GT-R laps Nurburgring in 7:29; sets production car record

[Almag]

The standard production GT-R just lapped the 'Ring in 7 minutes, 29 seconds. Previously, it turned a 7:38 on a day where a few of the corners were damp.

Apparently it dried out...

Note: this is NOT the V-Spec

[Slideways]

Originally Posted by Almag

The standard production GT-R just lapped the 'Ring in 7 minutes, 29 seconds. Previously, it turned a 7:38 on a day where a few of the corners were damp.

Apparently it dried out...

Note: this is NOT the V-Spec

The race is on! A C6 Z06 posted a 7:43 in less-than-ideal conditions, and and a C6 ZR1 ran a 7:40 when it was damp, and with someone sitting shotgun. I think that we'll see better times from all three cars

[Butz]

The GT-R is heavier than the Corvette, right?
Wow! This is a great feat, too bad the car is too ugly

[void.crusader]

It looks great. Too bad I can't afford 80K car ...

[61BelAir]

Impressive time for the GTR. Obviously certain tracks will favor certain cars. One track the GTR may be faster and another track the ZR1 will be faster. If I had $100k i'd take the ZR1 and all that glorious HP.

[Vladimir1978]

Originally Posted by 61BelAir

Impressive time for the GTR. Obviously certain tracks will favor certain cars. One track the GTR may be faster and another track the ZR1 will be faster. If I had $100k i'd take the ZR1 and all that glorious HP.

The whole point of the Nurburgring is that it favors the fastest overall car.

I also highly doubt that 100k will get you into a ZR1. GM has not priced it yet, have they?

[61BelAir]

Originally Posted by Vladimir1978

The whole point of the Nurburgring is that it favors the fastest overall car.

I also highly doubt that 100k will get you into a ZR1. GM has not priced it yet, have they?

I guess you might want to clarify what you mean by "fastest". If you are talking about ET's than the GTR obviously has a very quick time. If you are talking about actual top speed then I would go with the lighter, more powerful car. I believe I saw a post the other day that said the ZR1 is in the 205 mph range. The GTR being 3900 lbs probably won't have as much top speed.

[Joevette]

That is very impressive, but how many of us actually are going to race a car on a race track and worry about the time... 1%. I would take the z06/zr1 because it has greater top end, and highway races/drag races are the most my car would probably ever see. plus im kind of bias, but if i had the money i would probably get both cars. The GTR can sure hold speed around a track though, i guess having the power routed to what ever wheel makes sense really helps, rather then trying to control it through just two wheels

[void.crusader]

Originally Posted by 61BelAir

I guess you might want to clarify what you mean by "fastest". If you are talking about ET's than the GTR obviously has a very quick time. If you are talking about actual top speed then I would go with the lighter, more powerful car. I believe I saw a post the other day that said the ZR1 is in the 205 mph range. The GTR being 3900 lbs probably won't have as much top speed.

I hope you know that weight doesn't affect car top speed? Only power and aero drag.

For me, living in US, I couldn't care less what top speed the car have.

[61BelAir]

Originally Posted by void.crusader

I hope you know that weight doesn't affect car top speed? Only power and aero drag.

For me, living in US, I couldn't care less what top speed the car have.

Weight doesn't effect top speed? Can you elaborate on that?

[Slideways]

Originally Posted by 61BelAir

Weight doesn't effect top speed? Can you elaborate on that?

He's right. Yes, weight hurts acceleration and consequently it will hurt your top speed in a drag race, but given a long enough route (salt flat, long straight on a race track) you're fighting wind resistance. Acceleration is largely power/weight ratio (drag plays a small role), where top speed is more like power/drag coefficient ratio.

[61BelAir]

Originally Posted by Slideways

He's right. Yes, weight hurts acceleration and consequently it will hurt your top speed in a drag race, but given a long enough route (salt flat, long straight on a race track) you're fighting wind resistance. Acceleration is largely power/weight ratio (drag plays a small role), where top speed is more like power/drag coefficient ratio.

So two identical cars, same HP and same CD, one weighing 3000 lbs the other 4000 lbs will have the same top speed?

[Slideways]

Originally Posted by 61BelAir

So two identical cars, same HP and same CD, one weighing 3000 lbs the other 4000 lbs will have the same top speed?

Yes, but the 3,000lb one will get there sooner. OK, there might be extra friction at the wheel bearings, but I don't know how much that would be and what it would mean for top speed.

[void.crusader]

Originally Posted by 61BelAir

Weight doesn't effect top speed? Can you elaborate on that?

Think of (not artificially limited) top speed as a condition when result of all forces applied to the car is zero.

You have engine generating max power pushing the car forward and air resistance pushing the car back. Both forces don't directly depend on car weight (though heavier larger cars tend to have larger frontal area).

Btw that's why VW engineers created such behemoth as Veyron - they only cared about top speed and weight isn't a problem for it.

TopSpeed ~ cube_root[ MaxPower / (DragCoeff * FrontalArea) ]

GT-R is very sleek at 6.8 sq.ft (drag * frontal)
Z06 is not so at 7.6 sq.ft

Originally Posted by Slideways

OK, there might be extra friction at the wheel bearings, but I don't know how much that would be and what it would mean for top speed.

This and area of contact patch could be greater (with same tire pressure) - hence more rolling resistance.

But these factors are several magnitudes less important than power and drag.

[mbukukanyau]

Originally Posted by void.crusader

Think of (not artificially limited) top speed as a condition when result of all forces applied to the car is zero.

You have engine generating max power pushing the car forward and air resistance pushing the car back. Both forces don't directly depend on car weight (though heavier larger cars tend to have larger frontal area).

Btw that's why VW engineers created such behemoth as Veyron - they only cared about top speed and weight isn't a problem for it.

TopSpeed ~ cube_root[ MaxPower / (DragCoeff * FrontalArea) ]

GT-R is very sleek at 6.8 sq.ft (drag * frontal)
Z06 is not so at 7.6 sq.ft



This and area of contact patch could be greater (with same tire pressure) - hence more rolling resistance.

But these factors are several magnitudes less important than power and drag.

I am no expert, but, does a 1001 HP W16 rocket mill not improve on the Veyron's power to weight ratios, theys making its weight vs. power great. Remember, the Veyron is a small two seater rear engined supercar with a massive engine, AWD, and extremely good drag coeficient... Its built for speed... So weight was an issue.
As in, I am not disputing your case. I just need to get more info.
Did they build that monster out of steel only? Or is it using carbon fibre wood, etc like the Z06 or Enzo?