Nürburgring is arguably the most popular most demanding and also longest track for road-car track-days, magazine tests, prototype testing and race events. For car manufacturers , setting a good time in this circuit is vital because it is a benchmark for all the makers.

The fastest lap times in the Nordschleife are the following:

References:

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BCrburgring

- http://www.fastestlaps.com/track2.html

Mercedes 300 SL:

Watch the next TV adverts to realize to what point they get to:

Audi and the runners up.

Slower, Smaller, Less Fuel Efficient?

What do you want in a car?

Car buyer stereotype.

Do you think that’s original and they should be doing it? Or it is a lack of respect and professionalism and shouldn’t be done?

Do you have any more adverts like those? Post the link on the comments and I will attach them as well.

The following lines describe the Applus IDIADA company , (extracted from FISITA website):

Applus IDIADA, as a global partner to the automotive industry worldwide, supports clients in their product development activities by providing design, engineering, testing and homologation services to fit their needs. Its success in product development is built on the combination of highly experienced and motivated engineers and best-in-class test and development facilities, client focus and the constant drive towards innovation. A large team of engineers drawn from over 25 countries, as well as an international network of subsidiaries and branch offices in 15 countries ensure clients will be given fast and customized services. Applus IDIADA is present in Spain, France, Germany, Italy, UK, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, Poland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, China, Taiwan, India and Brazil.

Testing & Engineering

Applus IDIADA provides an extensive range of engineering and testing services in the fields of passive and active safety, powertrain, comfort, reliability, electronics and materials and processes. Applus IDIADA undertakes complete vehicle development projects applying tailor-made project management solutions based on the requirements of each project. Applus IDIADA’s expertise in both physical and virtual testing means maximum efficiency in cost and time. Its engineering solutions are driven by the ongoing pursuit of excellence and research in the best technology.

Proving ground

Applus IDIADA offers the most comprehensive independent proving ground in Europe and the highest level of customer support combined with first-class test tracks and fully-equipped confidential workshops. Excellent climatic conditions allow for year-round testing.

The allocation of a dedicated customer service representative for each testing team ensures that the testing program runs smoothly and that objectives are achieved on time and within budget.

Homologation

Applus IDIADA has a large team of engineers specializing in the homologation of all types of vehicles and systems, ready to travel worldwide in response to clients’ needs. Its broad experience in homologation management ensures maximum efficiency and short lead times. Applus IDIADA issues official certificates according to EC Directives and ECE Regulations within Europe, and is recognised internationally as an authorised technical service and consultant in regulations. Its fields of competence in the homologation sector include passenger cars & components, commercial vehicles and motorcycles & helmets.

References:

-          http://www.fisita.com/about/honorary?id=20

-          Automotive Testing Technology International, March 2010 issue.

-          http://www.automotivetestingtechnologyinternational.com/latest_issue.php

2005 TED Prize winner Edward Burtynsky has made it his life’s work to document humanity’s impact on the planet. His riveting photographs, as beautiful as they are horrifying, capture views of the Earth altered by mankind.

In stunning large-format photographs, Edward Burtynsky follows the path of oil through modern society, from wellhead to pipeline to car engine — and then beyond to the projected peak-oil endgame. Watch the following video to see some of the images:

This video can be found in this link.

Following text extracted from TED website:

Why you should listen to him:

To describe Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky’s work in a single adjective, you have to speak French: jolie-laide. His images of scarred landscapes — from mountains of tires to rivers of bright orange waste from a nickel mine — are eerily pretty yet ugly at the same time. Burtynsky’s large-format color photographs explore the impact of humanity’s expanding footprint and the substantial ways in which we’re reshaping the surface of the planet. His images powerfully alter the way we think about the world and our place in it.

With his blessing and encouragement, WorldChanging.com and others use his work to inspire ongoing global conversations about sustainable living. Burtynsky’s photographs are included in the collections of many major museums, including Bibliotèque Nationale in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. A large-format book, 2003′s Manufactured Landscapes, collected his work, and in 2007, a documentary based on his photography, also called Manufactured Landscapes, debuted at the Toronto Film Festival before going on to screen at Sundance and elsewhere. It was released on DVD in March 2007.

When Burtynsky accepted his 2005 TED Prize, he made three wishes. One of his wishes: to build a website that will help kids think about going green. Thanks to WGBH and the TED community, the new site, Meet the Greens, debuted at TED2007. His second wish: to begin work on an Imax film — and this work is now ongoing. And his third wish, wider in scope, was simply to encourage “a massive and productive worldwide conversation about sustainable living.” Thanks to his help and the input of the TED community, the site WorldChanging.com got an infusion of energy that has helped it to grow into a leading voice in the sustainability community.

The Nürburgring is a motorsport complex around the village of Nürburg, Germany. It features a modern Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a much longer old North loop track which was built in the 1920s around the village and medieval castle of Nürburg in the Eifel mountains. It is located about 70 kilometres (43 mi) south of Cologne, and 120 kilometres (75 mi) northwest of Frankfurt. The old track was nicknamed The Green Hell by Jackie Stewart and is widely considered the toughest, most dangerous and most demanding purpose-built racing circuit in the world. Originally, the track featured four track configurations: the 28.265 kilometres (17.563 miles) long Gesamtstrecke  (“Whole Course”), which in turn consisted of the 22.810 km (14.173 mi) Nordschleife (“Northern Loop”), and the 7.747 km (4.814 mi) Südschleife  (“Southern Loop”). There also was a 2.281 km (1.417 mi) warm-up loop called Zielschleife  (“Finish Loop”) or better known as Betonschleife, around the pit area.  Between 1982 and 1983 the start-finish area was demolished to create a new GP-Strecke, and this is currently used for all major and international racing events. However, the shortened Nordschleife is still in use, for racing, testing and public access.

Nürburgring is arguably the most popular most demanding and also longest track for road-car track-days, magazine tests, prototype testing and race events. For car manufacturers , setting a good time in this circuit is vital because it is a benchmark for all the makers.

The fastest lap times in the Nordschleife are the following:

References:

- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N%C3%BCrburgring

- http://www.fastestlaps.com/track2.html

The SLS AMG is a two-seater supercar which main competitors are the Porsche 911 Turbo and Audi R8 V10. However, the SLS in front mid-engined and rear-wheel-drive.  Laps Nürburgring in 7 minutes and 40 seconds, which is quite a fast time.

AMG developed the whole SLS from scratch in a 37 month development programme. The only parts carried over from other AMGs are the front brake disc (from SL65) and the optional ceramic brake setup (from the E63).

Mercedes designed the all-aluminium chassis. The spaceframe is fabricated almost entirely by hand and weights 241kg. It is composed by 146 extruded sections, 16 castings, and 197 sheet aluminium parts. All this parts are joined by bonding, riveting, bolting and welding.  4% of the chassis is made out of steel.  The SLS’s chassis dynamics were fully developed using simulation. Then they took three different prototype set-ups to the Nürburgring for testing. AMG rejected making the chassis of carbon-fibre because this would have meant making a collectors car. What they wanted is to see the car in the roads.

In terms of suspension AMG wanted to make a very pure sports vehicle so they decided to go for a passive suspension. However, all its competitors have active suspension. So we may see an active suspension version coming soon… Lots of effort was put to reduce the vehicle’s unsprung mass.

A naturally aspirated V8 mounted behind the front axle powers the SLS. It is based on the engine used in the E63 sedan. The capacity of the engine is of 6,308cc. The main changes made to the heart of the car are a new exhaust system and going to a dry sump. The engine weights 205kg. New forged pistons reduce the weight in 62.5g, the crankcase is 4kg lighter, the usage of aluminium bolts saves 600g also. The intake manifold is made of magnesium. Aids like brake energy regeneration help reduce the fuel consumption.  The dry sump uses a 5 litre tank with conjunction of a 700litres/minute pump, the system is filled with 13.5litres of oil which is refrigerated by two heat exchangers in the front wheel arches, each one with a blower fan.

The engine is linked with the transaxle through a 1.64m, 25kg of weight, sand cast aluminium torque tube which, at the same time, helps transfer crash energy away from the cabin. Inside the torque tube a carbon-fibre driveshaft (only weights 4.7kg) transmits the power to the transaxle. The transaxle comprises a Getrag seven speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) and a limited slip differential.

The SLS comes equipped in either Michelin Pilot Sport 3 or Continental Sport Contact 5P tires. Runflat tires were rejected on comfort grounds. The aluminium wheels are supplied by Alcoa, the 19-inch front wheels weight 9.6kg, the 20-inch rear wheels weight 10.2kg. They house cast-iron Brembo brakes as standard. They can be upgraded to ceramics (402mm x 39mm front, 360mm x 32mm rear) made by SGL Carbon.

The SLS can generate up to 1.2g lateral acceleration (one of the reasons to adopting a dry sump). Hand-build engine. Front mid-engined, gear box at the rear. Weight distribution 47:53

More than 40 prototype vehicles have been on test around the world since summer 2008. In total these cars have clocked more than 1.25 million kilometres both on proving grounds and an public roads. AMG is currently developing an electric version

More information can be found in the following chart.

References:

http://www.mercedes-amg.com/

http://www.sls-amg-special.com/com/en

Vehicle Dynamics International magazine. January 2010.

Automotive Engineer magazine. November/December 2009.