New Carrera S - Nurburgerring in 8.50 Min

[Marrelius]

With double clutch, 1450 kg (fully fuelled) and 385 hp in Min 7.50 = 15!seconds! faster than the R8. And not driven by former racer Walter Rohrl, but by HvSaurma of magazine SportAuto..

[wedouglas]

You mean 7.50?

[Marrelius]

Right. Thanks!

[wedouglas]

I just did a google. Apparently it used 'sport tyres' or semi-slicks. Curious as to what kind, as that time shaves a lot off.

[Marrelius]

R8 also used sport tyres, ceramic brakes etc.

[wedouglas]

Wow. That new transmission shaved 8 seconds off the time.

Three versions of the 911 were timed and interestingly it was the Carrera S fitted with Porsche's new twin-clutch automated manual Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK) that got went around quickest. The car was also understood to have PASM (Porsche Active Suspension Management) Sport, and ‘sports tyres’ and recorded a 7:50 lap time.

Porsche says the PDK shifts 60 percent faster than the former Tiptronic S automatic. Next up was a 2009 Porsche 911 Carrera S (understood to have a manual transmission) turning a 7:58 lap time.

Four seconds slower was a current 911 Carrera S (presumably equipped comparably to the 2009 manual car), which stopped the clock at 8:02.

[James Knight]

Snorrrrrrrrrrrrr

Ring times are a marketing exercise these days. If you believe they are comparable, or indeed reliable, then your are a fool. Even the celebrated Sport Auto times.

It's becoming very very very tiresome

[franki68]

Wow. That new transmission shaved 8 seconds off the time.

new more powerful engine as well,plus revised suspension..a lot of changes in fact.

[James Knight]

In as much as there is anything usch as a definitive Ring lap, has there even been a definitive lap for the R8? Was the Sport Auto lap comparable - was it a proper test, what were the conditions, how many laps did the driver do etc.

Also remember that no car has done as many laps of the Ring as the 911. The setup and testing data will be exhaustive. That can shave 10's of seconds off an 8 minute lap.

I'm sure the new 997 is the best 911 yet in most respects, and that the PDK gearbox is the best of its kind, but they don't grab me. 911's have always felt unnatural rather than interesting to me, and I like to change my own gears. It's all about interacting with the car.

The R8 was not designed as a track monster. It's a car for all seasons, and immensly capable.

[ky_soldier]

In as much as there is anything usch as a definitive Ring lap, has there even been a definitive lap for the R8? Was the Sport Auto lap comparable - was it a proper test, what were the conditions, how many laps did the driver do etc.

Also remember that no car has done as many laps of the Ring as the 911. The setup and testing data will be exhaustive. That can shave 10's of seconds off an 8 minute lap.

I'm sure the new 997 is the best 911 yet in most respects, and that the PDK gearbox is the best of its kind, but they don't grab me. 911's have always felt unnatural rather than interesting to me, and I like to change my own gears. It's all about interacting with the car.

The R8 was not designed as a track monster. It's a car for all seasons, and immensly capable.

couldn't have said it better. There are always threads comparing the R8 to the 911, M6, etc, and none of those cars are selling for the premium that the R8 sells for. It is MORE than just pure performance, it is driver involvement, and the amazing balance of beauty, comfort, design, value AND performance