Tag Archives: Nurburgring Nordschleife

News

The Slowest Lap in Nürburgring History Belongs to an 8-HP Ligier JS50

Automakers love to flex Nürburgring lap times like they’re Olympic medals. Faster is always better, bragging rights are eternal, and tenths of a second matter. But Ligier, a French brand best known these days for quadricycles and once upon a time for Formula 1, decided to ask a far more important question: what happens if you aim for the slowest lap instead?

Enter the Ligier JS50, a diesel-powered quadricycle that exists in the same philosophical space as the Citroën Ami—that is, transportation reduced to its bare minimum. In its most potent configuration, the JS50 makes a fearsome eight horsepower and tops out at 28 mph, assuming gravity, wind resistance, and mild ridicule are all on its side.

French automotive journalists Nicolas Meunier and Martin Coulomb took this heroic underdog to the Nürburgring for an official, timed lap of the full 12.9-mile Nordschleife. Against all odds—and several long straights—the JS50 completed the circuit in 28 minutes and 25.8 seconds. Congratulations are in order: that is now the slowest officially recorded Nürburgring lap in history.

In doing so, the JS50 dethroned a legend. The previous holder of this dubious honor was the East German Trabant P50, which lumbered around the Ring in 16 minutes and 1 second back in 1960. Perspective matters here. The current Nürburgring benchmark, set by the Mercedes-AMG One, is 6 minutes and 29.1 seconds—less than a quarter of the time it took the Ligier, and roughly how long the JS50 spent accelerating onto a straight.

Ligier, fully leaning into the joke, claimed the lap time “hinted at its glorious history in Formula 1,” according to Autocar. And honestly? Fair enough. It takes real confidence to show up to the world’s most intimidating racetrack with eight horsepower and a dream.

The bigger challenge, however, wasn’t speed—or the lack thereof—but fuel range. Meunier and Coulomb set out to complete the entire lap on a single tank of diesel. Mission accomplished. The JS50 averaged a remarkable 94.1 mpg, proving that while it may be slow, it’s spectacularly efficient at being slow.

For the occasion, the quadricycle was fitted with what Ligier calls its “ultimate racing experience” package. This includes horsepower-boosting decals (science is still debating how) and a go-faster body kit that mostly tells the world you’re in on the joke. Amazingly, Ligier is reportedly considering offering this package to customers following the successful Nürburgring run.

And honestly? We hope they do. In a world obsessed with speed records, there’s something refreshing about a car that shows up, takes its time, sips fuel, and leaves with a trophy nobody else was brave—or patient—enough to chase.

Source: Autocar

NEW CARS

2027 BMW X5 Caught Howling at the Nürburgring

The BMW X5 has always been the sensible SUV that somehow manages to wear its gym shorts under a three-piece suit. But now, the 2027 G65-generation X5 has been caught storming the Nürburgring, and if the spy footage is anything to go by, Munich isn’t planning to slow things down.

Camouflaged like a German trying to sunbathe incognito in Majorca, the test mule doesn’t reveal much in terms of styling—but it’s what’s hiding under the bonnet (and behind those quad tailpipes) that’s got us grinning like a M4 driver who’s just discovered an empty autobahn.

At the 0:39 mark, you hear it. That unmistakable B58 inline-six howl—raspier than a smoker’s cough after Oktoberfest—suggesting this could be a spicier performance trim. BMW’s already rumored to be cooking up multiple fast X5s, so this prototype could be a sneak peek at one of them. Or maybe the engineers simply fitted an exhaust so loud it could rattle the Weißwurst off a Bavarian breakfast table. Either way, it sounds delicious.

Fast forward to 2:33, and things really get interesting. The same prototype family barrels past the lens with quad pipes and a soundtrack that only a twin-turbo V8 can produce. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, the mighty V8 lives on. And it sounds angry—like it’s been told the electric iX gets more marketing budget.

Visually, you’ll need to squint hard. The bumper design seems tweaked, the rear spoiler maybe a fraction different—but it could all be camouflage trickery. What we do know is that both these test mules are PHEVs, as proven by the charging flap on the flank. But if this is what hybridisation sounds like, sign us up.

Remember, the X5 isn’t just any BMW—it’s the best-seller, the family golden child. So the G65 has a big job ahead of it: replace the G05 and eventually stand shoulder to shoulder with the all-electric iX. Production kicks off in Q3 2026, which gives BMW just enough time to finish torturing these SUVs around the ’Ring before handing us the keys.

Until then, watch the footage, turn the volume up, and enjoy the sound of Bavaria reminding the world that hybrids don’t have to be boring.

Source: BMW; Photos: CarSpyMedia

News

ZR1X Becomes Fastest American Car at Nürburgring

In a historic and unprecedented display of performance and engineering prowess, Chevrolet has etched its name into Nürburgring lore with a bold three-car assault on the infamous 12.9-mile Nordschleife circuit. For the first time ever, an automaker fielded three distinct models—Corvette Z06, ZR1, and the electrified ZR1X—piloted by three of its own engineers, each setting individual lap times during a single visit. The outcome? A record-breaking moment for American performance and a new high-water mark for the Corvette legacy.

Leading the charge was the jaw-dropping Corvette ZR1X, a hybridized, all-wheel-drive supercar delivering a monstrous 1,267 horsepower and 1,292 Nm of torque from a 5.5-liter twin-turbo V8 paired with an electric motor. With GM vehicle dynamics engineer Drew Cattell behind the wheel, the ZR1X clocked an astonishing 6:49.275, making it the fastest lap ever recorded at the Nürburgring by a non-professional driver in an American car. The ZR1X shattered the previous American record held by the Ford Mustang GTD (6:52.1), and now ranks fifth overall in Nürburgring history—just behind titans like the Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series and Porsche 911 GT2 RS.

Not far behind was the conventional Corvette ZR1, producing 1,064 hp. GM engineer Brian Wallace laid down a blistering 6:50.763 lap, just 1.5 seconds behind the ZR1X. And the naturally aspirated Corvette Z06, boasting the most powerful N/A V8 ever in a production car (670 hp), completed the circuit in 7:11.826, driven by performance manager Aaron Link.

All three vehicles were U.S. production-spec cars, modified solely for safety with a roll hoop, racing seat, fire suppression system, and six-point harness. Since the ZR1 and ZR1X are not certified for sale in Europe, and the Z06 used was a North American variant, all laps fall under the Prototype/Pre-Production category.

GM President Mark Reuss hailed the achievement as a turning point:

“No auto manufacturer has done a Nürburgring lap attempt like this before. From development through production, and now at the Nürburgring Nordschleife—the Green Hell—we have clearly shown there is no limit to what our GM engineers and vehicles can accomplish. These are the best Corvettes in history, period.”

The full story of this bold endeavor is captured in the upcoming documentary Homegrown Speed: A Corvette Story, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the technical and emotional journey from GM’s Milford Proving Ground in Michigan to the forests of Germany.

With their Nürburgring times, Chevrolet’s latest Corvettes not only redefine American performance, but they also signal that GM is ready to challenge the world’s elite—on their own turf.

Source: Chevrolet