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Independent Test Claims Corvette ZR1 Matches GT-R Around Nurburgring

 
14 3,197 views Sep 23, 2009
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2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Nurburgring

2010 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 Nurburgring

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The last time 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--when an independent magazine runs the tests, with both cars on the same day, the results are usually worth a mention.

In this case the tests were run by German magazine Auto Sport, with current editor and former race driver Horst von Saurma behind the wheel. Saurma, incidentally, held the ‘Ring record for a production car with a time of 7m 32s in a Porsche Carrera GT for several years.

2009 Nissan GT-R

2009 Nissan GT-R

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So what was the magic number? According to the tests, both the GT-R and Corvette ZR1 achieved a lap time of 7m 38s around the treacherous 13-mile Nordschliefe course.

Hard to believe considering the differences between the cars: one, an all-wheel drive turbocharged V-6 with 480 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque and a hefty curb weight of 3,800 pounds, and the other, a supercharged V-8 with 638 horsepower and a monstrous 604 pound-feet of torque in a chassis weighing just 3,352 pounds. Note that the first series 2009 Nissan GT-R with slightly less power and softer suspension than the 2010 model was used.

The story doesn’t end there as other tracks were also compared in the German test, the ZR1 beating out the GT-R’s Hockenheimring laptime (1m 09.7s to the GT-R’s 1m 10.7s) and then the ZR1 losing out to the GT-R in the wet handling course (1m 36.8s to the GT-R’s 1m 32.4s).

We’ll leave you to come up with a conclusion in the comments section below.

[GTRBlog]





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Comments (14)

  1. By  My Wheels On Walls Posted: 9/23/2009 6:24pm PDT

    Putting things in perspective thats like having Spam taste the same as filt mignon. Way to go Chevy! This also means it to is faster than a 911 and the euro snob's wil be asking for a rematch, watch this space I guess!!!
     
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  2. By Patrick Posted: 9/23/2009 6:56pm PDT

    American muscle. Give Nissan credit for coming close but you can never beat an American car.
     
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  3. By Logicisbest Posted: 9/23/2009 8:28pm PDT

    Funny, this actually says THEY ARE EVEN, despite the extra weight, lack of power and smaller tires,
    ALL for a cheaper price. yes, it is very clear, American Muscle got beat, you should be use to it by now, so get over it and stop saying your crap does more than it can, because thats how it is, thats how its gonna be.
     
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  4. By Logicisbest Posted: 9/23/2009 8:30pm PDT

    Btw, The 7:22 never happaned, atleast said jan the supposed driver.
     
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  5. By rick Posted: 9/23/2009 11:28pm PDT

    I love Nissan, but that GTR is one of the ugliest cars Nissan has ever made. I'll take the corvette.
     
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  6. By  My Wheels On Walls Posted: 9/24/2009 1:41am PDT

    I knew if we waited long enough a "euro snob" would appear. Although throughout the eighties and nineties the European and the Americans did pump out some trash. Let's not forget Porsche almost shut its doors in the nineties until they hired consultants from Toyota to teach them how to make a car right the first time down a production line. Also it was the Japanese again that taught Italian super car manufacturers that super cars are able to visit their dealers only for scheduled factory service visits i.e. the Acura/Honda NSX, what a novel idea that was!!! Ultimately its great to see an American product handing out humble pie to the Japanese auto industry that taught everybody how to build reliable cars. Its as if the student is now teaching the teacher......
     
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  7. By mark Posted: 9/24/2009 2:20am PDT

    bottom line - if you want the best from your car don't ask horst to drive it.
     
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  8. By Charlie Posted: 9/24/2009 4:59am PDT

    I'll ignore the relative costs of the two cars, and displacement and technology and all that. We'll leave it as the best car the companies can offer, built with their preferred philosophy in mind.
    American muscle "won" by beating the Japanese techno-wizard on a power track, being slower on a low grip surface, and equalling the time on a long proving ground course with a mixture of almost everything?
    I'm not sure what neck of the woods Patrick comes from, but they must teach some very special maths over there.
     
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  9. By Chen Lee Posted: 9/24/2009 9:53am PDT

    For 30k more you have the ZR1, but at around 90k you end up with a 2+2, not much of a +2 but nevertheless it offers some utility for a third passenger, and also a decent trunk space in a 4WD couple that is a great everyday driver. As soon as the weekend arrives, you have track burner that will keep most of the exotics honest. Not a bad choice despite the controversial look, which I do not have any problems with.
     
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  10. By catchmyshadow Posted: 9/24/2009 10:11am PDT

    so besides exotic (almost)race cars like the gumpert and acr the ring king is...... still Porsche
     
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  11. By Gus Posted: 9/24/2009 1:01pm PDT

    Wow, people sure are passionate about this sort of thing.
    I agree, you can't really compare the two. Prices are sig. different, and one has 4 seats.
    But it's fun to argue...
     
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  12. By phil12321 Posted: 9/24/2009 7:22pm PDT

    Are we forgeting the viper acr... with an unoficial 7min 23 sec on a couple different ocassions...
     
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  13. By  Car Repair Posted: 10/2/2009 1:07am PDT

    American muscle all the way. But Nissan has upped their game, they doing things that no one would have thought 10 years ago!
     
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  14. By Patrick Posted: 11/11/2009 6:32am PST

    Kudos to Corvette. This American Icon has progressed very well over the last few years and has a lot to be appreciated. To me it is a great super car for the dollar. Way to go CHEVY
     
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