Showing posts with label Nurburgring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nurburgring. Show all posts

U Spy: New Rolls Royce Ghost Coupe Filmed Lapping the Nürburgring


Thanks to CarScoop reader and Nürburgring dweller Timo S., we now have the first ever action footage of Rolls Royce's upcoming Ghost-based coupe, the production name of which, remains a tightly guarded secret for now.

The spy video affords us a look at how Goodwood's new Flying Lady tackles the corners and straights of the Nürburgring Nordschleife track at speeds and angles you don't normally see a Rolls Royce model.

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Scoop: 2015 BMW X5 M Prototype Pushed Hard on the Nürburgring


It takes a lot of work and many dedicated people to create any type of vehicle that is to be sold to the public, but trying out some cars can be a little bit more enjoying than others, even if we are talking about an SUV.

Unlike their arbeitskolleges at Mercedes-Benz's AMG department who had an unfortunate mishap earlier today with the SLS GT AMG…Toast Edition, BMW's M people were able to keep the upcoming X5 M under control while pushing the performance crossover to its limits on the Nordschleife.

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Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Black Edition Prototype Burns to the Ground on the 'Ring


What could have been a follow up on Monday's news on the sighting of another prototype of Mercedes-Benz's SLS AMG Black Series Edition took a…toastier twist today as the German firm's test car ended up on a guardrail while running on the Nürburgring race track and burned to the ground.

There's not a lot of information about the incident at this time, though, we do know that both the driver and his passenger abandoned the vehicle uninjured before it was engulfed in flames.

The bits and pieces of the SLS AMG Black Series Edition that are scatted on the ground along with the positioning of the car suggest that drive may have lost control smashing into the guardrail with the Gullwing coupe's rear end.

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Scoop: Lexus Caught Testing Third Special LF-A Called the AD-X with a Very Porsche Like Livery


We have to admit, Lexus has us somewhat baffled lately with its special LF-A prototypes roaming the famed Nürburgring test track.

As you may very well remember, over the past few months, our spies have nabbed two unique test cars, including a teal-colored model with black stripes and the "AD-A" inscription on the front fenders, followed by a green LFA, again with black stripes but with an "AD-B" label right behind the front wheel arches.

Now, we have a third (!) prototype, this one painted in a white color scheme with red accents on the body and wheels that brings to mind the Porsche 911 Carrera RS. It's named the LFA AD-X.

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Scoop: 2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG Shows its Sharper Face on the 'Ring


Here's our first glimpse of the redesigned 2014 model Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG that will make its debut alongside the rest of the facelifted E-Class family, including the regular saloons, Estate, Convertible and Coupe models, early next year with sales to follow in spring.

The common denominator of these models is the smoother and more contemporary lines of the body, something mainly achieved through the replacement of the quartet of headlights with two single units and the scraping of the "Ponton" style rear fenders rear.

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Rally Legend Walter Röhrl Drives the New Porsche 918 Spyder on the Nürburgring


Are you tired of Porsche constantly teasing us about its next über-sports car, the 918 Spyder, which apart from being über-expensive is also a year away from production? Even if the answer is yes, you may find the video that follows below the jump interesting…

While Evo magazine’s MD Harry Metcalfe has already taken the right seat of the 918 at the Nardo track, that car was an early prototype, with almost no bodywork.

This time, he found himself on the passenger’s seat of a complete car at the Nordscheife. What’s more, the man sitting behind the wheel is none other than 1980 and 1982 World Rally Champion Walter Röhrl.

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Spy Shots: Swanky Rolls Royce Ghost Coupe Visits the 'Ring for Some High Speed Laps


The Nürburgring track is one of the last places you would expect to see a Rolls Royce, but if the rumors turn out to be true, the new Ghost-based Coupe may feel at home even here.

You see, the new two-door model, the name of which remains a mystery for now, is said to be the sportiest, fastest and best handling model ever to wear the "Spirit of Ecstasy" ornament on its hood.

While utilizing the platform and mechanical hardware of the Ghost sedan, itself related to the BMW 7-Series, the new Coupe will benefit from a shorter chassis with several upgrades including sportier suspension, brake and steering systems as well as a tuned version of the saloon's 6.6-liter twin turbo V12 engine believed to produce 600-horses or more.

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Scoop: What's Audi Doing with This Modified R8 GT on the Nürburgring?


Earlier today, our man with the long lens photographed what he described as a "strange looking" Audi R8 GT performing some test runs on the Nürburgring Nordschleife racetrack.

The reason why the test car captured our spy photographer's attention is that, while based on the hardcore 2012 R8 GT of which only 333 units are to be made, it featured some visible upgrades, but not of the sort seen on the recently facelifted R8 series.

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Watch a BMW 328i Chase a Renault Clio RS Mk2 Racer on the Nürburgring


Ah, the Nürburgring Nordschleife; the track that most of us gear heads would love to be within a driving distance from our homes but only get to imagine what it would be like to speed through its corners via our gaming stations.

Some lucky individuals have the opportunity to live the Nordschleife in…real life - like the owner of YouTube channel "nurburgdale" who took his lightly upgraded BMW 328i E36 sedan and tackled a race-prepped Renault Clio RS Mk2 driven by Darren Langeveld of Ringweekends and Destination-Nürburgring.

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Spied: All-New 2013 Skoda Octavia will Share Platform and Engines with New Golf 7


After eight years in the market, it's time for Skoda's successful family notchback to slowly give its place to a brand new Octavia that will make its world premiere sometime next year, either at the Geneva Salon in March or at the Frankfurt Motor Show later on in September.

For the first time, our scoop shooters seized a prototype of the production Octavia Mk3 as the Czech firm's engineers were performing high-speed tests at the Nürburgring track in Germany.

Evidently, it's not east to tell what's going on under the psychedelic-themed camouflage, but we can see that the third generation of Skoda's bread and butter model has a more athletic shape than the current Octavia with a lower front end and a sleeker roofline.

We cannot be completely sure from these images, but it is likely that the new model will keep the Octavia's traditional notchback styling that disguises a hatch tailgate.

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New Porsche 991 Carrera S Posts a 7.37:9 Nürburgring Lap, Beats 997 Turbo


It’s like a rite of passage: at some point in its life, preferably at an early stage, a sports car has to prove its credentials at the 20.6 km (12.8-mile) arena that is the “old” Nürburgring. Even more so, when it's a Porsche, for which it’s a matter of honor.

Enter the all-new 911, aka the 991, in 394bhp (400PS) Carrera S guise with a PDK dual-clutch seven-speed gearbox and stock tires.

Timo Kluck, who was behind the steering wheel, piloted the new 911 around the ‘Ring in a blistering 7.37:9 on August 28, though Porsche officially released the video just a few days ago.

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CAM SHAFT Prepares Renault Clio RS for Nürburgring Adventures


As one of Europe's finest hot hatches, the Renault Clio RS Mk3 (pre-facelift) feels right at home at the Nürburgring racetrack, so much so that German aftermarket firm Cam Shaft decided to create a tuning package for the French pocket rocket loosely inspired by the 'Ring taxis.

The first few things you will notice about Cam Shaft's Clio RS is the matt Graphite Metallic wrap accentuated by green splashes and some cheeky writings such as the "MOVE RIGHT >>" sticker on the windshield and the "International –explicit- Crew" logo on the bottom of the front doors.

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Jaguar Releases Final Test Track Videos of the F-Type Before the Big Unveiling in Paris


As the countdown for the grand-premiere of the all-new F-Type at the Paris Motor Show this Thursday officially begins, Jaguar published the final clips of its teaser video series on the development of the rear-wheel drive roadster model.

The first video named "Fierce" takes us to the Nardo Test Facility in Italy, where the British firm's engineers performed numerous high-speed tests on the unique ring shaped track that allowed the F-Type to reach its maximum velocity.

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Porsche Confirms 918 Spyder's 7:14 Nürburgring Time, Says it was a One-Lap Attempt


Only a day after the official brochure of the 918 Spyder leaked on the web, Porsche confirmed reports that its hybrid supercar posted a 7:14 lap time at the 20.6 km (12.8-mile) Nürburgring track on September 18.

Porsche said that the prototype was packing 795HP, which is the first time the automaker is being specific about the 918 Spyder's "770HP-plus" output.

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Spy Shots: New 2014 Range Rover Long-Wheelbase Model Promises More Space for Rear Passengers


For the first time in its history, Land Rover will offer a long-wheelbase (LWB) version of its luxury Range Rover model and we have proof for this in the form of these spy shots of a disguised prototype model undergoing speed tests at the Nürburgring track.

As you see for yourself in the pictures, the upcoming addition to the recently revealed 2013 Range Rover Mk4 lineup sports a longer wheelbase (reportedly around 150mm / 5.9 inches) and longer rear doors.

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Scoop: Listen to the Turbocharged Sounds of the 2014 BMW M3 Sedan


A new BMW M3 is coming. But you already know that. Perhaps then, we can pique your interest with a short film of an F80 M3 prototype filling the Caracciola Karussell at the Nürburgring Nordschleife with the racy sounds of its new turbocharged inline-six engine, courtesy of YouTube user 'Nurburgdale'.

Replacing the 414hp unforced induction V8 engine of the current model, the heavy-breathing straight-six is pegged to deliver somewhere around 450-ponies.

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Ford Formula Racer with 202HP 1.0-liter EcoBoost Records 11th Fastest Time at the 'Ring [w/Video]


Ford's 1.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine, which is offered in two states of tune in Europe with 99HP (100PS) and 123HP (125PS), may be small in size, but with some tender loving care in the appropriate vehicle, it can prove to be feisty as a cornered cat.

The Blue Oval's engineers wanted to display the potential of the EcoBoost engine by modifying the three-cylinder force-fed unit and placing it in a Formula Ford racecar to lap the Nürburgring’s famed Nordschleife circuit.

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Are Nürburgring Lap Times the Best Way for Carmakers to Flaunt Their Performance Credentials?


If you’re reading this, chances are that you’ve at least heard of a place called the Nürburgring. Constructed in 1927, the Nordschleife, which translates to North Circuit in English, is located in Germany about 120 km (75 miles) northwest of Frankfurt in the heart of the Eifel Mountains.

Three-time world Formula 1 champion Jackie Stewart gave it its “Green Hell” nickname. Niki Lauda nearly lost his life in a fiery accident at the 1976 Grand Prix. The Austrian, however, was lucky as 68 drivers perished in accidents during those years. The Nordschleife was subsequently banned from the F1 calendar.

The track stretches across 12.9 miles (20.8 km) and incorporates 73 corners, most of which call for experienced drivers. If you get it wrong, you’re more likely than not to end up in the Armco, in which case, not only will you have to fork out money to repair your vehicle, but also to fix any damages you may have caused to the circuit.

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Spy Shots: BMW Engineers Hone the Next M3 Sedan on the Nürburgring


We may be in the midst of August but BMW engineers are hard at work developing the Bavarian firm's upcoming models such as the next M3 that our spy shooters captured lapping the Nürburgring just earlier today.

While technically this is the fifth generation of the M3 series, BMW has produced only two sedan versions of its high-performance model based on the 1990-1999 E36 and the 2005-2011 E90 3-Series respectively.

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Nissan Tracks the Story of the GT-R in the 2012 Nürburgring 24h Race, Confirms Future Development


If you consider yourself a fan of the Nissan GT-R and have some 20 minutes to spare, you may want to head over the jump to watch a new film from the Japanese automaker that follows the story of the GT-R's participation in this year's edition of the demanding Nürburgring 24 hour race.

Perhaps more importantly, we learn from Nissan's people that the company plans to use the feedback it gained from entering the race to continue the development of its supercar-shredding coupe.

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