Motor Authority - blog Tag: Ring

Nissan's 370Z has turned heads and changed minds when it comes the future of the Z-car, and to help push the company's sporting reputation even further, Nissan has opened a shop featuring the car alongside the already proven GT-R at the infamous Nurburgring.

Though it's known around the world as the Green Hell, it's been Nissan's personal hell of late as it tousles with Porsche over the GT-R's claimed lap time of 7:26.7 minutes around the 12.9mi Nordschleife, or North Loop.

The shop itself features unique merchandise from Nissan and its NISMO motorsports division in the 5,381 square foot space, officially titled the Nissan Sportscars Shop... Nissan's 370Z has turned heads and changed minds when it comes the future of the Z-car, and to help push the company's sporting reputation even further, Nissan has opened a shop featuring the car alongside the already proven GT-R at the infamous Nurburgring. Though it's known around the world as the Green Hell, it's been Nissan's personal hell of late as it tousles with Porsche over the GT-R's claimed lap time of 7:26.7 minutes around the 12.9mi Nordschleife, or North Loop. The shop itself features unique merchandise from Nissan and its NISMO motorsports division in the 5,381 square foot space, officially titled the Nissan Sportscars Shop on the new Ring Boulevard. One of the cars on display in the shop is the new 80-car limited-production Nurburgring Edition 370Z, painted a bright yellow with a special graphics treatment. The GT-R SpecV is also on display, and is so far the only place Europeans can see the car in person. Visitors to the Sportscar Shop can also purchase high-quality Nissan merchandise and its motor sports department NISMO, including rare items imported from Japan as well as scale models of cars. The Nissan Sportscars Shop is also slated to take on a more central role in many of the company’s marketing and sales activities. At the end of October 2009, for example, the company has planned an entire week full of action. The schedule includes a drift event at the Nürburgring, track days with the Nissan GT-R on the Nordschleife and a “tour of the senses”, a journey through the picturesque Eifel countryside surrounding the racetrack.Nissan Sportscars Shop at the Ring Read More

Though over a year has elapsed since the Lexus LF-A was first spotted in testing, and it's been almost a year since it last ran the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the crew at Lexus are prepping the perpetual prototype for yet another running of the ADAC Zurich 24h Race, and now they've released photos of the race car that'll be hitting the track.

Last time around the car used the day-long race track outing to give the LF-A's systems a real stress test, to iron out the bugs in the chassis and tuning and to further develop their own technical capabilities. This year the plan focuses on the same concerns, though there will be one major difference -... Though over a year has elapsed since the Lexus LF-A was first spotted in testing, and it's been almost a year since it last ran the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the crew at Lexus are prepping the perpetual prototype for yet another running of the ADAC Zurich 24h Race, and now they've released photos of the race car that'll be hitting the track. Last time around the car used the day-long race track outing to give the LF-A's systems a real stress test, to iron out the bugs in the chassis and tuning and to further develop their own technical capabilities. This year the plan focuses on the same concerns, though there will be one major difference - Toyota’s incoming CEO, Akio Toyoda, will be getting some seat time in the Lexus supercar. While you might expect Toyoda to be just another boring executive type, the incoming CEO is keen to see the carmaker offer more performance models and was one of the key people involved with development of the Lexus IS-F - even donning a racing suit and getting behind the wheel during high-speed testing. He’s also previously expressed a desire to bring back Toyota sports cars like the Celica and Supra, and his planned efforts at next month’s Nurburging 24-hour race only reaffirm this commitment. For those who don’t know, Toyoda is the 52 year-old grandson of Toyota founder Kiichiro Toyoda, and he’s set to replace the carmaker’s current chief, Katsuaki Watanabe, this June. As for the specially prepped LF-A race car, it will feature a 4.8L V10 rated at over 492hp (367kW), a carbon-fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) body shell, and will race in the Division 2 SP8 class for near-production engines. The layout of the car is a front-mid engine, rear-mid transaxle with rear radiator, with a paddle-shifted manual transmission. The 20in wheels are wrapped in 305/30 Bridgestone racing rubber. The race kicks off on May 23, though practice will start May 21, so if you're in the neighborhood of the Nurburgring, get your tickets and take the chance to get a look at what might be the next Lexus supercar - if it ever makes it to production.Lexus LF-ALexus LF-A livery for the 37th ADAC Zurich 24h Race Read More

World Rally Championship racing won't see a Subaru factory team this year, but the 37th ADAC Zurich 24 Hour Race - a 24-hour race at the Nurburgring - will. The 200-car field will include a factory-built WRX STI that's hitting the track in the name of data collection and development.

Of course, winning is also the objective, with the 2.0L (EJ20) turbocharged boxer engine putting the car into the SP3T class. The chassis and body are original production pieces, but Subaru Tecnica International (STI) has added a few enhancements to make the car more race-worthy.

Starting with a 'flexible tower bar' and stiffening the chassis, the engineers... World Rally Championship racing won't see a Subaru factory team this year, but the 37th ADAC Zurich 24 Hour Race - a 24-hour race at the Nurburgring - will. The 200-car field will include a factory-built WRX STI that's hitting the track in the name of data collection and development. Of course, winning is also the objective, with the 2.0L (EJ20) turbocharged boxer engine putting the car into the SP3T class. The chassis and body are original production pieces, but Subaru Tecnica International (STI) has added a few enhancements to make the car more race-worthy. Starting with a 'flexible tower bar' and stiffening the chassis, the engineers have also lightened the car and installed a wide range of safety equipment including a roll cage, window net, racing harness and fire suppression system. Four Japanese drivers - Kazuo Shimizu, Toshihiro Yoshida, Naoki Hattori and Koji Matsuda - will take the wheel during the 24-hour run, helping the engineers and the rest of the STI team not only to victory, but to a better understanding of what makes a racing WRX STI tick.Subaru WRX STI 24-hour Nurburgring race car Read More