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Showing posts with label Nurburgring. Show all posts

Showing posts with label Nurburgring. Show all posts

Friday, 15 June 2012

2013 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT Turns the 'Ring 5 Seconds Faster than 2012MY [64 Photos]

Mercedes-Benz has released a few more interesting details and a whole lot more photos of its updated and renamed 2013 SLS AMG GT Coupe and Roadster models.

At the presentation of the car in Affalterbach, Germany, AMG chairman Ola Källenius told Autoblog.com that the more powerful SLS AMG GT Coupe turns the Nürburgring Nordschleife in "a tick under 7:30", thus improving the outgoing SLS AMG Coupe's time (7:35") by a little over 5 seconds.

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Spied: New Maserati Quattroporte Shots Reveal that it Won’t be a...Hunchback

Maserati engineers have toned down a notch the camouflage on their latest Quattroporte prototype that was nabbed by our scoop photographers while undergoing tests at the Nürburgring race track.

It may not seem like a lot, but it's enough to provide us with a better look at the rear window styling, which in previous spy shots, was disguised to give the impression of a fastback body style.

The new photos confirm the more conventional styling of the car's roofline and rear end.

This new Quattroporte will be the Fiat and Chrysler Alliance's flagship sedan model and as such, will sport the latest technologies including a new 8-speed automatic transmission from ZF combined with a start and stop system to will help reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

Tuesday, 5 June 2012

Spied: Bing-Winged Prototype Could be a Test Mule for the Next Honda Civic Type-R

Honda, a brand that used to be synonymous with performance cars for the masses, has toned down if not…completely erased its sporty side these past few years, something that has not gone unnoticed by consumers and fans alike.

However, it seems that the Japanese automaker has received the message and is making plans to revitalize itself by returning to its roots, as evidenced by the new NSX sports car that will go on sale within the next three years.

For the mainstream crowd in Europe, Japan and other markets worldwide sans North America, Honda appears to be preparing a replacement for one of its more popular models, the Civic Type R.

Our spy shooters spotted a prototype of the latest generation of the European market Civic hatchback featuring a large rear wing near Honda’s technical center at the Nürburgring, which we believe could be a test mule for the next Type R.

Friday, 1 June 2012

Spied: New Porsche 911 Turbo Filmed on the Autobahn and the Nürburgring

There are many new Porsches heading our way, but one model of particular interest is the next generation of the 911 Turbo, prototypes of which were spotted testing on both the German Autobahn and the Nürburgring racetrack.

The word on the street is that the new 911 Turbo models (including the Coupe and Convertible in both regular and 'S' trims) will adopt an advanced tri-turbo system for the existing 3.8-litre flat-six gasoline engine.

Scoop: Aston Martin's DBS Replacement Filmed on the Road

While Aston Martin's top brass were previewing the looks of the next DBS with the Project AM310 Concept on the scenic shores of Lake Como in Italy during the 2012 Concorso d'Eleganza, the brand's engineers were hard at work conducting tests of the production model in and around the Nürburgring in Germany.

Spy Shots: Sporty 2014 MINI Cooper S Hits the Nürburgring for Testing

Under normal circumstances, it's not that hard to tell apart a regular Mini Cooper from its sportier Cooper S counterpart, but try doing the same with a body cloaked in a hippie like camo full of swirls, and it may get complicated.

So how do we do know that this particular prototype that our scoop photographers nabbed racing around the famed Nurburgring track in Germany is actually the Cooper S?

Wednesday, 30 May 2012

Spy Video: New BMW 4-Series Convertible Filmed at the Green Hell

We have just filmed the replacement of the BMW 3-Series Convertible while the brand's engineers were driving a camouflaged prototype on the Nürburgring track.

BMW is rumored to replace the 3-Series badge with the 4-series moniker for the two-door coupe and convertible variants of its newly revealed 3-series sedan, in much the same way that it does with the larger 5-Series (sedan, Touring and GT) and 6-Series (Coupe and Convertible) models.

Tuesday, 22 May 2012

SPIED: All-New 2013 Volkswagen Golf GTI MkVII Hits the Nürburgring for Testing

If there was ever a more important model in the vast lineup of the Volkswagen Group, it is the seventh generation of the Golf, which we will have the opportunity to see it in person for the first time at the upcoming 2012 Paris Motor Show this September.

Say we had to single out one variant out of the Golf's range, that would no doubt be the GTI, the model that gave birth to an entire segment. However, before you get too excited, learn that we will not be seeing the next Golf GTI in Paris but most likely in Geneva the following March.

Since its presentation is a full year away, we have the next best thing with our first spy pictures of the Golf GTI MkVII wearing its production outfit while testing on the 'Ring.

Compared to the regular Golf prototypes we caught earlier this year, the GTI is distinguished by the larger alloy wheels wrapped around beefier tires, the lowered body and the side skirts. The car seen here is the five-door model, but Volkswagen will also offer a three-door variant and possibly a convertible later on.

Spied: All-New Skoda Rapid Compact Sedan Caught Undisguised

Czech carmaker Skoda is more or less done hiding its Rapid sedan prototypes, one of which was snagged by our scoop photographers while running around the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany.

Skoda's engineers simply applied some convincing, but fake, decals on the tail lamps, the top part of the headlamps, and the rear door lines, just to keep our spies on their toes.

Other than that, what you see in these pictures is what European buyers will get when the compact sedan model makes its first public outing at the Paris Motor Show this September before reaching dealerships at the end of the year.

The European market Rapid (Skoda also sells a smaller and unrelated Rapid sedan in India) is the production variant of the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show Mission L Concept.

Monday, 21 May 2012

Spy Shots: New Range Rover Strips Down to the Metal

These are by far our best pictures yet of the all-new, fourth generation Range Rover, as our spies managed to snag a prototype model without all the plastic cladding of the previous test cars.

Even though Land Rover engineers have covered select parts of the body with black and white decals that look like they came straight out of the Matrix, these new images afford us a clear view of the upcoming premium SUV's shape.

SPIED: 2014 Acura MDX Crossover, May Get New RLX's Hybrid Powertrain

Our man with the long lens snapped a prototype of the next Acura MDX crossover testing on public roads near the Nürburgring racetrack in Germany.

The mid-size crossover model was heavily camouflaged but a close look at the front end of the vehicle reveals Acura's revised five-point grille with the beaked chrome upper part and twin chrome slats underneath.

While most styling details of the third generation MDX remain hidden, it appears that like the 2013 RDX, it too will feature a more mature / less exciting exterior design, with several elements borrowed from the RLX and ILX sedans.

The current model, which has been on the market since 2006 having received a mild nip and tuck in late 2009, is available with a 300hp 3.5-liter VTEC V6 engine linked to a 6-speed automatic transmission and Acura's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive.

Thursday, 17 May 2012

Gazoo Builds Twin-Charged Toyota GT86 Sports FR Concept with 315-Horses

All this time, automotive enthusiasts have been complaining about the lack of power in the Toyota GT86, Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ triplets.

Whilst the three companies have no current plans to address these concerns, Toyota's motorsports partner Gazoo Racing has a solution in the works as previewed by new a concept version of the European market GT86 named Sports FR.

Gazoo Racing's engineers have added both a supercharger and a turbocharger to the GT86's Subaru-sourced 2.0-liter flat four boosting output from 200hp to 315hp (320PS) and peak torque from 205Nm (151 lb-ft) to 421Nm (310.5 lb-ft). A modified six-speed manual pushes power to the rear wheels.

Wednesday, 16 May 2012

New MotoGP BMW M6 Coupé Safety Car to Break Ground at the 'Ring

For the past 13 years, BMW has provided the official safety cars for the MotoGP championship with the Bavarian firm's M brand taking over the partnership in 2006.

Following the presentation of the new generation M6 Coupe and Convertible models earlier this year, BMW has decided to replace the MotoGP 1 Series M Coupé safety car with a brand new M6 Coupé from mid-season on.

Toyota to Field Four GT86 and One Lexus LFA at the Nürburgring 24 Hours

The moment of truth for the Toyota group and its entries in this weekend's 40th Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race is almost here.

The Japanese carmaker will be represented in the race by four GT86 coupes, which is also known as the Toyota 86 in Japan and Scion FR-S in North America, and one Lexus LFA.

Friday, 4 May 2012

Meet Jaguar's New Nürburgring Taxi, the 503hp XJ Supersport V8

If you have strolled around the Nürburgring in BMW's famous 'Ring Taxi and are looking for something with a different flavor, you will be pleased to know that Jaguar has launched its own service.

The British marque's very first 'Ring cab is based on the latest long wheelbase XJ Supersport limo equipped with Sport and Speed Pack options. Power comes from a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine that is good for 503hp (510PS) offering a top speed of 174mph (280km/h).

Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Video of the Day: "Idiot Drives the Nürburgring F1 Track"

There is nothing better than some self-deprecating humor to lighten things up and turn a bad situation into a shared laugh.

We will start by telling you that the title of this post comes from the person who uploaded the video on YouTube not to make fun of someone else but of himself while driving his Mazda RX-8 on a rainy day at the Nürburgring F1 track.

"Most of the time I sit in my car declaring how rubbish everybody else is," wrote YouTube user Nurburgdale. "This time I was the arsehole, the dangerous twit who didn't even realise how bad he was until he checked the memory card of the vbox... rather than hit ctrl-delete, I thought I'd upload it to others. Hey, if you can't laugh, you'll only cry!"

Thursday, 26 April 2012

Spied: All-Electric Audi R8 e-Tron Hits the Nürburgring, will be Presented in Paris

Audi is putting the finishing touches to the most revolutionary edition of its R8 sports car ever, the pure electric e-Tron. From what we hear, the production R8 e-Tron will make its first public outing at the Paris Motor Show this September.

Our spies caught up with an undisguised prototype in production trim silently testing on the Nürburgring. The only thing missing from the test car are the chrome bars on the side vents under the barely noticeable modified LED headlamps, while the production car will also get a different set of wheels.

The prototype is fitted with a six-point grille that will also make its appearance on the soon-to-be-revealed facelifted 2013 R8. The e-Tron version can be identified by the special black cover that replaces the regular model's window, the deep scoop on the hood and the absence of exhaust pipes on the modified rear apron.

SCOOP: New Opel City Car Smiles at the Camera Possibly for the Last Time Before its Unveiling

The latest word from Germany is that Opel will release the first official photos of its new city car model on May 8 and that it will not be named Junior or Allegra as originally thought, but Adam, evidently after the founder of the company, Adam Opel.

If the reveal date turns out to be true (we have not yet confirmed the news), these could very well be the last spy shots we get of the prototype model.

Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Spy Shots: Next Audi S3 Prototype Tries Out its New 2.0 TFSI on the 'Ring

We have just snapped the first spy photos of a next generation Audi S3 while testing on the Nürburgring racetrack.

The prototype would have gone by unnoticed if weren't for the S3's trademark quad tail pipes at the back. The production model that will follow next year will also sport a different front bumper with larger air-inlets and a chrome-trimmed grille along with a rear diffuser and bespoke alloy rims shod in wider wheels.

The current Audi S3 is powered by a 2.0-liter TFSI delivering 262hp (265PS) and 350Nm. We hear that the next iteration of Ingolstadt's hot hatch features a new 2.0-liter force-fed four generating around 280-horses.

Naturally, the S3 is equipped with Audi's quattro all-wheel drive system while transmission options will include a six-speed manual and a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic.

Spied: Nissan to Enter 24h Nürburgring Race with Production GT-R Track Pack Edition

Before 2008, the “old” Nürburgring, aka Nordschleife, was a very demanding track deemed too dangerous for Formula 1 racing, but car manufacturers used it for testing purposes and on certain days, any mere mortal could drive his or her car for as many laps as they could afford.

Nissan changed all that by making the 7’29’’ lap time recorded by the new GT-R a key point of its launch campaign. It also sparked a war of words with Porsche and perhaps more importantly, made posting a competitive lap time at the ‘Ring a must for every new sports car.

In the four years since its launch, Nissan has been constantly honing the R35 GT-R, upgrading almost every mechanical part, from the chassis to the suspension and the engine.

This is because Kazutoshi Mizuno, program director of the GT-R development team, believes that no matter how good the car is, “the customer always wants more”. It has also resulted in the 2013MY model cutting 9 seconds off the original lap time.

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