nürburgring Archives

Official: Cadillac CTS Vsport laps the Nürburgring in 8:14.10 [w/video]

Filed under: Sedan, Performance, Videos, Cadillac

Cadillac CTS Vsport at the Nürburgring

You don’t have to be German to test your car at the Nürburging. You just have to be serious about beating the Germans on their own home turf. That’s why Nissan tests its GT-R at the Nordschleife to challenge the Porsche 911, and why Cadillac – which is no less serious about putting up a fight to German performance sedans – has returned to the ‘Ring once again with its latest.

This time it’s the turn of the new CTS Vsport, the sportier version of Cadillac’s new mid-range sedan that aims to bridge the gap until the arrival of the next CTS-V. So how’d it fare? At the end of what we’re sure was an exhaustive test session, the new CTS Vsport clocked a time of 8:14.10.

To put that into context, General Motors points out that the time places the new sedan six seconds ahead of the first-gen CTS-V, whose 400-horsepower V8 engine was actually less potent than the Vsport’s new 410hp 3.6-liter twin-turbo V6. That’s still a good fifteen seconds slower than the outgoing CTS-V that clocked a 7:59 in 2009 with its 556hp supercharged V8, but only a second behind the E60-generation BMW M5 with its high-revving 500hp V10.

That’s mighty impressive indeed, and we can’t wait to see what the next CTS-V can manage. The four-door crown currently belongs to the Porsche Panamera Turbo S that set a 7:52.20 in 2011. Just sayin’. Scope out the video clip and press release below.

Continue reading Cadillac CTS Vsport laps the Nürburgring in 8:14.10 [w/video]

Cadillac CTS Vsport laps the Nürburgring in 8:14.10 [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 28 Aug 2013 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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P4/5 Competizione gets 800 tires for 24-hours Nürburgring, street edition possible

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Ferrari, Racing

Ferrari P4/5 Competizione

Ferrari P4/5 Competizione – Click above for high-res image gallery

He hints they may create a very limited-edition street-going run of the sexy beast.

An awful lot of cars have made themselves famous while using just four tires. Formula 1 teams’ tire total per race is around 140 – i.e. 35 sets of Pirellis.

With Jim Glickenhaus’ featherweight Ferrari F430 GT2-based 470-horsepower P4/5 Competizione about to tackle the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring at the end of June in the new EXP1 class, the car’s tire sponsor Pirelli is bringing, according to Glickenhaus, 800 tires along, using the occasion to test like mad whether it be daytime heat sets, night sets, wet sets, semi-slick sets, you name it.

As the P4/5 Competizione has proven itself durable so far, looks like it may last the whole 24 hours, being hampered perhaps only by the plethora of pit stops it’ll be constrained to effect while Pirelli tests the various quartets of rubber.

Continue reading for more P4/5 Competizione news…

Continue reading P4/5 Competizione gets 800 tires for 24-hours Nürburgring, street edition possible

P4/5 Competizione gets 800 tires for 24-hours Nürburgring, street edition possible originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 May 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gazoo Racing fields race-prepped Lexus CT hybrid at Nürburgring

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Europe, Hatchback, Lexus, Racing

Lexus Gazoo Racing CT

Lexus Gazoo Racing CT – Click above for high-res image

When nearly 200 cars line up this weekend at the Nürburgring for the Adenauer ADAC Rudstrecken-Trophy, countless Porsches and BMWs will be among them. And a hybrid. Wait, what?

That’s right. This year Gazoo Racing – the ToMoCo-backed outfit that has campaigned the Lexus LFA at the same track – is fielding a competition-spec Lexus CT 200h.

Well, we shouldn’t call it a CT 200h, since while it’s almost identical to the roadgoing CT hybrid, the 200 nameplate would be a bit of a misnomer. Because while the electric component of the Lexus Hybrid Drive system was kept in place for this racing machine, the 1.8-liter four was replaced by a 2.4. Perhaps it’s a test platform for the upcoming more powerful CT?

Otherwise, beyond the required safety modifications, it’s pretty much bone stock, right down shutting the engine off at idle and under braking. Follow the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading Gazoo Racing fields race-prepped Lexus CT hybrid at Nürburgring

Gazoo Racing fields race-prepped Lexus CT hybrid at Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 15 May 2011 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Opel channels the Nürburgring for its hottest-ever Corsa

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Opel

Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition

Opel Corsa OPC Nürburgring Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

Between the New York Auto Show, the Shanghai Motor Show and Top Marques Monaco, there’s a major motor expo happening on each of three continents. But the latest model you see here wasn’t unveiled at any one of them.

What you’re looking at is the hottest hatch to come from Opel. It’s called the Corsa OPC Nürburgring Edition, and it means business. To start with, the Opel Performance Center (think of it as General Motors of Europe’s AMG) has tweaked the 1.6-liter turbo four from 192 horsepower to 210 and boosted the torque count from 170 lb-ft (196 on overboost) to 184 (206 on overboost).

To cope with the added twist, OPC’s fitted a multi-plate mechanical limited-slip differential. They’ve also added Bilstein suspension components and Brembo brakes, recalibrated the ABS, traction control and stability management systems. On the outside, they’ve mounted new 18-inch alloys on 35-series low-profile rubber and a new front spoiler, dual-tipped stainless-steel exhaust and the requisite special badges.

The result is a Karousel-charging 6.8-second sprint to 60 and an Autobahn-crunching 143 mph top end. Only 500 examples will be offered, with two new colors (Grasshopper green and the above-pictured Henna red) joining the catalog for this special edition. Follow the jump for the full press blast and scope out the trio of images in the gallery below for a closer look.

Gallery: Opel Corsa OPC Nurburgring Edition

[Source: Opel]

Continue reading Opel channels the Nürburgring for its hottest-ever Corsa

Opel channels the Nürburgring for its hottest-ever Corsa originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW bringing lightweight M3 sedan to Nurburgring M Festival

Filed under: Concept Cars, Sedan, Performance, BMW

Lightweight BMW M3 Sedan

Lightweight BMW M3 Sedan – Click above for high-res image gallery

In addition to officially debuting the M3 pickup here in Munich, BMW trotted out a lightweight version of the M3 sedan before its debut at the M Festival at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring race later this year.

BMW is mum on the exact details on this stripped-out sedan, only saying that it’s designed to slot in between the standard model and the race-ready GTS coupe. Output should remain close to the standard 420 horsepower, but the brakes, suspension and exhaust will be tweaked for maximum performance. There’s no word on how many pounds the M division stripped from the sedan, but we should have all the details when the big ‘Ring race happens this June.

Gallery: Lightweight BMW M3 Sedan

BMW bringing lightweight M3 sedan to Nurburgring M Festival originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Apr 2011 05:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: P4/5 Competizione takes on the Nürburgring

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Europe, Videos, Ferrari, Specialty, Racing

2011 P4/5 Comeptizione

2011 P4/5 Competizione – Click above for high-res image gallery

James Glickenhaus’s P4/5 Competizione made its debut at the Nürburgring this weekend ahead of the actual running of the Nürburgring 24 Hours. The test sessions reportedly went well and got as much hype and attention (yep, we’re guilty as charged…) as anything Glickenhaus’s now-famous racer does.

The P4/5 Competizione looked right at home on the track, though tests were cut short after a red flag limited driver Luca Cappellari to one lap. Mika Salo got plenty of seat time though, and the car looks just about ready for competition.

There aren’t any concrete lap times yet, but best guesses are in the 8:30 range, which would put the P4/5 Competizione right where it needs to be. Click past the jump for videos from the test weekend, and be sure to check out the latest set of images of the exquisitely beautiful showpiece below.

Gallery: 2011 P4/5 Competizione Nurburgring tests

2011 P4/5 Competizione

[Source: P4/5 Competizione Images: P4/5 Competizione]

Continue reading Video: P4/5 Competizione takes on the Nürburgring

Video: P4/5 Competizione takes on the Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Mar 2011 20:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Confirmed: BMW M3 pickup on Nürburgring is an April Fool’s gift

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Truck, Europe, BMW

BMW M3 pickup prototype on Norsdschliefe

BMW M3 pickup spy shots – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’ve gotten right to the core of the situation regarding the fly-in-the-ointment BMW M3 pickup spotted doing what M3s do around the Nürburgring last week.

In a chat with BMW’s Munich head of product communications, Dirk Arnold, he offered up this quote: “Ah, yes, everyone’s been talking about that pickup. But, no, this is… how you call it, an April Fool’s Joke” [in German “Aprilscherz” – ed.]. There will be no M3 pickup in our futures, kids. But then Arnold sort of overcommunicated to us by dangling one of those “…in this generation” qualifiers. He then also managed to immediately clarify, “It is hugely doubtful that BMW will ever during our lives produce such a vehicle, in any segment.” Oh, pooh.

What about a publicity stunt entering the one-off in the Australian V8 Ute racing series? (Honestly one of the most entertaining racing series on the planet based on our one trip to witness it.) “Well,” chortled Arnold, “we have the one unit available if they’d be interested, don’t we?”

On April 1, a press function has been organized near Munich to show off the future M5 “concept,” plus the current M3 and a whole series of unproduced M3-based prototypes, including, says Arnold, one folding hardtop variant that is not the one we all think it is. There will also be the mischievous pickup in attendance.

We then asked for a drive exclusive in Munich on April 1 with the pickup and Arnold returned our serve with “If I did that, then I’d have every journalist in the world calling me to do the same.”

Must be nice to have the largesse to build and race one-off 414-horsepower M3 variants (444-hp with the 4.4-liter V8 used in the GTS version) that will never see public roads.

Gallery: Spy Shots: BMW M3 Pickup

[Images: KGP Photography]

Confirmed: BMW M3 pickup on Nürburgring is an April Fool’s gift originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva 2011: Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package is an orange crush

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, Lexus, Racing

Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package

Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package – Click above for high-res image gallery

Finally, the moment is upon us. Lexus has released the most-exclusive version of its already hyper-exclusive LFA supercar. Behold, in person, the 2012 Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition. For those who need reminding, the LFA is Lexus’ $375,000 supercar. There will only be 500 LFAs built worldwide, and of those, a scant 50 will have the Nürburgring package bestowed on them.

The package takes the standard LFA, which is certainly no slouch on a racetrack, and makes it even harder core. To start with, Lexus added 10 horsepower to the LFA’s 4.8-liter V10 (for a total of 562), and has dropped gearshift times from .20 seconds to .15.

Helping out the reworked go-bits is a track-tuned suspension calling the shots for Nürburgring Edition-specific basketweave wheels shod with very sticky, very expensive rubber. The bodywork on the LFA Nürburgring gets some upgrades, too, most notably a unique front splitter and a huge fixed rear wing. According to Lexus, the extra 10 ponies are to overcome the increased aerodynamic drag from the aero bits, not to make the car any quicker.

The car can be had in white, gloss or matte black or screaming orange as seen here. If you’re lucky enough to be in line for one, you’ll need to have an extra 70 large in your hand for the package. Add another $20k if you want it matte black. For all that, Lexus will let you choose between an all-black interior, a black and red interior or a black and purple interior – and if you’re European, you can have an all-carbon fiber interior.

Of course, as part of the Nürburgring package, you’ll also get access to the legendary German racetrack itself. Buyers get driving lessons with a special instructor, a branded jacket, and a one-year pass to the Nordschleife and to its related themepark. Ye-haw.

Press release after the jump.

Gallery: Lexus LFA Nrburgring Package: Geneva 2011

Gallery: Lexus LFA Nurburgring package

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading Geneva 2011: Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package is an orange crush

Geneva 2011: Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package is an orange crush originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Mar 2011 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus gives us a closer look at the LFA Nürburgring package ahead of Geneva debut

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Lexus

Lexus LFA Nürburgring package

Lexus LFA Nürburgring package – Click above for high-res image gallery

It takes a while to get around the Nürburgring Nordschleife – around seven minutes in even the fastest of machinery with the best driver behind the wheel. But apparently it takes even longer to get around to releasing a special edition Nürburgring package that makes your go-fast supercar even more track-friendly.

We’re talking, of course, about the Lexus LFA Nürburgring package, ToMoCo’s six-figure V10 supercar fitted with extra kit for track duty. Lexus announced last May that they’d make 50 examples, and the better part of a year later, confirmed that it would finally be unveiled to the public at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Now less than a week away from its debut, Lexus has given us some additional details and images of the car which we only saw from three angles until now.

So what do we need to know? For starters, that extra ten horsepower isn’t meant to give the Nürburgring package-equipped LFA a quicker acceleration time. Nor a higher top end, either. The ten-horse boost is included to counteract the drag of the giant rear wing that helps keep the track-focused supercar glued to the Karussell. Also, while we knew the ‘Ring edition LFA could be had in white, black (matte or glossy) or orange (as pictured), Lexus has also confirmed that the interior can be trimmed in all black, black and red, or black and purple (a good match for the orange exterior if you were ever formerly known as ‘Prince’), and only European customers, for some reason, will get the full carbon-fiber interior.

There are more details to soak up in the press release after the jump, plus a new crop of images in the gallery below. But we’ll leave you with one more salient detail: Lexus is offering buyers one-on-one instruction from a ‘Ring master (or mistress) and a year’s free pass to lap the Nordschleife to your heart’s content. Of course, this is included in the $70,000 premium that the Nürburgring package commands over the already lofty $375,000 purchase price of an LFA. Tack on another $20K for the matte black finish, of course.

Gallery: Lexus LFA Nurburgring package

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading Lexus gives us a closer look at the LFA Nürburgring package ahead of Geneva debut

Lexus gives us a closer look at the LFA Nürburgring package ahead of Geneva debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus to finally debut LFA with exclusive Nürburgring package in Geneva

Filed under: Performance, Geneva Motor Show, Lexus

Lexus LFA Nürburgring package

2012 Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package – Click above for high-res image gallery

Typically, when an automaker launches a new car, or even a variant on an existing one, we get a chance to see it up close at a major auto show within a matter of months at most. But it will have been the better part of a year by the time we see the Lexus LFA with the Nürburgring package in the flesh.

The track-focused version of the Toyota luxury division’s supercar was released all the way back in May 2010, but Lexus has only now announced that it will make its public debut at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show in March of this year. For a quick refresher, the ‘Ring edition LFA upgrades the 4.8-liter V10 by ten horses to 562 and drops the shift times down by 50 miliseconds to 150. It also gets an upgraded aero package, all for a $70,000 premium over the “stock” LFA’s $375k sticker price.

With only 50 of the total run of 500 offered with the package, this could be one of our only chances to see the track-prep’d LFA in the flesh, so watch this space in a few weeks’ time for live shots from the Geneva Palexpo show floor.

Gallery: Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading Lexus to finally debut LFA with exclusive Nürburgring package in Geneva

Lexus to finally debut LFA with exclusive Nürburgring package in Geneva originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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