Saturday, September 3, 2011

Automotive Addicts

Automotive Addicts

Unconfirmed: Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition Laps The ‘Ring In 7:14

Posted: 02 Sep 2011 08:15 AM PDT


The Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition. Image: Lexus

Officially, the fastest a Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition has ever lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife is in 7:22.85. That's an amazing performance, and it makes the car faster than a Porsche 911 GT2 RS (on stock tires) or a Pagani Zonda F Clubsport. That time is over fifteen seconds faster than a standard LFA, proving that the Nürburgring Edition's improved aerodynamics, modest power gain and faster shifting can translate to real-world benefits with the right driver on the right track.

According to EVO's Chris Harris, there's about to be a new record announced for the Lexus LFA around the 'Ring. It seems that Lexus driver Akira Iida, who'd set the previous lap record, just knocked off a time of 7:14 from bridge to gantry, besting his old time by a mind-warping 8.85 seconds. On a track where drivers struggle to shave tenths of a second off their lap times, finding nearly nine seconds is a truly remarkable feat.

If Iida's lap time is validated, it would make the Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition the fourth-fastest production vehicle to ever lap the 'Ring. In fact, if you discount the Radical SR8 laps (because to be honest, they're street legal race cars), only the Gumpert Apollo Speed is faster. It would also make Lexus the fastest major manufacturer around the 'Ring, since 7:14 even beats a Porsche 911 GT2 RS on Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires.

We'll keep you posted as more details on Iida's record lap come out.

Source: Lexus Enthusiast via Motor Authority

Ford To Update Focus ST Progress On Facebook

Posted: 02 Sep 2011 06:20 AM PDT


Want an inside look at how the development of Ford's Focus ST hot hatchback is coming along? You don't need to have a contact at Ford's SVT group, you just need to visit Ford's Focus page on Facebook and "Like" the Focus.

Ford has had good success with social media on the launch of the Fiesta and the base-model Focus, so they're applying the same tactic to the launch of the Focus ST. Ford will use Facebook to release updates, images and videos of the Focus ST undergoing development testing at their Lommel Proving Grounds in Belgium, track testing at the Nürburgring in Germany, and undergoing hot weather testing in Spain. The site will provide regular updates until the car's launch in early 2012.

The Focus ST promises to be a serious competitor to the Mazdaspeed3 and the Volkswagen GTI. Powered by a 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine, the Focus ST is expected to make 247 horsepower, and will use Ford's Torque Vectoring Control to mirror the effects of a limited slip front differential. In addition to "sufficient" power and stellar handling, the Focus ST is expected to be available with Ford's Sync / MyFord Touch telematics system, making it the most driver-connected hot hatch on the market.

You can get a feel for the type of information Ford will be leaking in the video below.

Source: Ford
Posted by Didik Rg at 6:11 AM

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