Spy Shots: Devon GTX chasing the production car 'Ring record
Spy photographers working for Autocar caught some nice shots of the GTX at -- you guessed it -- the Nurburgring. According to the Brit pub, Devon is going after the production Nurburgring time (6:55) currently held by the Radical SR8 (which hardly qualifies as a "production car," but whatevs). Our British friends also speculate that the GTX has an all carbon fiber body to keep its weight low, low, low. Also: Justin Bell, son of five-time Le Mans winner Derek Bell, was at the wheel for the 'Ring attempt. We believe that last part 100% as Devon told us Justin was the driver for the Laguna Seca "record."
Obvioulsy, it's not August 15 yet but it's safe to assume a big part of the GTX's launch is going to be how it did on the Nurburgring. As Tom Leykis says, "Do you care?" Either way, that's marketing for you.
One more little point: As we learned last week, the GTX's one lap Laguna Seca time was one tenth of a second faster than the Dodge Viper ACR. Laguna Seca is two miles long, the Nordschleife section of the Nurburgring is fourteen miles long. Taking all the other variables off the table and the GTX could run the 'Ring about half a second quicker than the Viper ACR. To refresh your memory banks, the Viper ACR did the deed in 7:22, and the GTX is chasing 6:55.
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Martin 4:34PM (8/11/2009)
but you CAN'T take the other variables off the table, that's what makes all this lap record hullabaloo a waste of time (for the most part)
Reply
BigMcLargeHuge 5:20PM (8/11/2009)
Yeah, Laguna Seca isn't really a direct parallel to most tracks due to the 'corkscrew.'
That one unique corner kinda levels the playing field for a lot of supercars.
Barring the corkscrew as a variable, it's anyone's guess as to how
fast this car could lap the 'Ring.
johdaxx 6:18PM (8/11/2009)
Really - 'taking the other variables off the table', they're two completely different tracks. You just can't compare times. That'd be like saying a 2Ghz PC would process twice as much data in the same time as a 1Ghz PC.
And Laguna Seca is a nice track, but with the exception of T9, rather textbook. The corkscrew is amusing but not that big an issue from a driver's standpoint once you've been through it a few times.
Soccer Mom 4:35PM (8/11/2009)
Don't know about the 'ring record, but it can certainly qualify for the ugliest production supercar of modern times record.
Reply
adam1drift 5:57PM (8/11/2009)
Ill go ahead and disagree with that... I think this thing looks quite good!!
gwalsh 4:39PM (8/11/2009)
The tire in the photo looks an aweful lot like a Hoosier R6.
Reply
TurboFanatic 4:40PM (8/11/2009)
Of you extrapolate the results, keeping the variables constant, the devon will complete the Nurburgring in 7:19:56 seconds
Reply
Carlos 4:40PM (8/11/2009)
I'd rather them be able to do a 24 hour race and finish in a street car prepped for racing then see them break a ring record. That would be more impressive then the silly ring
Reply
Hugh 5:37PM (8/11/2009)
Nice slicks....I kind of doubt those will be standard on the production model of this car.
Reply
x14flag 6:51PM (8/11/2009)
Well, if they are Hoosier R6's like someone stated, then I believe they are technically street legal. Nothing would stop them from putting them on the car and selling it that way.
I wonder if it comes with a set of rain tires too ;)
Cowwie 10:27PM (8/11/2009)
Are you guys looking to set this car up for failure? Or have they actually stated intentions of setting a production car record?
You and Autoicar run headlines saying they are aiming at 6:55 and they hit 7:05 and it looks like a miss, instead of being significantly better than a Viper ACR and similar cars. I know the marketing surrounding the Laguna run is annoying... but why the out and out hostility?
Reply
Imag 1:12AM (8/12/2009)
I, for one, am glad that AB is actually getting critical about these.
As for Devon - good luck catching the Radical. I wonder if they are even serious about that.
Ed 1:44PM (8/12/2009)
The Radical IS a production car. So what if it doesn't have a radio?
Anyway this thing looks cool. I'll be interested to see how quick it goes.
Reply