Nürburgring

2013 Nissan GT-R Gets Even Faster

November 5, 2012 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

The Nissan GT-R isn’t so much a car, but a technological showcase of what can happen when you give some of the greatest minds in engineering the resources of Nissan. The GT-R in its current generation has been with us since 2007 and with each new model year comes a few tweaks that makes the car even more focused. The 2012 car pulled a real ace from up its sleeve by dropping its 0-62MPH time to just 2.8 seconds. This MY2013 car gets even faster!

Power from the GT-R’s twin-turbocharged 3.8 litre V6 remains the same at 550BHP, but thanks to refining this already successful formula you can get to 62MPH from standing 0.1 seconds faster. Let us think about that for a moment… 0-62MPH in 2.7 seconds in a car that seats four and has Nissan reliability. This package can complete a lap of the Nürburgring in 7 minutes and 18 seconds, 3 seconds a lap faster than its predecessor. This extra performance comes thanks to new injectors, a new relief valve for the turbos and an improved oil pan baffle to aid oil pressure. Out of the engine bay the suspension set-up has been fettled with and other components strengthened. Also the front bracing has been strengthened.

The 2013 Nissan GT-R goes on sale spring 2013.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 2013, 3.8 lire, GT-R, Japanese, MY2013, Nissan, Nürburgring, supercar, twin-turbo, V6

Porsche 918 Spyder Laps The ‘Ring

September 20, 2012 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

The Nürburgring is the ultimate testbed for almost everything in the automotive industry. It’s seemingly infinite complexity tests every component to its maximum stresses and so allows manufacturers to perfect their product in the harshest environment it will face. Performance cars in particular use the ‘Ring as a benchmark of performance to show just how fast their masterpiece will go. Throwing down the gauntlet is one of the most important Porsche cars in the German companies history.

The Porsche 918 Spyder is not only their new halo car, but it will show to the world that supercars do have a place in the future despite ever tightening emissions laws. Powered by a 4.6 litre V8 and two electric motors, the 918 produces 784BHP. What can it do with all those ponies? It has just lapped the Nürburgring in 7 minutes and 14 seconds. For a car that is still technically a prototype, that is damn impressive! That makes it 18 seconds a lap quicker than the last mega machine Porsche built, the Carrera GT.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 918, environment, german, Nürburgring, Porsche, prototype, spyder, supercar, V8

Formula Ford Enters The Record Books At The Nürburgring…. Under 1.0 Litre Power!

September 4, 2012 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

Take a plucky 1.0 litre Formula Ford race car, pit it against some of the titans of the supercar world and add to the mix one of the most unforgiving racing circuits on the plant. The result: a classic underdog story!

This year, Ford have been busy boasting about their new baby, a three-cylinder 1.0 litre EcoBoost engine, recently given the accolade of 2012 International Engine of the Year. Currently available the in the Focus, we also expect to see it offered in the B-MAX, new Fiesta and C-MAX very soon. However, the last place we expected to find it was roaring around the hair-raising straights and corners of the legendary Nürburgring in Germany.

Well, thanks to several months of hard graft by Ford engineers, a unique Formula Ford race car powered by the tiny 1.0 litre petrol engine has wiped the floor with the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani in that very arena. The specially tuned turbocharged 202 BHP powertrain replaced Ford’s usual 180 BHP 1.6 and promptly powered driver Nick Tandy in to the record books, recording the 11^th fastest lap ever at the Nürburgring in a blistering time of 7 minutes 22 seconds. The nimble racer clocked 0-62 MPH in less than four seconds, posting a top speed of 159 MPH.

Hugely impressive in itself, but only after you have cast your eyes further down the list, past such illustrious names as Aventador, Enzo and Zonda, does the true enormity of the feat hit home.

Even better, the record setting car has also been modified to be fully street legal! Understandably, Ford say this little gem isn’t going on sale any time soon.

You can see a video of production and testing right here.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 1.0 litre, 159 MPH, 202 BHP, Ford, Formula Ford, Germany, Nürburgring, record

Audi R8 E-Tron Takes Nürburgring Record

August 9, 2012 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

The Nürburgring has become the automotive worlds testbed. The once Formula One endowed corners and undulations now test many new cars to their limits. Though there is no official lap times for the ‘Ring manufacturers still like to boast when they have set a spanking time around “the green hell.” Audi today have perked up with a claim concerning their new R8 E-Tron.

Take an Audi R8, remove everything combustion related, and add an electric motor. This all-electric E-Tron goes on sale this year, but to prove it still has the sporting credentials of its V8 and V10 ladened brothers, the Germans have lapped it in eight minutes and nine seconds. Despite being limited to 155MPH the R8 E-Tron broke the record for fastest electric car to ever lap the track.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: Audi, electric, environment, german, Nürburgring, R8, record, supercar

Nürburgring Goes Bankrupt

July 20, 2012 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

Over 12 miles of black tarmac. 73 chassis twisting corners. The most dynamic driving environment on the planet. Welcome to the Green Hell! Many have tried and failed to tame the Nürburgring that draws racing drivers and us mere mortals like a moth to a flame. It is an enduring test of man and machine, a real legend amongst those who enjoy going fast. This kingdom now has an uncertain future as we receive news that the Nürburgring has filed for bankruptcy.

The track that allows all to try their hand for a few Euros a lap has been fighting ever growing debts for years. After an investment of €215,000,000 for tourist attractions failed, many have said that the business models days were numbered. What happens now is anyones guess and the 2013 German Grand Prix hangs in the balance. The track, I have no doubt, will be saved by someone. For now, however, we can only hope that this someone already has their cheque book ready.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: bankrupt, F1, Germany, Nürburgring, racing, track

Mini Unleash Hottest Hatch Ever

May 13, 2012 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

And so the hot hatch war goes on… Renault came back from being second best with the 265 trophy and Vauxhall are set to storm the stage with the new Astra VXR. But what of Mini these days? All has been quiet since the model range expanded beyond the traditional hatchback. Bursting forth from the pack, Mini is going about getting its mojo back.

This is the Mini John Cooper Works GP, the meanest Mini to come out of Oxford. The rather angry looking bug-eyed brute has been honed on the legendary Nürburgring meaning that it should be fast right out of the box. Packing around 230BHP, thanks to a twin-scroll turbo, the GP loses the back seats and gains fully adjustable suspension as well as race spec brakes. Only 2,000 units will be produced world wide and well be sold at a yet to be announced price.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: Cooper, GP, hothatch, JCW, Mini, Nürburgring, Turbo

Jaguar XJ Becomes Latest Nürburgring Taxi

May 6, 2012 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

“The green hell…” That is what triple Formula One world champion Sir Jackie Stewart described it as. Arguably the worlds most challenging track, the Nürburgring, is the benchmark for almost ever car manufacturer. Though a tyre torturing challenge, for a handful of Euro’s you yourself can take your prized possession for a lap. Don’t feel you have enough talent to keep it out of the barrier? Jaguar can oblige.

The big cat is launching a new taxi service that will put passengers in the hands of talented ‘Ring drivers that will blitz them around Germanys most belligerent. Jags weapon of choice is the all-aluminium XJ with 500BHP being produced in the heart of its 5.0 litre supercharged V8. A 174MPH trip around the Nürburgring sounds like the perfect way to round off any trip to Germany.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: 5.0 litre, British, Germany, Jaguar, Nürburgring, supercharged, taxi, V8, XJ

Porsche Talk About Future of Motorsport

September 25, 2011 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

Since its beginning Porsche and motorsport have gone together like fish and chips. The 911 is the worlds most successful race car and it is clear to see how the heritage from the track finds its way into the bloodline on todays road cars. Here the Germans talk about their racing future…

Filed Under: .Latest News, .Video Tagged With: 911, GT3, Le Mans, Nürburgring, Porsche, racer, RSR

Dodge Viper ACR Reclaims Nürburgring Fastest Lap

September 15, 2011 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

As the proving grounds for almost every road production car today, the Nürburgring is the ultimate test for any machine. Naturally claiming top spot as the outright fastest comes with some serious bragging rights. A few weeks back we reported on the Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package breaking the lap record and taking the crown. According to reports, that was short lived.

A Dodge Viper ACR has lapped the track in an incredible 7 minutes and 12 seconds, fending off the LFA by a whole 2 seconds! The car once held the record at 7:22 but since then others such as the Corvette ZR1and Nissan GT-R have toppled it. With the now defunked V10 Viper back on top it begs the question, can the LFA improve?

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: ACR, American, Dodge, Nürburgring, record, V10, Viper

Lexus LFA Smashes Nürburgring Lap Record

September 2, 2011 by Inside Lane Leave a Comment

It is the most challenging track in the world. In its most volatile state it is 12.9 miles in length and has some 170 corners. This is the ultimate test for any machine. This is the Nürburgring… Lexus today has smashed the lap record for production cars around the track.

The crown has now been taken from the Porsche 911 GT2 RS that lapped the track in 7:18. A Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package car has completed the track in 7:14 making it the fastest production car on “the green hell” and in the top five fastest overall. The extra 10BHP and fixed wing of this special edition appears to have served its purpose and brought this Japanese nuclear weapon the recognition it deserves.

Filed Under: .Latest News Tagged With: fastest, Japan, Lexus, LFA, Nürburgring, Package, production, record, special edition, supercar, V10