If you’re reading this, chances are that you’ve at least heard of a place called the Nürburgring. Constructed in 1927, the Nordschleife, which translates to North Circuit in English, is located in Germany about 120 km (75 miles) northwest of Frankfurt in the heart of the Eifel Mountains.
Three-time world Formula 1 champion Jackie Stewart gave it its “Green Hell” nickname. Niki Lauda nearly lost his life in a fiery accident at the 1976 Grand Prix. The Austrian, however, was lucky as 68 drivers perished in accidents during those years. The Nordschleife was subsequently banned from the F1 calendar.
The track stretches across 12.9 miles (20.8 km) and incorporates 73 corners, most of which call for experienced drivers. If you get it wrong, you’re more likely than not to end up in the Armco, in which case, not only will you have to fork out money to repair your vehicle, but also to fix any damages you may have caused to the circuit.
In recent years, this rather dangerous track has become increasingly important to the automotive industry. Some manufacturers, like Porsche, Jaguar and BMW, have permanent premises there and most others spend a considerable amount of time honing their newest models.
They also like to advertise their latest lap times, something that has sparked a bitter exchange of words between Nissan and Porsche concerning the GT-R. It has spread beyond sports cars: nowadays, manufacturers tout even their electric vehicles’ lap times.
"I truly think Nürburgring resonates with Americans", Jenn Hoffman, advertising manager for the Cadillac ATS sports saloon, told Automotive News. "It's a punishing track and the Europeans have known this for a long time. But the message is that you really have to take your car to Nürburgring to prove it to the world today."
That’s why the ATS ad copy reads “Tested and perfected at the Nürburgring”.
It’s not just the company execs, but the dealers, too. "Oh, yes, people care", says Texas dealer Ben Keating who sells a number of brands but likes to introduce himself as “a Viper dealer” who also fields his own racing team. "The Nürburgring name matters a lot to some people. It matters to me," he told the publication.
Chrysler's SRT CEO Ralph Gilles with the old Viper out of production and the third-generation one not ready yet, phoned Keating last summer.
"We previously held the lap record", Gilles told Autonews. "We held the record for two years and then Corvette came along and beat us, and then Porsche beat us, and then the Lexus LFA beat us. So it was really annoying me."
Keating agreed to ship a new 2010 Viper to Germany, on the condition that he came along. The (then Dodge-branded) Viper recorded a 7’12’’1 time.
With his mission accomplished, Gilles made sure he spread the message to car clubs around the US. The implication was clear: if the 2003-designed car could accomplish that, imagine what the brand-new, 2013 model would do.
The question is whether any of this matters to you as a car buyer, or if it’s just a marketing tool employed by carmakers. Does anyone care about a lap time some professional test driver has posted in a place thousand miles away that you will most likely never visit anyway?
"The average American is not a sports car buyer", concedes Keating. On the other hand, he says, "sports car buyers are different. And they do know the word. When you're talking about sports cars, Nürburgring has become the common world yardstick to measure ourselves."
13 Comments:
Of course, you see, those luxury brands that produces fast cars are pretty much like those flashy male porn stars. Of course, you want everyone to know how long your dicks are and how fast you can get some girls to come or how many girls you can fuck in one night. In the end it all comes down to male ego.
I stick to Captain Slows prejudices.
If a car is developed on the Nurburgring, It isn't practical as a daily driver. (paraphrased)
Therefore, my conclusion is I will never buy a car advertised as a sports coupe or sports sedan with a map of the track on the car.
How ever for R spec cars, yeah thats fine. Cars with 1 seat, a long sequential gear box shifter, and requires a helmet to drive and a trailer to take on public roads.
Well, as the Clarkson said, the track isn't really make for a true test of balance. It mainly focus on speed. As you will note that the top gear track is actually one of the toughest track that any car can take on. The Ring is more like a continuing roller coster.
the ring isnt completely useless but i dont see why car manufacturers cant replicate the uphill turns and downhill turns, hairpins and long straight of the track, its not much different to the average tracks apart from the fact that the road is bumpy and narrow,
although the gap for the lap times of each cars are bigger, you dont need such a massive track to prove how fast a car is
How about the fastest hot hatch around there, the Megane RS? Not only is it one of the best drivers cars ever made but also dubs as 2-person family car with a cave of a boot and is as competent a daily driver as anything this side of a Golf. Which means it's practical.
Also, please consider that TG is an entertainment show rather than a factual one and it's not very often that they give actual information and advice. Almost every shitty van and every old man's sedan from Europe more or less HAS to undergo Nurburgring testing at some stage if the manufacturer isn't VW and hasn't got the biggest private test track in the World. I agree that if the car is advertised as developed there as a measure of sporting potential, it's probably very focused on track times and is likely to offer a jiggly ride which is not everyone's cup of tea. But there are exceptions!
The problem with Nurburgring times is it's too much down to the driver and the conditions.
10 or 20% change in humidity or 5-10F change can alter even short (2-3 mile) lap times by over a second. A great driver over a good driver can also extract another half to a full second out of the car.
A short track is a much better gauge for car performance. Nurburgring has too many variables.
certainly all luxury cars are designed for peaceful and safe travel many advertising companies starts campaign through transport.For this purpose different products are displayed through attracting colors. Different products and graphics attracts the people. Finally they show keen interest in that. I have read it carefully and i like it and i also agree with your opinion thanks.
When did Capt Slow start writing for CarScoop?
/kidding
Unfortunately I live in this crap hole call the US of A. We dont get a long list of cars you guys in Europe have. Not a single french car, no Lupo, no Panda (unless you consider the 500L as a Panda but we wont even have the 500L until next year i think) and when ever theres a new standard in minimum MPG, all of the auto makers drag their feet and make it the bare minimum.
The Lupo get 74 mpg (which is 63 mpg in the US) which is still higher than the 55 mpg requirement by 2015. They have this technology developed but refuse to bring it over to the US. I dont care if its a 3 cylinder diesel, Id probably get it.
GM is doing something right for once though. Theyre giving the Cruze (which doesnt come in hatch back or wagon in the US) a 2.0L 4cyl diesel for 2013.
Way off topic here. Anyway. The Ring of Nurburg. Yeah a little testing is ok. But when an auto maker obsesses over it, like for the Golf R edition, Ill probably just go with a normal Golf that looks sporty instead.
No!
I don't find it unfortunate that you live in the USA, I have no idea who you are. If you are unhappy, move. What is holding you from relocating, are you dependant on someone? You sound bitter. Move where you can get the cars you like.
i.e. The "Top Gear Track" in which the mclaren smoked the lambo and the Bugatti
I understand what you're getting at with the lack of choice with cars in the USA but if you think it's a crap hole well.... unlike some other countries in the world, you're always welcome to leave and move to a place with a better choice of cars.
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