What the hell? Results from new C&D VIR test!
 

Just got my new Car & Driver today. Annual Lightning Lap issue. They tested 17 cars at VIR. Top cars weren't unexpected. Mosler, Viper, GT-r, etc.

The rest of the field in the 3:13 to 3:20 time range is what is interesting. Try to guess the top car in this field...

BMW 135i
Lexus is-F
S2000-CR
Lotus Elise SC
Audi S5
Infiniti G37
Challenger SRT-8
WRX-STI
EVO MR
VW R32
Chevy Cobalt SS

Don't scroll down until you've made your decision.



























The Cobalt.

Unreal. Unfathomable. Are you freaking kidding me? FWD. 260hp. It was the fastest time of all those cars I listed. I've got to worry at the track about a friggin Cobalt? AAAAAGH! The Elise was 7th place in that list of cars. Who the hell was driving?!?

Impossible[/disbelief]

Exactly! That's what I'm saying!

I remember reading that they did quite a bit of testing at the 'ring with the cobalt to make sure it wasn't just a straight line car.

though still very surprising, I have heard from many different sources about how good those things are on the track...this just proves it

Inconceivable!!!

Why do you keep saying that? [/Andre]

It beat a evo MR!? WHAT!

I do not know what that word is but I do not think it means what you think it means!


You killed my father. Prepare to die.

C

I <3 that movie.


I can't believe that shit...extremely impressive.

any car that's slow enough to allow one to give a turn-by-turn analysis whilst driving it to the limit on the 'ring isn't exactly something to brag about. ;)

still, that's not a bad time at all.

Stop saying that!


In all seriousness. VIR... The full course? It's three drag strips connected together in a triangle.

I absolutely refuse to believe this and nothing will change my mind.

Put the turbo colbalt SS drivetrain, brakes & suspension into the Astra and I'd buy it now.

There's just something "wrong" about the way the colbalt looks to me.

I have a cobalt ss (NA) and man, it handles really well. However, I've done several track days with FI cobalts and never had a problem embarassing them at Hallett or the 1.3 at MSR.

A well set up FWD car can handle quite well. I've seen a number of great performers show up at our local SCCA stuff and the owner of a performance shop around here has gotten several first place awards with a Civic out at Hallett. As much as I hate to say Civic.

the blue SI?

I have the green miata, do we know each other.

Hustler is using the boards to troll for dates again :vash:

They described it as the Grand course at VIR. 4.2 miles long.

The Cobalt was the new turbo direct injected model. All of the cars were in stock trim. Stock tires, wheels, suspension, brakes, etc.

How the hell does the cobalt beat any of the cars on that list? Let alone all of them. It's faster on a road course than the EVO, STI, Lotus, etc? Every CEO of the company and each project head for the specific models it beat should publicly disembowel themselves in shame. That would be the honorable thing.

Again. Inconceivable!

http://www.mazdadrivers.com/09_track...andeastmap.jpg