Latest news with #Nürburgring
Auto Express
12 hours ago
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Think a Renault 5 Nurburgring record attempt is madness? It's on!
The wild Renault 5 Turbo 3E flagship is heading to the Nürburgring for an electric lap record attempt, Auto Express can reveal. With 533bhp and 4,800Nm of torque from two electric motors and 0-62mph in less than 3.5-seconds, the Turbo 3E has the firepower to set a competitive lap time. The fastest production electric car on the 20,832m-long Nordschleife circuit (12.944 miles) is the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra saloon, which posted a time of 7:04.957 in April 2025 and has gone even faster in uprated, prototype form. Advertisement - Article continues below The Rimac Nevera and Porsche Taycan Turbo GT aren't much slower but it'll be the Tesla Model S Plaid (7:35.579) and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N's 7:45.59 time that Renault has its eye on. One record is odds-on – the fastest rear-wheel drive EV around the 'Ring – because strictly all-wheel drive cars posted the existing benchmarks. The 5 Turbo 3E packs two advanced in-wheel motors spinning its rear end and an aluminium and carbonfibre construction that should keep weight below 1,450kg. Much of this technology will be shared with the upcoming Alpine A110 Electric. 'The 5 Turbo 3E has the potential to do two Nordschleife laps at full throttle,' Fabrice Cambolive, the Renault brand CEO, told Auto Express. Can it post a respectable lap in the 7-minute zone? 'We will communicate it at the right time,' winks the boss. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below 'With its in-wheel motors and really low centre of gravity, it's like piloting a video game,' claims the CEO, slumping down in his chair and making darty hand movements with an imaginary steering wheel. Renault Group test driver Laurent Hurgon, who also races a Lamborghini Super Trofeo, is tipped for the record run. He posted the Megane RS Trophy-R's front-wheel drive lap record in 2019, a 7:40.100 time (on a slightly shorter loop) subsequently bettered only by the FL5 Honda Civic Type R. Advertisement - Article continues below The Nordschleife is a huge challenge for any electric car, with repeated maximum accelerations and decelerations taking a massive toll on the battery, motors and brakes, and thermal management of the power cells critical to prevent a drop-off in performance. Hyundai's European R&D boss Tyrone Johnson told Auto Express that computer simulation was critical to prime the Ioniq 5 N for its arduous 'Ring run. 'With the Ioniq 5 N, we were the first [EV] to be tested on the Nurburgring with an official lap time by Sport Auto, a German magazine. Before Porsche,' he said. 'We did two laps and simulated that for a couple of months beforehand, to get the battery temperature and the [brake] rating just right, just to be able to make the two laps.' Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Turbo 3E prototypes should be out testing in public soon, with the record run expected before the weather becomes too unsettled. The pumped-up little hatch takes its inspiration from the original mid-engined versions of the Renault 5, which first appeared in 1980. That number is the production ceiling for the Turbo 3E, with Renault claiming to have more than 1,000 prospects lined up for the £135,000 superhatch. 'We want to demonstrate that a pure BEV car can also be a sporty car,' says Cambolive. 'The sportiness of the Renault 5 is already quite good, now we can replicate what we did in the past when the Turbo arrived.' The 5 has given Renault real electric car momentum, says UK managing director Adam Wood. The charismatic supermini was Britain's top-selling EV in April and May, with 70 per cent of buyers retail rather than the fleet customers lured by low company car tax. And its formula – mixing a retro form and nameplate with modern details and zero emissions tech – is being expanded into the small electric SUV segment with the Renault 4. Order books have just opened, after a UK introduction at this month's Goodwood Festival of Speed. In early 2024, with Renault reliant on just the Megane E-Tech, EVs contributed about 5 per cent of the French brand's sales. The introduction of the Scenic E-Tech grew this to 15 per cent by the year's end, and with Renault 5 deliveries now on song, one-in-four new Renaults are currently electric-powered. This is critical to meet the UK's Zero Emission Vehicle sales target which is pegged at 28 per cent of passenger car sales in 2025. The boss is confident this share can be maintained with another EV – the Twingo city car – confirmed for right-hand drive and arriving in 2026. Configure your perfect Renault 5 through our Find A Car service now. Alternatively, check out the best deals out there on a new Renault 5 from stock or top prices on used Renault 5 models... Find a car with the experts Range Rover's secret mid-size EV: Inside its £500m factory Range Rover's secret mid-size EV: Inside its £500m factory We take an exclusive look inside JLR's revamped Liverpool site as the brand gears up for EV production Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers Chinese cars will take over as Britain's best sellers With a dramatic rise in sales, Mike Rutherford thinks it's only a matter of time before Chinese cars outsell all other countries in the UK Car Deal of the Day: The Audi A3 Saloon may be posh but not at this price Car Deal of the Day: The Audi A3 Saloon may be posh but not at this price It's posh, well appointed, and refined to drive – the Audi A3 Saloon is our Deal of the Day for July 18
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Chinese EV prototype smashes records while beating out vehicles from Mercedes and Porsche: 'Mind-blowing'
A Chinese EV prototype has redefined high-performance electric vehicles at one of the most difficult and dangerous tracks in the world. The Xiaomi SU7 Ultra prototype smashed its previous lap time at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, clocking in at 6:22.091, beating its own record by over 24 seconds. This makes it the fastest prototype and EV and the third-fastest vehicle to complete a lap on the 12.9-mile track, often used as a benchmark for automotive engineering. It outran several supercars, like the Mercedes-AMG One and Porsche 911 GT2, which have price tags triple its estimated cost, all running on just battery power. "Mercedes spent billions and many years to develop the AMG One only to get humbled by a phone company," one Reddit commenter said. With the SU7, Xiaomi aims to address consumer skepticism regarding EV performance and accessibility. The production version of the car clocked in at 7:04.957 on the same track, beating the Porsche Taycan by three seconds, signaling record-setting performance without sacrificing usability or comfort. Development of the SU7 began just a few years ago, and already, Xiaomi, known for producing consumer electronics, is setting industry benchmarks. The prototype's 1,526-horsepower engine pushes it from zero to 60 in under two seconds, leveraging advanced software and battery technology to optimize power delivery and efficiency. Such a breakthrough pressures legacy carmakers to accelerate EV strategies and provide consumers with more options. EVs offer countless benefits, not just in lap times, but also for your wallet and the environment. Contrary to arguments against EVs due to harmful mining practices for minerals like lithium, the extraction of dirty energy needed for ICE vehicles is much worse for the environment. One MIT study found that cars with internal combustion engines create an average of 350 grams of carbon air pollution per mile driven over their lifetimes, while EVs that operate on an average U.S. power grid produce only 200 grams. Low-carbon energy reduces mineral requirements. Currently, the Xiaomi SU7 is only available in China, but global markets could see future models as soon as 2026. In the meantime, Xiaomi is releasing a Nürburgring Limited Edition SU7, priced around $114,000, with only 10 units released in 2025 and 100 total. For everyday drivers interested in going electric, there are even more opportunities to save. Charging an EV with home solar panels can significantly reduce fueling costs compared to public stations or grid electricity. EnergySage makes it easy to compare local solar installers and save up to $10,000 on installation, a smart pairing for any new EV purchase. Car enthusiasts were impressed. "Ok Xiaomi, you've made your point," one commenter wrote. "No need to keep embarrassing the Western automakers who have been doing this for 100 years." "For a company that only started 3.5 years ago, they are mind-blowing in their innovation speed," they added. They then referenced comments from Ford CEO Jim Farley, who reportedly said of an SU7 he's been test-driving for market competition reasons that he "doesn't want to give it up," and said he was right to be impressed. "No wonder he freaked out after driving an SU7 for three months." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GM Eyes Nürburgring Glory as Corvette ZR1 Targets Ford Mustang GTD's Lap Record
⚡️ Read the full article on Motorious GM hints the 2025 Corvette ZR1 may have already beaten Ford's Mustang GTD Nürburgring time, sparking rivalry excitement. The battle for American sports car supremacy may soon shift to Germany, as General Motors appears ready to challenge Ford's record-breaking Nürburgring performance with its upcoming 2025 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1. Last year, the Ford Mustang GTD made headlines by becoming the first American-branded car to lap the Nürburgring in under seven minutes, clocking a time of 6:57.685. Ford returned earlier this year for another attempt, improving its own benchmark to 6:52.072, the fourth-fastest lap in the production sports car category. But GM isn't content to let the Blue Oval hold the bragging rights. Corvette Chief Engineer Tony Roma recently hinted that the ZR1 has already taken on the 'Green Hell,' and the results appear promising. 'You can see the effort Ford had to put into the GTD,' Roma told GM Authority. 'All I can say is, stay tuned. We did go and drive around the Green Hell, and we're pretty proud of how the car did.' Though Roma stopped short of confirming whether the ZR1 beat Ford's time, he suggested that GM would share details 'very soon.' Speculation has run wild that the ZR1 could even challenge the overall production car record held by the Mercedes-AMG One (6:29.1), though Roma tempered expectations, noting that 'it's more difficult than it's ever been to set a record at the 'Ring.' Even without breaking the all-time record, the ZR1's specs give it a serious edge over the Mustang GTD. GM's new supercar boasts 1,064 horsepower from a twin-turbocharged 5.5-liter V8, paired with advanced aerodynamics and a relatively lighter weight of around 3,800 pounds. By comparison, the GTD makes 800 horsepower from its supercharged 5.2-liter V8 and tips the scales at roughly 4,300 pounds. If GM's confidence is any indication, the Corvette ZR1 may soon snatch Ford's Nürburgring crown, intensifying one of America's fiercest automotive rivalries on the world stage. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Porsche Taycan Turbo GT Goes Even Harder With Aggressive Manthey Racing Upgrades
Our spies are always camped at the Nürburgring Nordschleife during industry testing days, and their latest sighting is of a Porsche Taycan Turbo GT with several additions that appear to come straight out of the Manthey Racing playbook. For the record, the $230,000+ Taycan Turbo GT with the no-cost Weissach Package is already an exceptionally hardcore electric sedan with 1,019 horsepower and no rear seats, and independent testing has seen 0-60 mph sprints completed in as little as 1.89 seconds. Porsche set a Nürburgring time of 7:07.55 with its most hardcore Taycan last year, breaking records as the fastest series-production electric car and the fastest four-door of any kind on the track, but then the Chinese rained on Porsche's parade, hard, and this new prototype, expected to cost around $300k in production form, seems like Germany's retort. Launched earlier this year with a starting price approximate to just $73,000, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra offers 1,527 hp and similar 0-60 times. A more powerful, quicker accelerating, cheaper EV might not seem like a big deal, but ever-improving Chinese cars have been hurting Porsche's market share in the region, and with the SU7 Ultra beating the Taycan Turbo GT's time by lapping the Green Hell in just 7:04.95 last month proves that Xiaomi's lower asking price is not necessarily evidence of a lesser product. With Manthey Racing upgrades, Porsche will surely take a crack at reclaiming the record. We doubt there's much weight that can be shed here, but Manthey's focus is predominantly on aerodynamic enhancements, and these photos show several elements that are similar to those seen on the Porsche-owned tuner's GT3 RS kit. At the front, the lower side intake scoops have lost their grilles, and the middle of the front fascia is no longer a closed panel. However, the side intakes just below the headlights, which cool the brakes, have been closed up. The outer extremities of the front fascia have gained canards for additional downforce, while the lower splitter seems sharper and is no longer connected to the winglets that form air curtains over the wheels. This is because the Manthey kit will widen the car with bulging arches, which, at the front, are vented and feature a floating air guide to smooth turbulent air from behind the front tires. Also noteworthy is that the hood has vents aligned with the center of the arches. The side skirts don't appear to have changed much, if at all, as is the case with the rear wing. The rear wheels, though, have gained Manthey's trademark aero covers with another floating air guide, and the lower half of the rear fascia is far more aggressive, with a simply massive diffuser that wouldn't look out of place on the Le Mans grid. All in all, this looks mighty, and our spies report that racing driver Lars Kern was at the helm. He's the man who has set numerous Nürburgring Nordschleife lap records for Porsche, so it's quite possible that he and the automaker are preparing to go for gold again. But the Chinese won't be easy to beat, even after all this. Last month, a modified version of the SU7 Ultra lapped the almost-13-mile course in just 6:46.87, some 8 seconds quicker than a GT2 RS with the Manthey Racing kit, and not far behind the outright record-holder, the Mercedes-AMG ONE (6:29). Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Auto Blog
15-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
SPIED: Electric BMW M3 Shows Off More Of Its Unique Take On Performance
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. BMW's Most Controversial M3 Yet Takes Shape The BMW M3 will someday go electric, and if these new spy shots captured at the Nürburgring are anything to go by, that momentous occasion isn't very far away. For the first time, an electric M3 prototype has been captured with its production body, though it still has several deceptive elements pasted on top of it. The development mule in question appears to have been pushed hard, as evidenced by a single brake rotor on the right rear of the car turning blue, like titanium does. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:10 Full screen What is the Sony Honda Mobility Afeela 1? Watch More The close-up shot was captured while the development mule was being recharged, and we can also see a pale blue light alongside the connector, which all but confirms that most of the production hardware has been finalized. Smaller details like the production lighting units will go on at the last moment. Blue Brakes Raise Questions As you'll see in these photos, it was only one drilled brake disc that changed color. Was this the result of binding, an ineffective cooling system, or substandard materials? Perhaps it was one of those elements, all of them, or a combination of just two, but another possibility is that BMW was testing some sort of vehicle dynamics controller that brakes an inside wheel to better rotate the car. Since the Nordschleife is driven clockwise, the right rear would most often be the inside wheel, but given that the course is nearly 13 miles long, it still seems odd that one brake would suffer more than the others. Whatever the case, the front brake calipers are finished in blue like most M cars, while the rears are unpainted, indicating that this prototype is not wearing carbon-ceramic brakes (signified by gold calipers). It is, however, wearing production wheels, and while there are false panels on the hood, trunk, and fenders, the temporary bumpers show parking sensors, again indicating that the finished product is near. What To Expect From The Electric M3 BMW M3 EV Spy Shot Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. This electric M3 was snapped as it entered the BMW M Development Test Center at the Nürburgring, so we can look forward to seeing it on the track soon. Our spies are told to expect between 700 and 750 horsepower. The electric M3 is expected to enter production in March 2027, which suggests a reveal mid-way through next year, and it's likely to feature the new flax fiber composite technology that BMW expects will replace carbon fiber as a lightweight but environmentally friendly material. 20-inch wheels will reportedly be standard with a staggered 20-/21-inch setup available, and carbon-ceramic brakes will be optional. The M3 sedan will arrive first, and though no wagon has appeared on leaked internal production reports, it's all but inevitable. We expect to see the M3 shed more camouflage in the coming weeks, so stay tuned. In the meantime, a summary of everything we know about the electric M3 so far will have to suffice. About the Author Sebastian Cenizo View Profile
