Official 2013 GT500 662hp Ford Press Release
#281
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (6)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
On a completely different note regarding testing and tracks.
All the costs associated with testing a car on the 'Ring or any other track, etc for that matter, get passed on back to the consumer. Basically, whoever buys the car ends up paying all the extra cost to take it the 'Ring in a sense.
Can be viewed both ways - you get a car with extensive handling testing R&D, but it costs more money in the end. Just another way to look at it.
Of course there are many other factors involved in vehicle MSRP, like current market prices, comparable model pricing, etc.
All the costs associated with testing a car on the 'Ring or any other track, etc for that matter, get passed on back to the consumer. Basically, whoever buys the car ends up paying all the extra cost to take it the 'Ring in a sense.
Can be viewed both ways - you get a car with extensive handling testing R&D, but it costs more money in the end. Just another way to look at it.
Of course there are many other factors involved in vehicle MSRP, like current market prices, comparable model pricing, etc.
#286
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
And this is the same car as in the video above my post.
#290
#292
#295
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
THEY take their cars? Okay... Who is "they" anyway? The fastest ROAD LEGAL car known to cover the ring is the Viper ACR and it doesn't seem that Dodge took it. 6 of the top 10 fastest laps known to be posted were done by cars NOT even road legal at all. It's a RACE track, not a test track. Well, 5 if you include the GT2RS, but no video was ever presented about that one, which probably did run the time(using an actual race car driver, no doubt). None of the top 4 are actually legal to drive on say, American highways.
You're talking as if it is simply commonplace for all manufacturers to take their cars to the ring, but that's not even close to the reality. Lexus took one, the "ring" version, which had a roll cage, and it held the record anyway, for almost 2 weeks till the Viper bit... The ZR1 is way up there, and it was driving, like the Viper, in a condition which a customer could purchase the car new. The ZO6 has run the ring, as has the GT-R, the Maserati MC12, Pagani Zonda, Ferrari Enzo and several Porshe models, not to mention several Mercedes Benz and BMW vehicles.
Most of the cars run on the ring are from the area... Makes sense, eh? I asked before, how many times had you heard of any pony car having been taken there prior to the last few years? How often previous to the last 3yrs can you recall any American car having been there? If it is as you're saying, I'm sure we'll see a very long list. If it is as I recall, we'll see no real list. The reality is, the Nurburgring is not generally part of "their ways" and so, we have no reason to accept it as if it is.
As for "best handling" cars going there, I don't think the Scion FR-S has been there, but we're all hearing about how wonderfully that thing handles... Haven't heard much about any MX-5 being shown off on the ring... It sure does handle well, however. The Ford Focus handles great, but who took it to the ring? The only ones we may ever hear of from the Focus camp will say "RS" "ST" or "FR" somewhere on 'em and most of those aren't built or sold in America(yet, anyway).
My biggest point is simply that most American production cars aren't tested on the ring and those few cars being taken there as of late are taken for only 2 reasons... attention and bragging rights. It's a TREMENDOUS waste of money to take a car over there for bragging rights. Our test sites in America can accomplish the same tests, but don't garner the attention and that's really what it's all about. Look how it keeps us talking...
You're talking as if it is simply commonplace for all manufacturers to take their cars to the ring, but that's not even close to the reality. Lexus took one, the "ring" version, which had a roll cage, and it held the record anyway, for almost 2 weeks till the Viper bit... The ZR1 is way up there, and it was driving, like the Viper, in a condition which a customer could purchase the car new. The ZO6 has run the ring, as has the GT-R, the Maserati MC12, Pagani Zonda, Ferrari Enzo and several Porshe models, not to mention several Mercedes Benz and BMW vehicles.
Most of the cars run on the ring are from the area... Makes sense, eh? I asked before, how many times had you heard of any pony car having been taken there prior to the last few years? How often previous to the last 3yrs can you recall any American car having been there? If it is as you're saying, I'm sure we'll see a very long list. If it is as I recall, we'll see no real list. The reality is, the Nurburgring is not generally part of "their ways" and so, we have no reason to accept it as if it is.
As for "best handling" cars going there, I don't think the Scion FR-S has been there, but we're all hearing about how wonderfully that thing handles... Haven't heard much about any MX-5 being shown off on the ring... It sure does handle well, however. The Ford Focus handles great, but who took it to the ring? The only ones we may ever hear of from the Focus camp will say "RS" "ST" or "FR" somewhere on 'em and most of those aren't built or sold in America(yet, anyway).
My biggest point is simply that most American production cars aren't tested on the ring and those few cars being taken there as of late are taken for only 2 reasons... attention and bragging rights. It's a TREMENDOUS waste of money to take a car over there for bragging rights. Our test sites in America can accomplish the same tests, but don't garner the attention and that's really what it's all about. Look how it keeps us talking...
![The Judge](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_judge.gif)
#297
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
![The Jester](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_jest.gif)
What, pray tell, will this MONSTER do on a cool day with a nicely prepped track at ATCO or MIR??? It's gonna turn more than a couple heads, that's for sure. BEAST!
![The Judge](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_judge.gif)
#298
![Lightbulb](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon3.gif)
![Happy](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_stretch.gif)
![Winky](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_wink.gif)
Bone stock ZR1s have trapped as high as 132+mph (135+mph on a drag radial) of course.
![Icon Eek](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies2/icon_eek.gif)
On a tire I don't know, but I am starting to rethink my predictions a bit lower, this car on drag radials/slicks might actually match a stock C6 Z06 on drag radials (with a best of 10.71@130+mph so far).
Needless to say, I am VERY impressed with this new GT500.
#299
#300
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 1,677
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes
on
6 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Except the ZR1 will put down a low 10 sec pass stock with DR tires anywhere from 132-135mph. Guess we need to wait & see what else the GT500 got to show us with a good set of tires. Since I haven't heard of any running with stickies?