Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Spy Shots: Bentley Continental Supersports spotted near 'Ring]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/spy-shots-bentley-continental-supersports-spotted-near-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/spy-shots-bentley-continental-supersports-spotted-near-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/13/spy-shots-bentley-continental-supersports-spotted-near-ring/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Watch out. A blacked-out Bentley Continental Supersports has been spotted pointing its grille at the Nürburgring. In an era when Cobalts and Clios are flogged around the 13-mile loop, it comes as a mild surprise that nobody has timed and tested the Bentley Continental on that particular tarmac. With its E85-capable W12 engine rated at 621 hp and a curb weight 300 lbs lighter than the standard GT, the Supersports could push the coupe's balance that much further to the sport side than the GT side. If Bentley does run it in anger, we look forward to finding out how Crewe's first green effort handles The Green Hell.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Spy Shots: Bentley Continental Supersports spotted near 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 May 2009 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bentleybentley continentalbentley continental supersportsBentleyContinentalBentleyContinentalSupersportscontinental supersportsContinentalSupersportscoupegtnurburgringsportsthe ringTheRingWed, 13 May 2009 18:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford Focus RS heads to 'Ring in search of a class record]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/26/ford-focus-rs-heads-to-ring-in-search-of-a-class-record/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/26/ford-focus-rs-heads-to-ring-in-search-of-a-class-record/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/03/26/ford-focus-rs-heads-to-ring-in-search-of-a-class-record/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


2010 Ford Focus RS - Click above for high-res image gallery

Pretty soon, it seems like the start of Nürburgring lap time season will take its place on motorsports calendars the same way you find with Formula 1 and NASCAR. The 'Ring season officially began last week, and the title card pitted the 2009 Ford Focus RS against the Renaultsport Megane R26.R. The Ford's numbers are 297 hp and 324 lb-ft; the Renault posts 230 hp and 229 lb.-ft, and the Megane's time stands at 8:16.9 (not 8:12) on its Toyo track-friendly rubber.

For the first round, the detuned 250 hp Focus RS test car managed 8:27 on "standard Continental tires," so Ford is reportedly looking at the full-fat 297 hp car to do around 8:15. Word is if they can get that close, they'll consider adding the Toyo Cup tires to the customer options list, which could subtract at least three seconds from the Focus' time and allow it to take home the 'Ring trophy for hot hatches. Ford will be back at the 'Ring next week to give it a go. Cheating? Perhaps. Pointless? Maybe. Fun for us to watch? Definitely. Hat tip to yaroukh


Gallery: 2009 Ford Focus RS (blue)


Gallery: Renaultsport Megane R26.R


[Source: Driving Spirit]

Ford Focus RS heads to 'Ring in search of a class record originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>coupeeuropefocus rsFocusRsfordford focus rsFordFocusRshatchbackhot hatchHotHatchlimited editionLimitedEditionmegane r26.rMeganeR26.rnurburgringnurburgring recordNurburgringRecordrenaultrenault megane r26RenaultMeganeR26sportssports carSportsCarthe ringTheRingThu, 26 Mar 2009 13:32:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Audi RS5 at the Nurburgring is "böse" - that's German for "evil"]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/video-audi-rs5-at-the-nurburgring-is-bose-thats-german-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/video-audi-rs5-at-the-nurburgring-is-bose-thats-german-for/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/19/video-audi-rs5-at-the-nurburgring-is-bose-thats-german-for/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi RS5 undergoing testing

Audi's RS engines have never failed to deliver aurally. They don't even require you to wring them out -- just turn them on, and your ears and body cavities tingle with the sound and resonance. The Audi RS5 will continue that tradition admirably, if this video of it running The 'Ring is any indication. Based on that note, unless they've tweaked the exhaust from the 4.2-liter V8, it sounds to us like there's a certain V10 lurking in that engine bay. And if that's the case, this car has just made the number one slot on our Every Day Audi wish list. Follow the jump for the symphony. Thanks for the tip, Mike!

Gallery: Audi RS5 - spy shots

Continue reading VIDEO: Audi RS5 at the Nurburgring is "böse" - that's German for "evil"

VIDEO: Audi RS5 at the Nurburgring is "böse" - that's German for "evil" originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a5audiaudi a5audi rs5AudiA5AudiRs5coupenurburgringrsrs5the ringTheRingvideoMon, 19 Jan 2009 19:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Nissan takes fuel cell vehicle on run of the 'Ring]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/23/nissan-takes-fuel-cell-vehicle-on-run-of-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/23/nissan-takes-fuel-cell-vehicle-on-run-of-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/23/nissan-takes-fuel-cell-vehicle-on-run-of-the-ring/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The undisputed champion of hydrogen fuel cell SUVs at the Nurburgring has been crowned: the Nissan X-Trail FCV. The winning time: 11:58. Of course, it's the winning time because it's the only time -- a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle has never ran the 'Ring before.

After piloting the 120 bhp X-Trail around the world for two years, Nissan engineer Frank Eickholt, decide it was time to take it to the track. The €1.3 million X-Trail was apparently hampered by moist tarmac, so you can expect a redo at some point in the future. Just when you thought the 'Ring craze was as hot as it could get, here come the hydro-powered vehicles to... pour some water on it...

[Source: ZerCustoms]

Nissan takes fuel cell vehicle on run of the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fuel cell vehiclesFuelCellVehiclesgreen hellGreenHellhydrogenhydrogen fuel cellHydrogenFuelCelllap timesLapTimesnissannissan x-trailnissan x-trail fcvNissanX-trailNissanX-trailFcvnurburgringthe ringTheRingx-trail fcvX-trailFcvWed, 23 Jul 2008 18:42:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo runs the ring]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/20/video-2008-chevy-cobalt-ss-turbo-runs-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/20/video-2008-chevy-cobalt-ss-turbo-runs-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/01/20/video-2008-chevy-cobalt-ss-turbo-runs-the-ring/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

For you Cobalt fans, GM race driver and director of high-performance vehicle operations, John Heinricy, gives the 2008 Cobalt SS Turbocharged a sound thrashing on the Nurburgring. Even better, he talks you through it for much of the way. There's an interlude where he gets quiet, and if you didn't hear the car's tires squealing you'd think he was doing nothing more than going grocery shopping. So the car doesn't best the Nissan GT-R's lap time -- the track was wet, see -- but you can at least get a good idea of what the quite-capable Cobalt can do. That is, if you have a professional racer at the wheel. Follow the jump to check out the whole video.

[Source: GM Inside News]

Gallery: 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS

2008 Chevy Cobalt SS2008 Chevy Cobalt SS

Continue reading VIDEO: 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo runs the ring

VIDEO: 2008 Chevy Cobalt SS Turbo runs the ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chevrolet cobaltChevroletCobaltchevy cobaltChevyCobaltcobaltcobalt sscobalt ss turbochargedCobaltSsCobaltSsTurbochargedlap timesLapTimesnurburgringthe ringTheRingSun, 20 Jan 2008 14:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Run Like Hell - Pink Floyd's Nick Mason takes to the 'Ring]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/03/run-like-hell-pink-floyds-nick-mason-takes-to-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/03/run-like-hell-pink-floyds-nick-mason-takes-to-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/03/run-like-hell-pink-floyds-nick-mason-takes-to-the-ring/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Picture this - you're screaming around the Nurburgring in a not-insubstantial Rolls Royce Phantom, hammer down, stereo on, trying to complete a circuit of the 14-mile course before the woofers go still. Driving on the 'Ring certainly requires concentration, but for a drummer, sometimes you've just got to find the beat. So, when the drums come in, you're going to be compelled to tap along on the rim of the steering wheel, no matter what. Nick Mason impressed his passenger, a reporter from the Times of London, with his ability to multitask like this. Mason, the man on traps for Pink Floyd and noted car nut, had taken to the German racetrack to test himself. The challenge was to complete a single lap of the Nurburgring in the time it takes for half of "Shine On You Crazy Diamond" to play. While he didn't quite make it, a good time was likely had by all. We would like to know, however, if the accelerator pedal in his V12 Phantom has been replaced with a Speed King.

[Source: Inside Line]

Run Like Hell - Pink Floyd's Nick Mason takes to the 'Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>lapnick masonNickMasonnurburgringphantompink floydPinkFloydringrolls roycerolls royce phantomRollsRoyceRollsRoycePhantomshine on you crazy diamondShineOnYouCrazyDiamondthe ringTheRingtimes of londonTimesOfLondonWed, 03 Oct 2007 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Round 1: GT-R vs. 911 Turbo at the 'Ring, advantage GT-R]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/22/round-1-gt-r-vs-911-turbo-at-the-ring-advantage-gt-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/22/round-1-gt-r-vs-911-turbo-at-the-ring-advantage-gt-r/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/09/22/round-1-gt-r-vs-911-turbo-at-the-ring-advantage-gt-r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


click above image to see more shots of the Nissan GT-R p0wn the Porsche


We'll start by saying that it's not exactly hearsay, but it's not anywhere near official, either. Take one 997 Porsche Turbo that has lapped the 'Ring in 7:40, practically fast enough to form one of those Stargate SG-1 vortexes behind it. Then take one Nissan GT-R, benchmarked against that Porsche Turbo, and flog that baby around the 'Ring as fast as possible. Add a few reporters on hand with stopwatches. And when the GT-R flies past the finish line, the reporters discover those stopwatches have come to rest after just 7:38.

So the story is that the GT-R is two seconds faster than the 911 Turbo on the Nurburgring. And the Skyline in the photos doesn't even look to be the mad-gunner EVO-spec version. If that's the case -- and yes, that's a big if -- and say you allow for the inaccuracy of handheld stopwatches and add two seconds, so the GT-R did the same time as the Porsche Turbo... Well, we're not crowning a victor, or speculating about the whats and whys, or what will happen when the real timed laps in production versions are done... we're just saying that's pretty good. That's all.

[Source: KGP Photography]

Gallery: Nissan GT-R vs. Porsche 911 Turbo

Round 1: GT-R vs. 911 Turbo at the 'Ring, advantage GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 22 Sep 2007 21:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7:387:40911 turbo911Turbo997997 turbo997Turbogt-rgtrnissan gt-rnissan gtrNissanGt-rNissanGtrnurburgringporsche 911 turboPorsche911Turbothe ringTheRingSat, 22 Sep 2007 21:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Faster than getting a coffee at Starbucks: GT2 laps the 'Ring in 7:32]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/08/faster-than-getting-a-coffee-at-starbucks-gt2-laps-the-ring-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/08/faster-than-getting-a-coffee-at-starbucks-gt2-laps-the-ring-in/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/08/08/faster-than-getting-a-coffee-at-starbucks-gt2-laps-the-ring-in/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

click above image for gallery

From its 530 hp, low curb weight of 3,179lbs, and 204 mph top speed, the 2008 Porsche GT2 is a supercar in every sense of the word. Heck, even its €189,496 sticker places Porsche's most potent 911 in the land of the F430 and the Gallardo. Where the Ferrari and the Lamborghini can't match up against the GT2 is where it matters most, on the track. Not just any track, either. We're talking about the track by which all great sports cars are judged... the vaunted 'Ring. Porsche claims the new GT2 can lap the legendary 14-mile course in a mere 7:32, which is 10 seconds better than even the 599 GTB. That ridiculous lap time puts the GT2's average speed at over 110mph, which is just sick. Must be the Titanium exhaust. The 2008 Porsche GT2 is scheduled to appear in Frankfurt in September, and the newest 997 will hit European streets in November.

[Source: Motor Authority]

Gallery: 2008 Porsche 911 GT2

Faster than getting a coffee at Starbucks: GT2 laps the 'Ring in 7:32 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Aug 2007 13:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>germanygt2lapnurburgringporscheporsche gt2PorscheGt2ringthe ringTheRingWed, 08 Aug 2007 13:31:00 EST<![CDATA[VIDEO: Driver posts shortest time on Nürburgring - 7 seconds before disaster]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/video-driver-posts-shortest-time-on-nurburgring-7-seconds-bef/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/video-driver-posts-shortest-time-on-nurburgring-7-seconds-bef/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/23/video-driver-posts-shortest-time-on-nurburgring-7-seconds-bef/#commentsFiled under:


click above image to view video

This is just the video we were looking to end the week with. It reminds us that whatever's going wrong in our lives, at least we're not this guy. According to this video's description on YouTube (which you'll have to visit to view the video since the uploader disabled the ability to embed it), two guys from Manchester, England drove their BMW 525 all the way to Germany's famous Nürburgring just to run it on the Nordschleife. Their adventure lasted just seven seconds before the driver lost control of the car on the damp track and crashed.

The Nordschleife is opened up to the public on weekends for a fee, and any road worthy car is allowed to answer the Ring's call. Unfortunately, while the car may be worthy of the track, often the driver isn't. Note the muffin and Snickers bar on this guy's dash.

[Source: YouTube]

VIDEO: Driver posts shortest time on Nürburgring - 7 seconds before disaster originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Mar 2007 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bmwbmw 525Bmw525crashNurburgringthe ringTheRingFri, 23 Mar 2007 20:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: 2008 Nissan Skyline GT-R on the Ring]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/10/spy-shots-2008-nissan-skyline-gt-r-on-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/10/spy-shots-2008-nissan-skyline-gt-r-on-the-ring/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/10/10/spy-shots-2008-nissan-skyline-gt-r-on-the-ring/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While we already showed you shots of the 2008 Nissan Skyline that hit the web yesterday, some more came across the wire showing the Japanese super coupe running the Nürburgring in Germany and, well, do we really need an excuse to show you more pics of this car? I can't speak for the rest of the Autoblog crew, but I myself am gushing over the design. Subjective standards of beauty aside, the shape of the new Skyline seems to epitomize the essence of Japanese design in the same way the Chrysler 300C represents Americana in its slab-sided sheetmetal. The Skyline looks high-tech, sharp and sterile, like a laser-guided scalpel.

Damon and I discuss in the Autoblog Podcast, Episode #44, which will be out in a few hours, how we think the Skyline stacks up with American iron like the Corvette and Mustang GT500. It's all speculation at this point, but you can also hear my argument for why the Skyline should be branded an Infiniti (heresy!).

[Source: Winding Road]

Spy Shots: 2008 Nissan Skyline GT-R on the Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Oct 2006 13:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>germanyGT-Rnurburgringringskylinethe ringTheRingTue, 10 Oct 2006 13:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Spy Shots: 2008 Lotus Esprit]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/24/spy-shots-2008-lotus-esprit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/24/spy-shots-2008-lotus-esprit/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/06/24/spy-shots-2008-lotus-esprit/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Another mule has been caught lapping the Ring in Germany, and this time it's the forthcoming revival of the lightweight Lotus Esprit supercar. The new Esprit is expected use a BMW V8 for power, and while eight cylinders is no surprise, we have to admit that we enjoyed the old Esprit's identity as the "four-cylinder supercar".

Near the end of the Esprit's last run it was fitted with a Lotus-developed, compact twin-turbo 3.5L V8 that developed 350 hp, but it seemed out of place to us in a supercar that made its mark by chasing down more powerful cars with nothing more than a four-banger and a prayer. These days, however, the Lotus Elise is having no trouble filling its older brothers shoes as the company's resident "four-cylinder supercar".

[Source: Inside Line via Winding Road]

Spy Shots: 2008 Lotus Esprit originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 24 Jun 2006 10:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eliseespritexotic carExoticCarfour-cylindergermanylotusmulenurburgringprototypespy picSpyPicsupercartestingthe ringTheRingSat, 24 Jun 2006 10:55:00 EST