2010 C&D Lightning Lap

[Xer0]

LL1 ? Less than $30,000
?   Subaru Impreza WRX              3:16.5
?   Hyundai Genesis 3.8 R-Spec          3:13.8
?   Ford Mustang V-6              3:12.5
LL2 - $30,000 - $59,999
?   Mazda RX-8 R3              3:16.7
?   Subaru Impreza WRX STI          3:13.8
?   Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution SE           3:10.6
?   Ford Mustang GT              3:08.6
?   Lexus IS F                3:05.4
?   Ford Mustang GT500              3:04.0
LL3 - $60,000 - $119,999
?   Jaguar XFR                 3:08.9
?   Lotus Evora                 3:08.3
?   Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG           3:06.9
?   Cadillac CTS-V Coupe             3:04.2
?   Porsche Boxster Spyder              3:03.8
?   Chevrolet Corvette Z06              2:53.5
LL4 - $120,000 - $239,999
?   Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG          2:58.0
?   Porsche 911 Turbo S              2:57.5
?   Porsche 911 GT3 RS              2:55.9
LL5 ? More than $240,000
?   Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera     2:51.8
?   Molser Photon                 2:49.8


The trio of Mustangs have a great showing with the hero easily being the V-6; beating last year?s GT while constantly bumping into that pesky speed limiter is impressive.  The WRX, however, ends up as a loser with this year?s update barely making any difference at the track.  The Lexus also shows a huge improvement (9 seconds!) from its previous outing and the Corvette continues to impress. 

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

[MX793]

Wasn't the update to the WRX primarily just bodywork?  Not surprising that there wasn't really any improvement.

And the 115 mph governor on the Mustang

[Xer0]

Wasn't the update to the WRX primarily just bodywork?  Not surprising that there wasn't really any improvement.

And the 115 mph governor on the Mustang

You're right, for some reason I thought the power upgrade was this year when it was actually last 

[sportyaccordy]

Favorite car was the GT3

I'm hoping next year they can get their hands on the
- Cayman R
- Evora S
- 458 Italia
- Focus ST
- S4
- TT RS
- New 550i ActiveIntelligentSuperbDrive

There were quite a few surprising omissions from the pack

Looked good though

Mustangs of course blew everything out of the water, and I think Lexus applied some of the chassis tuning it learned from the LF-A (which is strange as Toyota is responsible for the MR-2, Supra, Celica, Corolla Levin/Trueno etc they must have just been out of practice w/the first IS-F)

I'd be curious to see what great cars of yesteryear could do. The E39 M5 is the first car that comes to mind.

[SVT666]

So Cougs claims the CTS-V blows the GT500 away, yet the GT500 was faster?  I have to admit, I actually didn't expect that it would beat the CTS-V.

[MX793]

Also, why did they stick the RX-8 in the LL2 class?  The RX starts at $26K and change.  Sure, the R3 package pushes it north of $30K, but the Track Pack on the Mustang GT they tested last year was only available on the >$30K GT Premium and they put that car in LL1.

[WookieOnRitalin]

I'm really just surprised of how much ass the Mustang managed to kick. Talk about a real bargain of performance and value.

[hotrodalex]

So Cougs claims the CTS-V blows the GT500 away, yet the GT500 was faster?  I have to admit, I actually didn't expect that it would beat the CTS-V.

...by .2 seconds. Basically a tie.

[68_427]

DAT ZO6 SOUND FUUUUCK MAN

[SVT666]

...by .2 seconds. Basically a tie.

and?  Cougs claims the CTS-V Coupe blows it away.  How does a tie mean the CTS-V blows it away.

[Rich]

...by .2 seconds. Basically a tie.

[Xer0]

and?  Cougs claims the CTS-V Coupe blows it away.  How does a tie mean the CTS-V blows it away.

I recall him mentioning that the Camaro SS and Mustang GT are very close (which they are, under a second from each other) but don't remember a CTS-V/GT500 statement.

[SVT666]

I recall him mentioning that the Camaro SS and Mustang GT are very close (which they are, under a second from each other) but don't remember a CTS-V/GT500 statement.

Yeah, pretty much. It is a stunning effort. A 556 hp Cadillac? Who would have ever thought??? Smokes the GT500, too.

[sportyaccordy]

Neither car is worth bragging about track wise. They both get beat by a Boxster w/half the power, and weigh more than my mom's RX300 (my litmus test for 5 passenger car weight, ~3900lb)

[Payman]

The real champ here is the Corvette Z06. 

[mojammer]

A couple of things pleased me:
-The GT3 beat the Turbo S
-The LP570 was only 2 seconds behind the Mosler, despite the huge lbs/hp difference

A couple displeased me:
-IS-F as quick as an M3
-Z06 within 2 seconds of LP570

Overall a very enjoyable article.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

The real champ here is the Corvette Z06. 

[Raza]

Well, well.  A V6 Mustang faster around a track than a WRX.  I never thought I'd see the day. 

[Rich]

Well, well.  A V6 Mustang faster around a track than a WRX.  I never thought I'd see the day. 

faster than an STI!  LOL

[Payman]

Well, well.  A V6 Mustang faster around a track than a WRX.  I never thought I'd see the day.  

The Evo beat it by SIX seconds. Ok... the STi by 3...

[Raza]

faster than an STI!  LOL

Seriously.  All it took was me driving the STI and the Evo back to back for me not to want an STI anymore.

[SVT666]

The real champ here is the Corvette Z06.  

I hate to say it (because I have always said a real Mustang has a V8), but the V6 Stang is the real champ here.  It annihilated the WRX, RX-8 R3, WRX STi, and Genesis 3.8 R-Spec, and beat last year's Stang GT even though it was hitting the governor for 15 seconds of the lap.  It was also only 4 seconds behind this year's Stang GT despite the speed limiter as well.

[Rich]

I wish they'd put VIR in GT5

[Xer0]

Maybe he ment in a straight line 

[Onslaught]

I wish they'd put VIR in GT5

Good God I was so pissed off when it wasn't. I want to learn that rack the best I can before I go out on it sometime soon I hope.


And I've got the slowest car on the list!!!!!!!

[GoCougs]

I think it's really hard to argue against the Mustang.  Great looks, incredible sound, and M3 performance for 50% of M3 money.

Ford Mustang GT              3:08.6
BMW M3 couple               3:05.4

So what's next, comparing the Mustang GT to a Corvette or 911???

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

I hate to say it (because I have always said a real Mustang has a V8), but the V6 Stang is the real champ here.  It annihilated the WRX, RX-8 R3, WRX STi, and Genesis 3.8 R-Spec, and beat last year's Stang GT even though it was hitting the governor for 15 seconds of the lap.  It was also only 4 seconds behind this year's Stang GT despite the speed limiter as well.

But the Z06 outran cars costing 2 to 3 times a smuch. Just like the ZR1 did last year. That can not be said of the Mustang.

[omicron]

That Z06 is astonishing!

[GoCougs]

But the Z06 outran cars costing 2 to 3 times a smuch. Just like the ZR1 did last year. That can not be said of the Mustang.

That Z06 is astonishing!

Wow, I just picked up what the current car finished at in this year's competition. The newly-available magnetic shock system has really improved things, making it a world beater, to put it mildly.

[SVT666]

Ford Mustang GT              3:08.6
BMW M3 couple               3:05.4

So what's next, comparing the Mustang GT to a Corvette or 911???

Motor Trend had a head to head comparo between the Mustang GT and the M3 Coupe Competition.  With the author of the article behind the wheel the Mustang finished half a second ahead of the M3 and with a pro driver behind the wheels,t he M3 beat the Mustang by 0.09 seconds on a lap of Willow Springs.  Same drivers, same day, same conditions.