Dodge Viper ACR sets new Nürburgring lap time of 7:12....
09-15-11, 09:09 AM
#17
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The aero it has produces massive downforce. Something like 1000 pounds at 150 mph. I don't know what else was done to this record-breaking ACR though. Last ACR to run the NBR looked like it left a lot of time on the table due to gearing. Without a doubt the LFA NBR can best this.
09-15-11, 09:22 AM
#18
Best part of the story was left out.
Chrysler's SRT team went to the Nürburgring today with one mission to kick the ever-living crap out of the Lexus LFA and the Corvette ZR1. They succeeded. The 2010 Dodge Viper ACR set a new major automaker production car (excluding artisanal automakers like Gumpert and Radical) record run of the Nordschleife in just 7:12 and change.
09-15-11, 09:29 AM
#19
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09-15-11, 11:21 AM
#24
Lexus Test Driver
RE-TIRE-MENT PARTY
What a difference a tire makes. Sure, our last Z06 competitor (2007) also laid down the best Laguna lap, but it was described as "the most difficult to drive" on its slightly smaller Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar tires. Michelin Pilot Sport Cups, with their sacrificial 80-treadwear-rating grip, tamed the beast and helped shave off nearly 6.5 seconds per lap. These are the most track-oriented tires here, followed by the Pirelli PZero Corsas, which Matt Edmonds of Tire Rack, the official tire and wheel supplier to Motor Trend, describes as "a system tire. It has a different tread pattern at each corner, with the fronts designed to evacuate water so they're more streetable [than the Sport Cups]." He adds, "Anything not wearing Cups or Corsas will go faster with them."
Second-quickest Ferrari might disagree, or does its secret lie in tire pressures? Only Ferrari sent a representative (Editor's Note: all automakers were free to send a representative if they so desired, only Ferrari took us up on it) who insisted we lower the front-tire pressure by 2.4 psi and run the rear placard pressure (27.6 psi front/29 rear). Our 458 Italia and Audi R8 GT were the only two to recommend higher front than rear pressures for normal driving (and safe understeer). Absent factory instructions from the other manufacturers, we followed Tire Rack's recommendation to uniformly add 4 psi for track work, to maximize the footprint and minimize sidewall rollover. Ideally, Edmonds recommends chalking the sidewalls, running a lap, and adjusting pressure up or down to find the lowest pressure that prevents rollover, but logistics precluded this approach. Randy Pobst complained of excessive understeer in the R8 that lower front pressure might have alleviated, but our tight schedule precluded such iteration.
Other interesting Edmonds observations: "The [Bridgestone Potenzas] are the most low-tech parts on the LFA," and "The rear tires on the Boss 302 are three years old, so they're obviously an off-the-[dusty] shelf fitment." - Frank Markus
09-15-11, 11:58 AM
#25
What is the Lexus response as to why there are no announcements of changing tires for better performance numbers in the near future?
Every thread has a 'what if' or 'if then' after the original topic and then the endless speculation ensues. LFA NBG has a time of 7:14, that may be good enough for Lexus and unless there is an owner who decides differently, it is what it is.
Every thread has a 'what if' or 'if then' after the original topic and then the endless speculation ensues. LFA NBG has a time of 7:14, that may be good enough for Lexus and unless there is an owner who decides differently, it is what it is.
09-15-11, 12:12 PM
#26
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if lexus won't put decent tires on an lfa, what's the point of flogging the ring? 
09-15-11, 12:23 PM
#27
Lead Lap
Any way you look at it, it is pretty impressive. For a production track car it's hard to beat the Viper ACR. The last time they went they barely practiced and turned in a good time only to be beat shortly thereafter. I remember watching the video of the first time they went and they were bouncing off the rev limiter so there was definitely more left in the car which is why Dodge change the gear ratios after that year. This time they also spent more time on the ring and really cranked out some good numbers. The numbers for the ACR-X are even more impressive.
09-15-11, 12:40 PM
#28
Lexus Test Driver
They are weak both in lateral and longitudinal grip. They could do customers who are dishing out $375,000 a favor and do what Ferrari did. Fire Bridgestone.
What is the Lexus response as to why there are no announcements of changing tires for better performance numbers in the near future?
Every thread has a 'what if' or 'if then' after the original topic and then the endless speculation ensues. LFA NBG has a time of 7:14, that may be good enough for Lexus and unless there is an owner who decides differently, it is what it is.
Every thread has a 'what if' or 'if then' after the original topic and then the endless speculation ensues. LFA NBG has a time of 7:14, that may be good enough for Lexus and unless there is an owner who decides differently, it is what it is.
GTR sales have plummeted so badly and it is completely dismal in sales as Porsche is simply killing it even with the out-dated 911 GT3 and Turbo S. GM and Nissan definitely will do it and try to bunny hop over the other, but Lexus will not.
Last edited by 05RollaXRS; 09-15-11 at 12:51 PM.
09-15-11, 12:53 PM
#29
Again, it was never a planned run. Akira Iida did it on his own that eventually got the support of Lexus. It was never done for publicity or marketing. Completely different from this. No Lexus will definitely not go back and start getting into this rat race of quickest lap times. It was important to show case the capabilities of LFA, but not to get into a rat race with other manufacturers. Especially in this case where they take a 2 year old out-of-production car and then suddenly get the publicity.
GTR sales have plummeted so badly and it is completely dismal in sales as Porsche is simply killing it even with the out-dated 911 GT3 and Turbo S. GM and Nissan definitely will do it and try to bunny hop over the other, but Lexus will not.
GTR sales have plummeted so badly and it is completely dismal in sales as Porsche is simply killing it even with the out-dated 911 GT3 and Turbo S. GM and Nissan definitely will do it and try to bunny hop over the other, but Lexus will not.
09-15-11, 12:58 PM
#30
Lexus Test Driver
The reason why I am mentioning the tires is not because of the Nurburgring lap time, but in general the singlemost weak point of the LFA. The Motor Trend quote I posted is not in context of Nurburgring laps.
If a car puts R compound race tires that are barely street legal, it should not be compared with a car that is running on street tires that has high tread wear rating since they are not on level playing field.
That is why in racing, to level the playing field, all cars must run very similar R compound tires.
If a car puts R compound race tires that are barely street legal, it should not be compared with a car that is running on street tires that has high tread wear rating since they are not on level playing field.
That is why in racing, to level the playing field, all cars must run very similar R compound tires.
Last edited by 05RollaXRS; 09-15-11 at 01:05 PM.