2016 C&D Lightning Lap Results (M4 GTS and M2 included)

[CirrusSR22]

     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Results from Car and Driver's 2016 Lightning Lap annual test at Virginia International Raceway (VIR):

2:44.2 2016 Dodge Viper ACR
2:45.1 2016 Ferrari 488GTB
2:47.0 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
2:47.1 2017 Corvette Grand Sport
2:47.4 2016 McLaren 570S
2:50.2 2017 Acura NSX
2:51.8 2016 Mustang GT350R
2:52.9 2017 BMW //M4 GTS
2:54.0 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4
2:54.8 2017 Chevrolet Camaro V8 1LE
2:56.1 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus
3:01.9 2016 BMW //M2
3:03.5 2016 Dodge Charger Hellcat
3:03.9 2016 Focus RS
3:04.0 2017 Chevrolet Camaro V6 1LE
3:05.9 2016 Lexus GS-F
3:07.7 2016 Audi TTS



Historic lap time list from the Lightning Lap tests:

[1MOREMOD]

Surprised the gt4 so far down. I know someone who won't like that

[Captain Unknown GT4]

Hm, instesting. Them guys must have set the rear wing on Gts for dry track then:-) its way faster than GT4. In motortrend GTS was same same laptime as GT4.

Oh well, whatever. I am very happy with my GTS, much more of an event to drive than my GT4

[FogCityM3]

Say what you want, this is a win for American muscle..which is a lot more than just muscle these days!

[Nkc]

Couple more months worth of break-in kms and it's off to taming the snake on a brand new track. So proud of the ACR and the amount of ass kicking it's been doing all around North America.

Btw, why didn't you put the 918 on the list?

[Powerslide]

Originally Posted by Captain Unknown GT4

Hm, instesting. Them guys must have set the rear wing on Gts for dry track then:-) its way faster than GT4. In motortrend GTS was same same laptime as GT4.

Oh well, whatever. I am very happy with my GTS, much more of an event to drive than my GT4

Yet another reason for many people's suspicion (including mine) as to how MT set up the suspension on the GTS... (especially given MT's tie on the SS 1LE)...

[1MOREMOD]

What you gots an acr!!!

[minn19]

Originally Posted by Powerslide

Yet another reason for many people's suspicion (including mine) as to how MT set up the suspension on the GTS... (especially given MT's tie on the SS 1LE)...

Different tracks, different driver, conditions etc. The fact that the 1LE Camaro is even in the neighbourhood of the "fastest BMW road car ever" is impressive.

[TSM330i]

This is THE test I look forward to every year. I still have the last two issues of the Lightning Lap. This is the full VIR course, so it's a very long lap indeed.
Some interesting points:

The Z06 is only 0.4 seconds slower than the Viper and it’s still quicker than the 488GTB! I know that the Dodge test drivers say that most mortals can't get the most out of the car because they don't fully utilize the aero.

Camaro 1LE is VERY close to GT4 for half the price. The M4GTS is definitely quicker than the 1LE due to the long lap (1.9 seconds) for 3X the price! The GT350R is quicker than the M4GTS (1.1 seconds) for half the price.

What bargains the 1LE and GT350R are.

The NSX is a MAJOR letdown in every way. The original NSX was a bare bones drivers car. The new one is overly complex for the sake of being overly complex and it doesn’t result in a car that is very fast around the track.

The old Z/28 is quicker than the M4 GTS and just as quick as the NSX and it is “archaic” in that it has no AWD, no torque vectoring, no electric motors/batteries and has a manual transmission. For the same price, the 570S spanks the NSX. For less than half the price, the Grand Sport spanks it. What is the new Z/28 or ZL1 going to do to the NSX or M4GTS?

Nice to see a Ford Focus RS with HALF the HP of the Hellcat is essentially just as quick LOL! Only thing is, I'm sure the Focus would be able to repeat the lap time over more laps than the Hellcat. Stopping 4500lbs worth of car will get the brakes a bit hot I'm sure.

[gonzo]

Look at the V6 Camaro. Damn. Grand sport too.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by CirrusSR22

Results from Car and Driver's 2016 Lightning Lap annual test at Virginia International Raceway (VIR):

2:44.2 2016 Dodge Viper ACR
2:45.1 2016 Ferrari 488GTB
2:47.0 2016 Porsche 911 GT3 RS
2:47.1 2017 Corvette Grand Sport
2:47.4 2016 McLaren 570S
2:50.2 2017 Acura NSX
2:51.8 2016 Mustang GT350R
2:52.9 2017 BMW //M4 GTS
2:54.0 2016 Porsche Cayman GT4
2:54.8 2017 Chevrolet Camaro V8 1LE
2:56.1 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus
3:01.9 2016 BMW //M2
3:03.5 2016 Dodge Charger Hellcat
3:03.9 2016 Focus RS
3:04.0 2017 Chevrolet Camaro V6 1LE
3:05.9 2016 Lexus GS-F
3:07.7 2016 Audi TTS

Wow, that Corvette Grand Sport time is amazing.


Keep in mind when comparing to past years times. VIR was resurfaced in 2014 and since redone again this year. First re-paving in 2014 was botched.

[DieGrüneHölle]

Originally Posted by minn19

Different tracks, different driver, conditions etc. The fact that the 1LE Camaro is even in the neighbourhood of the "fastest BMW road car ever" is impressive.

Isn't this the test that uses different drivers?

1LE beat the new R8 V10+, that is crazy for a $44k car.

[hemi to e90]

Originally Posted by Captain Unknown GT4

Hm, instesting. Them guys must have set the rear wing on Gts for dry track then:-) its way faster than GT4. In motortrend GTS was same same laptime as GT4.

Oh well, whatever. I am very happy with my GTS, much more of an event to drive than my GT4

Originally Posted by Powerslide

Yet another reason for many people's suspicion (including mine) as to how MT set up the suspension on the GTS... (especially given MT's tie on the SS 1LE)...

VIR is way more technical (and longer) of a track that laguna, id argue that the gearing on the GT4 cripples it at VIR, while the turbo power band on the gts is better suited.

either way, can we take a serious WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK moment for the audi R8 Plus

2:56.1 2017 Audi R8 V10 Plus


Whats the plus for? plus + 4s slower than it should be? wrong kinda quattro audi

dynamic steering is bitch

[kraeburn]

I don't really care about the GTS lap times...the real surprise to me are:
--Corvette Gran Sport? Jesus christ
--The R8 V10 being so slow? My father just got one of these and I cannot believe that it is not faster relative to the others. It feels otherwordly compared to some of the cars with similar times.

It all depends on how you want to interpret these times. The track will produce different times depending on the year. Look at these:
--M4 is the same as the 2006 Ford GT
--997 GT3RS almost the same as the new CTS-V
--M235i faster than a Shelby GT500 lol
--2013 911 Carrera S time looks great

Not sure what to make of these. Overall I think it is disingenuous to compare times from different years like that. Its fun but it doesn't tell the whole story. The other note I would like to make is that GM cars are heavily represented here, it seems like every year they have heavy representation. This is wonderful that they are outputting so many enthusiast cars. While I never see them on the road and they languish on dealer lots while Porsches sell at premiums, I appreciate that they are out there.

I understand that there are limitations on performing these tests--however it just seems to me that this is not representative of the true performance here.

My test would run like this:
--Auto-X
--Road Course
--Acceleration (quarter mile speed/trap and 60-120 only, 0-60 is useless these days)
--Gather 25 enthusiasts in a random drawing and each of them would rate on a 1-10 scale how desirable and dun to drive it is. They could even come out and do a test drive on the street. People already pay money for that kind of thing. How special the car feels on the road might actually be the most important thing about a performance car.

Run an algorithm and do it that way. Course times would be weighted against a constant vehicle that comes out every year to be owned by the publication. Doesn't need to be anything crazy--maybe a C5 Z06. Readers could draw their own conclusions and we would see which one truly "performs" the best.

I know that some mags already do something kinda like that but not in this way. There isn't any transparency and includes a bunch of subjective measures by a limited number of writers.

[minn19]

Originally Posted by Blipit_

Isn't this the test that uses different drivers?

1LE beat the new R8 V10+, that is crazy for a $44k car.

That I'm not sure about. I agree with the sentiment about the Camaro. I looked at the new ones and still don't want one, but it is damn impressive performance for the price point.

[Nkc]

Originally Posted by 1MOREMOD

What you gots an acr!!!

Yes my dear.

[Phatcat]

C&D article also said BMW sent factory driver Bill Auberlen to "make sure" M4 GTS was performing as it should.

[1MOREMOD]

I hate you

[hellrotm]

Back to back tests now the GT350R out performed the GTS. Ford really built one hell of a car, also considering it is a true manual. The Grand Sport is 5.8 seconds quicker. Never would have thought the gap would be that large.

[Sedoy]

...
2:47.1 2017 Corvette Grand Sport
...

[yousefnjr]

'Murica

[ilikebmxbikes]

Originally Posted by minn19

Different tracks, different driver, conditions etc. The fact that the 1LE Camaro is even in the neighbourhood of the "fastest BMW road car ever" is impressive.

This