While Mercedes has kind of delayed the real test for the Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series Coupe, German magazine, Sport Auto, went ahead and tested the sports coupe for themselves, right where it matters: the Nurburgring. Their little soiree with the Black Series Coupe landed them a lap time of 7 minutes and 46 seconds, placing it between the Porsche Carrera S (7:44) and the BMW M3 GTS (7:48). In addition to the stellar lap time, the Merc also sprinted from 0 to 200 km/h (124 mph) in 13.9 seconds.
As a reminder, the Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series Coupe is powered by a 6.3 liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 510 HP and 457 lb-ft of torque. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph is made in 4.2 seconds, while top speed unfortunately is still limited to 155 mph. The Mercedes used in this exercise was also equipped with Dunlop Sport Maxx Race M0 tires.
Being able to catch a Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0 testing around the Nurburgring race track isn’t something that happens all of the time. Lucky for us, SpotterGijs was able to catch not one, not two, but three (two white and one black) GT3 RS models looping around the race track in superb fashion.
The Porsche 997 GT3 RS 4.0 is powered by a 4.0 liter engine producing an incredible 500 HP and 339 lb-ft of torque, a 50 HP and 22 lb-ft increase over the standard GT3 RS model. This added power will allow the GT3 RS 4.0 to get to the 62mph mark in a killer 3.9 seconds and up to 124 mph in under 12 seconds. The car already clocked an impressive 7:27 around the famous Nurburgring track, but that time may be just the beginning if this video is representative of anything!
Sit back and enjoy, the video is really worth every second!
The 2013 Nissan GT-R has been rumored to be significantly improved compared to the current model. The engine will deliver a total of 560 HP (up 30 HP over the 2012 GT-R) and the suspension will also be significantly improved. So far, those modifications were not made in vain. It is rumored that, at its first testings around the Nurburgring race track, the 2013 GT-R has scored an impressive 7min 16secs lap time. If that time turns out to be accurate, that would make it 8 seconds faster than its predecessor’s time of 7:24.
According to Kazutoshi Mizuno, the father of the GT-R, the new model is "on average 3.1 - 4.9 mph faster through every corner there, and 3.1 mph faster on the final straight where the car now reaches 183.9 mph."
More details about this car will be revealed when it makes its world debut next week. A Track Pack and a Club Track Edition will follow shortrly thereafter.
Safety issues involving the McLaren MP4-12C may not be the only disappointing news surrounding the brand’s latest supercar. The MP4-12C was recently taken to the famous Nurburgring Nordschleife circuit by Horst von Saurma, Editor-in-Chief of Sport Auto, and achieved a lap time of 7:28. A rather disappointing time considering McLaren’s formidable reputation for speed.
This Nurburgring time positions the MP4-12C behind the Porsche GT2 RS’ impressive lap of 7:24, even though the GT2 RS posts a slower 0-60 mph sprint at 3.5 seconds to the McLaren’s 3.3 seconds. And that still doesn’t cover the best time at the Nurburgring.
The McLaren will fall even lower on the list thanks to the Lexus LF-A which reported a lap time of 7:14 when equipped with the Nurburgring Package. The Lexus is a full 14 seconds faster than the McLaren around the Nurburgring, but can only do the 0-60 mph sprint in 3.7 seconds.
With the McLaren MP4-12C sporting a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 592hp @ 7,000rpm and 443 lb-ft. of torque between 3,000 and 7,000rpm, we’re thinking a redo is in order. However, for now, the McLaren can take comfort in knowing it beat out the Ferrari 458 Italia’s lap time of 7:38.
Both the Subaru and Toyota versions of the FT-86 will be making their world debut in December at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, but Toyota will be utilizing their ingenious marketing strategies to unveil a race version of the FT-86. The car will make its debut at the German VLN series on the Nürburgring race track, similar to how they revealed the Lexus LF-A race car. It’s becoming sort of like a tradition of sorts for Toyota and Lexus to race with prototypes.
The FT-86 race car will be similar to the production model, but with a few changes to make it appropriate for the race track, including a huge rear wing, a roll cage for maximum protection, and improved performance. This means that the car we will be seeing at the Nurburgring will look almost the same as the one expected to arrive in December. All we need to do is train our eyes to strip away the livery so we can get a clear view.
We will have more details about this car after the official qualification tomorrow.
UPDATE 10/14/2011: Fresh off the press, we have some new spy shots of the Toyota FT-86 Race Car as it qualifies itself around the Nurburgring. We also have some closeups of the racer from the pits, where the exterior and interior details are shown off in full glory. Enjoy!
Both the Subaru and Toyota versions of the FT-86 will be making their world debut in December at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, but Toyota will be utilizing their ingenious marketing strategies to unveil a race version of the FT-86. The car will make its debut at the German VLN series on the Nürburgring race track, similar to how they revealed the Lexus LF-A race car. It’s becoming sort of like a tradition of sorts for Toyota and Lexus to race with prototypes.
The FT-86 race car will be similar to the production model, but with a few changes to make it appropriate for the race track, including a huge rear wing, a roll cage for maximum protection, and improved performance. This means that the car we will be seeing at the Nurburgring will look almost the same as the one expected to arrive in December. All we need to do is train our eyes to strip away the livery so we can get a clear view.
We will have more details about this car after the official qualification tomorrow.
After first seeing patent drawings of the upcoming Audi RS5 Convertible, the car has finally been caught testing around the Nürburgring race track. The spy images reveal a bigger front spoiler,bigger brakes and wider fenders. At the back, however, it’s still S5 business as usual, with narrower rear fenders and S-type quad exhaust pipes. The model will also get new LED lights, a larger diffuser, and a rear spoiler that extends automatically at 74.56 mph.
As with the coupe version, the convertible version will use a standard 4.2 liter V8 engine with a total of 450 HP at 8,250 rpm and a peak torque of 317.15 lb-ft available between 4,000 and 6,000 rpm. The sprint from 0 to 60 mph will be made in 4.6 seconds, while top speed will be limited to 155 mph. The top speed can be increased to more than 170 mph upon request.
Porsche has announced that they will be entering an improved version of the Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid into the upcoming Nürburgring 24 hour race on June 25, 2011. The hybrid system will combine the same 480 HP 4.0 Liter flat six engine delivering the same 480 hp with two electric motors that each produce 100 HP, as opposed to the original 75 HP each. The weight has also been lowered from 1,350 to 1,300 kilograms, or 2976 lbs to 2866 lbs.
"We’ve collected a great deal of information from our races on the Nürburgring, at the ALMS race at Road Atlanta in the USA, as well as from the ILMC race on China’s Zhuhai circuit, which was an invaluable help for the further development of our racing laboratory," says Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche motorsport. "The emphasis of our work was on improving efficiency. That means we want to keep the lap times consis-tent with 2010 but use less energy, hence less fuel. In this way, we support future developments of road-going, sporting hybrid vehicles."
UPDATE 10/06/2011: The new GT3 R Hybrid made its debut at this year’s Laguna Seca, racing its way to a victory! Check out Porsche’s new video showing off the GT3R in action during the race by clicking on the image above. Enjoy!
Hit the jump to read more about the 2011 Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid Version 2.0.
Sometimes it may seem as though German models rule the roost in the high performance sports car segment, but those models may have learned a valuable lesson today. Jason Laird, GM’s Executive Director for Product and Technology Communications, posted the following on his Twitter account: "Mark Reuss just confirmed ZL1 Camaro lapped Nurburgring in 7.41.27."
GM hasn’t confirmed the official time of the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1’s lap, but so far it sounds as though it is completely legit. Once confirmed, it will place the new ZL1 just a notch under the new generation Porsche 911’s recently reported time of 7 min. 40 sec.. It will also prove that the Camaro is faster than models like the Audi R8 V10 and the Porsche GT3 which lapped the ring in 7:42. We’re interested in knowing what the 2013 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will have to say about this.
The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 is powered by an LSA 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine that delivers a total of 580 HP at 6,000 rpm and 556 lb/ft of torque at 4,200 rpm. This power is just enough to sprint the car from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.9 seconds.
Updated 10/06/2011, 14:00: General Motors has just confirmed that the ZL1 has lapped the Nurburgring race track in 7:41.27, nearly 40 seconds quicker than a Camaro SS tested at the legendary German track in 2009. The car was driven by Camaro Performance Engineer Aaron Link and raced the track with no modifications. "The Nurburgring is unlike any track in the world," said Al Oppenheiser, Camaro chief engineer. "Each lap includes fast straights, sweeping off-camber turns, hairpin corners, and elevation changes. In order to do well on the ‘Ring, the car has to do everything well – including acceleration, braking, and lateral grip. Breaking an eight-minute lap in a 2+2 production car is a tremendous accomplishment, and validates that the Camaro ZL1 will truly be track-ready from the showroom."
Put back the champagne in the freezer, Lexus; you’re just-set record lap time of 7:14 around the Nurburgring has been broken. How’s it feel to hold one of the auto world’s most famous titles for less than a month?
You can blame Chrysler’s SRT team for that because the latter went to the ’Ring with only one thing in mind: get under 7:14 in one lap. And just as records are always meant to be broken regardless of how fresh they are, Chrysler’s Dodge Viper ACR blasted around the Nurburgring in a blistering time of 7:12. The exact time has yet to be released - there are tenths of seconds in that equation - but make no mistake, it’s more than a second faster than the 7:14.6 time the Lexus LF-A Nurburgring Package achieved earlier this month.
We are sure there are people over at the Lexus camp that are clearly not happy with this latest development. But like we said, records are meant to be broken. The Dodge Viper ACR has raised the bar and dropped the gauntlet on everybody else. Now its up to one of the rest to answer back.
UPDATE 09/27/2011: Chrysler has finally brought out the official confirmation for the Nurburgring record set by the Viper ACR on Sept. 14, 2011. "We’re extremely proud to set the lap record for a second time at the famed Nürburgring Nordschleife," said Ralph Gilles, President and CEO – SRT Brand and Motorsports, Chrysler Group LLC. "Our team returned to Germany knowing we’d left some time on the track when we set our first lap record, so this effort shows the incredible depth and capability the Viper ACR has by running a full 10 seconds faster than we did in 2008."
