Mercedes Has Claimed A Niche Nurburgring Lap Record
Mercedes has slung the new four-door AMG GT around the Nordschleife in what it says is record time. In ‘63 S 4Matic+’ trim the new horizon-Hoover has gobbled-up the iconic German testing facility in just 7m25.41s.
That, says Mercedes, makes it the new holder of the ‘fastest four-seater’ record, which, with the best will in the world, seems a bit niche. Apparently it is a thing, though, with former holders being the Porsche Panamera Turbo (7m40s) and the Alfa Romeo Giulia QV (7m32s).
Phrasing it as the ‘four-seater record’ is, we think, an attempt to circumvent Jaguar’s Project 8, which in stripped-out, roll-caged fettle recorded a 7m21s time last year. The car that set the time had no rear seats.
For Mercedes to get within four seconds of the Project 8 with a full production-spec car is pretty impressive, but these records might be getting a little specific (and numerous) for us.
Comments
Now, my next question is, Which car will beat this one next?
Next M5?
A DTM car with 3 plastic lawn chairs in the back
How do you define a “four-seater” though? A Nissan GT-R or Porsche 911 Turbo S has four seats, although the rear ones are very small. Or the GTC4Lusso?
Those are two + two. A four seater should have four doors.
Someone should just make a maximum of 10 Categories and make it officlal
Mercedes be like: “Hey, this black four-door Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4Matic+ just set a world record for being the fastest black Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4Matic+ around the Nordschleife! (So, buy it!)”
Seems like every company today is creating a world record of it’s own…
Can FIA or another regulator body can put a stop in this? Lamborghini faked a record once, numerous manufacturers modify their cars to the run just to plaster “Fastest on Nurburgring” on the marketing, and now this with the own manufacturer “creating” a category…
Somebody has to create rules, categories and who can inspect the cars so everyone has to follow the same benchmark, not create your own just to sake of marketing and headlines…
The 4 seater category has been around for a while for top speed records, so why wouldn’t it be allowed to exist for laptimes too
Why do people still call it the “four door” when its been announced its the GT63?