occasions, so it's well past the 'pure concept' stage, but its production future still remains murky at best. The Japanese company's investment in the LF-A earlier this year at the Milan Fashion Week, however, lends credence to the idea that it is in fact going to be built, and the continuous stream of prototypes tracking the 'Ring go a step further. The LF-A's powertrain has previously been speculated as a 5.0-liter V-10 engine rated at over 500 horsepower, and the latest report says it will be over 550 horsepower and capable of a top speed of 218 mph. Limited production is also the name of the game, with only about 500 units expected unless demand proves high enough to support more, though it will cost more than $200,000. Worse still, only 350 of them will be made in left-hand-drive for worldwide consumption. Other details include six-piston brake calipers with carbon-ceramic discs, titanium mufflers, a six-speed sequential automatic gearbox, and run flat Bridgestone tires--all fitted as standard. A hybrid variant should also be available, but it’s unknown how much power this version will have or what affect the heavy batteries and extra motor will have on handling and weight - or if the hybrid system will be anything more than badging and lip-service to the concept. The car's front mid-engine placement, along with a rear-mounted transaxle and rear-mounted radiators, should allow for excellent weight distribution, however. Lexus has previously billed the concept version of the car as having a top speed in excess of 200mph, and we have no reason to doubt the production version will reach its sales targets if sold unrestricted--whatever the state of the global economy. Read More

With all the hype and ballyhoo over Nurburgring times for production cars like the 2010 Nissan GT-R, 2010 Corvette ZR-1, and 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo, it's easy to forget that actual races are run there too. But Lotus, a brand born of racing, is always close to the pulse of motorsport, and today it has revealed its Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar.

Based on the 2010 Lotus Evora road car, the Type 124 (which Lotus takes pains to note is pronounces "one twenty four") is a 400-horsepower, safety-caged, FIA-compliant racing car built to tackle the toughest sort of racing you can find on asphalt: endurance racing.

Specifically, the Evora Type 124...

With all the hype and ballyhoo over Nurburgring times for production cars like the 2010 Nissan GT-R, 2010 Corvette ZR-1, and 2010 Porsche 911 Turbo, it's easy to forget that actual races are run there too. But Lotus, a brand born of racing, is always close to the pulse of motorsport, and today it has revealed its Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar. Based on the 2010 Lotus Evora road car, the Type 124 (which Lotus takes pains to note is pronounces "one twenty four") is a 400-horsepower, safety-caged, FIA-compliant racing car built to tackle the toughest sort of racing you can find on asphalt: endurance racing. Specifically, the Evora Type 124 was built to take on the ADAC Nurburgring 24 Hours, testing its mettle against Jackie Stewart's Green Hell for a full circuit of the clock. To get the road car up to snuff for such a brutal challenge, Lotus took out 440 pounds of weight, reducing the car's curb weight to 2,640 pounds. Power had to increase as well, so the mid-mounted Toyota V-6 gets special race tuning to reach 400 horsepower, fully 124 (coincidence?) horsepower more than the standard Evora. A six-speed sequential racing gearbox, 18 by 9.5-inch wheels, Pirelli racing slicks, carbon fiber racing aerodynamics and full safety equipment round out the racing package. The car will contest thet ADAC and other endurance races in Malaysia, Dubai and the UK throughout the 2010 season. [Lotus] Read More

Late last year Porsche unveiled its updated Boxster and Cayman range but there are still several other models based on the same Boxster/Cayman platform in the works. One of these is a high-performance RS model, recently seen testing at Germany’s Nurburgring, and another is a long-rumored chopped 'Speedster' model.

However, development of the next-generation model is also well underway and images of a prototype for the car have once again surfaced. This time the prototype has been spotted on its way to Germany’s Nurburging circuit for some high-speed testing.

A rumor alleging that Porsche insiders are talking about a lightweight,...

Late last year Porsche unveiled its updated Boxster and Cayman range but there are still several other models based on the same Boxster/Cayman platform in the works. One of these is a high-performance RS model, recently seen testing at Germany’s Nurburgring, and another is a long-rumored chopped 'Speedster' model. However, development of the next-generation model is also well underway and images of a prototype for the car have once again surfaced. This time the prototype has been spotted on its way to Germany’s Nurburging circuit for some high-speed testing. A rumor alleging that Porsche insiders are talking about a lightweight, turbocharged four-cylinder platform for the next-gen Boxster recently began making the rounds. The thought coincides with possible rumors of a revived 914 that could be co-branded by both VW and Porsche, targeted at different market sectors, which means the new Boxster could certainly be fitted with a highly charged four-banger. If that’s the case, we're sure Porsche will still offer a six-cylinder option for upper range models. Such a design premise might offer more room to launch a detuned entry-level Carrera also aimed at improving emissions ratings. Even the current six-cylinder Boxster and Cayman, the most efficient in Porsche's line, emit about 222 g/km of CO2--about 100 g/km more than the projected 2015 limits. Whatever Porsche has in store for the new car, we’ll have to wait until its expected arrival in 2011 to find out. Read More

Picture it: you're halfway into a hot lap of the Nurburgring's Nordschleife, braking hard for the infamous Bergwerk turn when your peripheral vision catches a glimpse of the rear-view mirror and you realize that Viper you just passed is coming in way too hot and there's nowhere for you to go. The next thing you know, you're in the barrier and so is the Viper, both cars having driven their last laps. You need help, and you're about 5.5mi (9km) from the start-finish line. This isn't far from where Niki Lauda almost died in 1976.

But then, just a scant four minutes later, the newest member of the Nurburgring's emergency response team arrives,... Picture it: you're halfway into a hot lap of the Nurburgring's Nordschleife, braking hard for the infamous Bergwerk turn when your peripheral vision catches a glimpse of the rear-view mirror and you realize that Viper you just passed is coming in way too hot and there's nowhere for you to go. The next thing you know, you're in the barrier and so is the Viper, both cars having driven their last laps. You need help, and you're about 5.5mi (9km) from the start-finish line. This isn't far from where Niki Lauda almost died in 1976. But then, just a scant four minutes later, the newest member of the Nurburgring's emergency response team arrives, lights flashing: the Nissan GT-R Streckensicherung, or Rapid Response Vehicle. Armed with its own light bar, roll cage, Recaro seats and safety harnesses, the car can quickly get to any part of the track to address an emergency situation as soon as possible. And with thousands of tourists on the track each year, there's sure to be no shortage of cause for such a vehicle. Fortunately, once the GT-R rescue car gets to the scene of the bad decision, it can do more than spectate: equipped with a foam and water fire extinguishing system, it will make sure you don't roast while you're waiting for the medical reinforcements to arrive. Via: GT-R Blog Read More

If a company going by the name of IFR Automotive rings a bell, it may just be because of its recently unveiled Aspid Sports Car, which combined an enclosed cockpit and composite materials with a classic Lotus Seven-style semi-open-wheeled layout. Now, the Spanish company says it is in the midst of developing a new technology for high-end sports cars that could give drivers the ability to finely tune almost every aspect of vehicle management without having to get their tool kits out - including the suspension settings, steering, ECU and throttle.

What IFR is referring to is not the sort of thing we've seen on BMW's M5, where a number of... If a company going by the name of IFR Automotive rings a bell, it may just be because of its recently unveiled Aspid Sports Car, which combined an enclosed cockpit and composite materials with a classic Lotus Seven-style semi-open-wheeled layout. Now, the Spanish company says it is in the midst of developing a new technology for high-end sports cars that could give drivers the ability to finely tune almost every aspect of vehicle management without having to get their tool kits out - including the suspension settings, steering, ECU and throttle. What IFR is referring to is not the sort of thing we've seen on BMW's M5, where a number of settings such as 'Comfort', 'Sport', or 'Track' are given. Instead, drivers will be able to exactly adjust each setting to the precise degree they require. IFR is hoping that if the technology proves viable, drivers will be able to sit in their cars and adjust suspension settings or throttle mapping via a touch screen. Speaking with Autocar, IFR head honcho Ignacio Fernandez Rodriguez explained that the technology could be used to perfectly fine tune a vehicle for a certain track, such as the Nurburgring, and then have those settings saved without ever having to use tools to adjust the suspension or be satisfied with a programmed setting. Obviously the technology is not intended for the everyday driver, but IFR claims that a number of auto manufacturers have expressed interest in the system for their more high-end, high-performance models. Currently, the system is still in development, along with some other technologies, but should it prove useful then we may just see it in the next sports car from IFR, and possibly even other manufacturers.Aspid Sports Car official photos Read More