Latest news with #PorscheCarreraGT
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
The Weird British Electric Sucker Car Is Faster Than An F1 Car Around The Top Gear Track
Just over twenty years ago Top Gear's famed Stig drove Fernando Alonso's Renault R24 Formula 1 car around the show's test track in a blistering 59 seconds. That lap was over 20 seconds clear of the Ferrari Enzo, Porsche Carrera GT, and Mercedes SLR McLaren, which had previously held the fastest times of the era. Just a few weeks ago the non-race-car record at Dunsfold was set when Stiggy took an Aston Martin Valkyrie for a rip in 1:09.6. This week, however, the outright lap record has been stolen, again by a British supercar manufacturer, but of a completely different kind. What kind of supercar could possibly be quicker than an F1 car? How about the single-seater electric sucker car from startup McMurtry Automotive, named after an Irish thunderstorm? Yeah, that one. With more than enough downforce to drive upside-down, and all the electric power needed to run a quarter mile in the sevens, McMurtry's Spéirling pretty much redefines fast when it comes to seven-figure hypercars. There's nothing else on the planet like this lilliputian face-melting high-speed mech suit, and this Top Gear track record simply extends the car's already prodigious legend status. If Formula One is the pinnacle of speed, then McMurtry has climbed to the top and planted its flag in just a few short years. If this had happened at Top Gear's peak Clarkson would have lost his tiny mind and assaulted a producer. Read more: These Are The Cheap Cars That Consumer Reports Actually Recommends Buying Nobody in 2004 could ever have predicted that the F1 car record would be surpassed, nay obliterated, by an electric car. Think back to 2004 and try to imagine what the world of electric cars looked like. There was no Tesla, no Nissan Leaf even. The idea of using electricity to make a car faster was still a long ways off. The sportiest hybrid available at the time was a Honda Accord. If you took a time machine back 21 years and told them an electric car was quicker than an F1 car around any race track, you'd be carted off to the stocks and pelted with rotten fruit in the public square. The Renault R24 was among the fastest Formula 1 cars of all time, fighting with Ferrari and Michael Schumacher in their prime and pushing Jarno Trulli to a Monaco Grand Prix victory. Its V10 scream was signature and for two decades it has reigned over the Top Gear track as its king. Today that throne is in shambles, pulverized by a tiny zippy electric machine that sounds like a weasel wearing a jet pack. We're in the golden age of performance, and the McMurtry Spéirling is the new benchmark. Want more like this? Join the Jalopnik newsletter to get the latest auto news sent straight to your inbox... Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
10 Facts About Supercars You Never Knew
Read the full story on Modern Car Collector Supercars are built for speed, style, and exclusivity, but behind the stunning designs and mind-blowing performance figures, there are some truly bizarre facts that many enthusiasts don't know. From hidden features to engineering quirks, here are ten of the weirdest facts about supercars. Many supercars sit so low to the ground that even small speed bumps can be a disaster. Cars like the and have such low ground clearance that owners often have to plan their routes carefully or use a hydraulic lift system just to get over everyday obstacles. The is one of the most iconic supercars, but it has a major design flaw—you can't see behind you. The rear visibility is so bad that many owners have to open the door and sit on the sill just to reverse properly. It's a challenge that became a rite of passage for Countach drivers. Most cars have one fuel pump, but the has four to keep up with its massive 8.0-liter quad-turbocharged W16 engine. It needs to deliver fuel fast enough to support 1,000+ horsepower, and a single pump just wouldn't cut it. To manage the extreme heat produced by its 6.1-liter V12, the McLaren F1 uses actual gold as a heat shield in the engine bay. Gold is one of the best heat-reflective materials, and McLaren wasn't afraid to go all out for performance—even if it meant lining the engine compartment with one of the most expensive metals on Earth. The features a high-tech Autoskin system that allows the dihedral synchro-helix doors to open automatically at the push of a button. While it looks cool, there's a catch—if you're standing too close, the doors swing out with such force that they could literally knock you unconscious. Unlike traditional supercars with fixed wings, the has four individual flaps that adjust in real-time based on speed, steering angle, and braking. These moving aero elements work like bird wings, ensuring maximum downforce when needed. It's one of the most advanced aerodynamic systems ever built into a road car. The Porsche Carrera GT is notorious for its brutal power and tricky handling, which led to multiple high-profile crashes. In fact, it's so difficult to control that some high-end exotic car rental companies refused to offer it, considering it too dangerous for the average driver. The , one of the most advanced hybrid supercars, doesn't actually need a key to start. The 'key' is just a glorified fob—you still have to press a button inside the car to fire up the engine. This makes it one of the most expensive 'push-start' cars ever. Lamborghini loves drama, and the has a starter button covered by a red flip-up lid, just like a fighter jet's missile launch switch. Every time you start the car, it feels like you're about to engage in an aerial dogfight. The SSC Tuatara made headlines when it claimed a world-record top speed of 316 mph, but controversy erupted when analysts noticed inconsistencies in the video footage. After public skepticism, SSC had to redo the top-speed run with independent verification to confirm its real performance. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
