Topic: C & D Lightning Lap for the New Year

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Car and Driver have done another round of hot laps.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/10q4/lightning_lap_2011-feature

LL1 Less than $30k

Subaru Impreza WRX 3:16.5
Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec 3:13.8
Ford Mustang V6 Performance Pack 3:12.5

LL2 $30k to $59999

Mazda Rx-8 R3 3:16.7
Subaru Impreza WRX STi 3:13.8
Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X SE 3:10.6
Mustang GT 3:08.6
Lexus ISF 3:05.4
Shelby GT500 3:04.0

LL3 $60k to $119999

Jaguar XFR 3:08.9
Lotus Evora 3:08.3
MB E63 AMG 3:06.9
Cadillac CTS-V Coupe 3:04.2
Porsche Boxter Spyder 3:03.8
Corvette Z06 2:53.5

LL4 $120k to $239999

MB SLS AMG 2:58.0
Porsche 911 Turbo S 2:57.5
Porsche 911 GT3 RS 2:55.9

LL5 Over $240k

Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 SuperLeggera 2:51.8
Mosler Photon 2:49.8

An interesting note they made was that the Mustang V6 would have had much lower lap times if it hadn't been hitting its 114mph speed limiter for 15 seconds a lap!

[quadzilla]

WOW, look at the time for the Vette.

Corvette Z06 2:53.5

[Dante]

Evo keeps beating the STi over and over again.... 

The Mustangs are impressive too. Lots of people bash the ancient rear axle but at the end of the day, the Mustangs win on the track every time.

The Vette time is outstanding winning the LL4 group as well; too bad some will complain it has cheap interior.

[Mitlov]

Clearly, Mustang is now the king of cheap speed.

No surprise for me with the WRX and STI.  I've never thought of a Scoobie as the best choice for a dry, paved racecourse.  Change either of those two adjectives, and they stack up very very well.  But if the course is dry and paved, they're not going to be the fastest.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Terrible for the WRX. A combo of poor stock tires and a compromised suspension setup.......


.....makes me want to go out and buy sways. 


As always, it's amazing what the Z06 can do when put up against the best in the world 

Jeeze, 4 seconds a lap slower than the speed limited secretary's special Mustang! 

[rrocket]

As I mentioned in another thread, the improvements to the IS-Fs suspension is stunning.  They listened to everybody who griped about it, and the changes result in an 8 second per lap improvement.  That's just a huge, huge improvement.  Especially considering it equals the M3 time now despite outweighing the M3.


Also, why were some cars re-tested (Z06) and others that were significantly improved (GT-R) not tested?  Availability?

[Dante]

Yeah, I wondered why they didn't have the GT-R on this test, as well as the Ms and RS, Camaro and Challenger.

[Dante]

No surprise for me with the WRX and STI.  I've never thought of a Scoobie as the best choice for a dry, paved racecourse.  Change either of those two adjectives, and they stack up very very well.  But if the course is dry and paved, they're not going to be the fastest.

I'd still bet my money on the Evo. Evo's powertrain, AWD and chassis is where Mitsu shows its engineering power. The Scoob is good no doubt about it, but I think Evo has the edge.

[wing]

Considering the lack of power in the boxster it did well.

[dougjp]

Go Mustang !
It eould be very interesting to know what the lap time would be without the limiter on the V6.

Alas, I don't see the Performance Pack available on the V6 Mustang in Canada 

[toolatecrew]

Why can't Chevy just put some decent seats in the Vette? The Media has been complaining for years, the car isn't cheap so how much to the sticker could new seats really add? That's some serious performance for the $.

I would love to see a test of the v6 Mustang with the limiter disabled. It might be a bit scary for Ford though if the V6 comes too close to the v8. They mention it did beat the last generation v8 even WITH the limiter. That is truly impressive bang for the $.

[Ex-airbalancer]

Which car does not have a limiter ?
It would interesting to know what the high limit is on each car

[rrocket]

Why can't Chevy just put some decent seats in the Vette? The Media has been complaining for years, the car isn't cheap so how much to the sticker could new seats really add? That's some serious performance for the $.

That's some of the famous "old GM" showing there.  They were never one to listen to the media or their customers for that matter.  I remember when the C6 was released and GM said the interior was finally world class.  Too funny...

[tpl]

Which car does not have a limiter ?
It would interesting to know what the high limit is on each car

Many cars are limited to 130 MPH, the HR tire limit in NA.  Even my 330 which came with VR tires did although the 330 coupe of the same year and BHP was not limited.

[Bubba]

It's not available unfortunately.
Over on one of the Stang forums they recommend buying the better axle ratio (3.31?) And then buying @$1300 in suspension parts which will do just fine.

So, there is an optional axle ratio available for V6 in Canada?  I haven't be able to find it on ford.ca.

[rrocket]

It's not available unfortunately.
Over on one of the Stang forums they recommend buying the better axle ratio (3.31?) And then buying @$1300 in suspension parts which will do just fine.

So, there is an optional axle ratio available for V6 in Canada?  I haven't be able to find it on ford.ca.

Is this still the same Ford 8.8 gears?  I likely have a couple of sets in my garage...likely 3.27, 3.55 or 3.73.  If it's still the same old 8.8, just about any shop in the world could swap out the gears..cheap too.

[TopGun]

Considering the lack of power in the boxster it did well.

They commented the track was a power and brakes track...so yes, I would agree that the Boxster placed well.

Why can't Chevy just put some decent seats in the Vette? The Media has been complaining for years, the car isn't cheap so how much to the sticker could new seats really add? That's some serious performance for the $.
.....

Maybe so the media won't complaining (as much) about the interior in that race car for the street Vette?  I didn't read any of the "twitchiness" comments that you read about in other tests.