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[VIDEO: Inside the cockpit of the Viper ACR's record lap at Laguna Seca]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/video-inside-the-cockpit-of-the-viper-acrs-record-lap-at-lagun/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/video-inside-the-cockpit-of-the-viper-acrs-record-lap-at-lagun/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/25/video-inside-the-cockpit-of-the-viper-acrs-record-lap-at-lagun/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Dodge Viper ACR laps Laguna Seca - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Pushing a performance monster like the Viper ACR around a race track at ten tenths takes some pretty massive cojones. But few tracks require the testicular fortitude of Laguna Seca.

The iconic circuit in Northern California is packed full of decreasing radius corners, off-camber turns, and the indomitable corkscrew. Fortunately, Dodge test driver Chris Winkler was up to the task, and pushed the ACR around dry lagoon to a record-breaking lap time of 1:33.944, edging out its cousin the Devon GTX in the process to claim the fastest road-car lap time around the track.

Now we've got footage that takes us inside the cockpit for the record run, which may seem like old hat to the video game crowd, until you realize this was happening in real life. Follow the jump to check it out.

[Source: Chrysler via YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: Inside the cockpit of the Viper ACR's record lap at Laguna Seca

VIDEO: Inside the cockpit of the Viper ACR's record lap at Laguna Seca originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 25 Nov 2009 18:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chris williamschris winklerChrisWilliamsChrisWinklerdodge viperdodge viper acrdodge viper acr laguna secaDodgeViperDodgeViperAcrDodgeViperAcrLagunaSecalaguna secaLagunaSecalap recordlap timeLapRecordLapTimevideoviperviper acrViperAcrWed, 25 Nov 2009 18:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Shanghai Surprise: Cadillac CTS stunt team dazzles in China, Heinricy sets F1 track record [*UPDATED w/VIDEO]]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/15/shanghai-surprise-cadillac-cts-stunt-team-dazzles-in-china-hei/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/15/shanghai-surprise-cadillac-cts-stunt-team-dazzles-in-china-hei/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/05/15/shanghai-surprise-cadillac-cts-stunt-team-dazzles-in-china-hei/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Cadillac's V-Day stunt driving exhibition - Click above to watch the video

Although things are understandably more than bit somber in General Motors' U.S. operations as of late, over in China, the mood is a bit more upbeat. The evidence? Check out this CTS stunt-driving exhibition held last weekend on Shanghai's Formula One circuit.

According to GM's Cadillac Notes blog, some 19,000 fans gathered to watch the show and celebrate the arrival of the CTS-V in China last weekend - this, despite the heat (with temperatures at around 86°, it was reportedly the hottest May 9 in over a century).

In any case, the professional Hollywood stunt team delighted the masses, as did GM test engineer supremo John Heinricy, who (aside from apparently not being all-the-way retired), marked the occasion by setting a record in the CTS-V for the quickest-ever lap (2:32.80) of the course in a production sedan. Heck, even Spider-Man showed up! Check out the high-res hijinks in our below. Thanks for the tip, Scot!

UPDATE: YouTube video of V-Day added after the jump.


Gallery: Cadillac V-Day in Shanghai


[Sources: Cadillac Notes; YouTube]

Continue reading Shanghai Surprise: Cadillac CTS stunt team dazzles in China, Heinricy sets F1 track record [*UPDATED w/VIDEO]

Shanghai Surprise: Cadillac CTS stunt team dazzles in China, Heinricy sets F1 track record [*UPDATED w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 15 May 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CaddyCadillacCTSCTS-VF1Formula 1Formula OneFormula1FormulaOneGeneral MotorsGeneralMotorsGMHeinricylap recordLapRecordrecordShanghaiSpider manSpider-ManSpidermanstunt driversstunt drivingStuntDriversStuntDrivingtrack recordTrackRecordV-DayXLRXLR-VFri, 15 May 2009 12:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Unseating Koenigsegg: Ascari A10 sets new <i>Top Gear</i> lap record]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/11/unseating-koenigsegg-ascari-a10-sets-new-i-top-gear-i-lap-re/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/11/unseating-koenigsegg-ascari-a10-sets-new-i-top-gear-i-lap-re/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/12/11/unseating-koenigsegg-ascari-a10-sets-new-i-top-gear-i-lap-re/#commentsFiled under: ,

Sweet Lord, how we do love progress! Cars just keep on getting faster and faster. Unfortunately drivers aren't getting any better - as evidenced by the seemingly endless stream of supercars crashing into unforgiving immovable objects - but leave it to Top Gear's anonymous pilot extraordinaire (all we know is he's called The Stig) to show the way.

The Top Gear lap record has been broken again. The new king of the Power Lap board: the Ascari A10. On this week's show, The Stig coerced the British supercar around the show's private test track in a scant 1:17.3, beating the previous record-holder, the Koenigsegg CCX (complete with special Top Gear rear wing), by three tenths of a second. The A10's more "civilized" brother, the KZ1, took a more leisurely 1:20.7 (still good enough to best the likes of the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano, Lamborghini Murcielago and Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, to name just a few).

Although the Ascari may be king today, it has to watch out for potential usurpers who have some serious gripes: the Caparo T1 posted an even faster time than the Ascari (much faster, actually), but was disqualified on a technicality. Meanwhile the Ultima GTR, in an unsanctioned (read: non-televised) test, lapped the track four and a half seconds faster than the Ascari, too. Should Top Gear give either (or better yet, both) a proper run by the books, the A10's reign could be short-lived. But in the meantime, the Koenig is dead, long like the king.

Jump for the Top Ten Top Gear Top Super Cars Lap Times.

[Source: Top Gear]

Continue reading Unseating Koenigsegg: Ascari A10 sets new Top Gear lap record

Unseating Koenigsegg: Ascari A10 sets new Top Gear lap record originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ascari a10AscariA10lap recordLapRecordpower lapPowerLapthe stigTheStigtop gearTopGearTue, 11 Dec 2007 09:25:00 EST