German Car Zone

Just_me · 06-30-2007, 11:49 AM

Lightning Strikes Twice: Round 2 of our performance benchmark at Virginia International Raceway—prepare for a few suprises.

http://www.caranddriver.com/assets/d..._theresult.pdf
The Lightning Lap, 2007 - Features - Car and Driver August 2007

Laptimes
Z06 - 2:58.2 min
911 GT3 - 3:01.8
Exige S - 3:04.5
Audi R8 - 3:04.6
911 Turbo - 3:05.8
Ford Shelby GT500 - 3:05.9 min
C6 (with Z51 package) - 3:09.3 min
BMW 335i - 3:10.5 min
Audi RS4 - 3:11.2
Z4M Coupé - 3:11.7 min
Mazda 3 MPS - 3:16.0
Mini Cooper S - 3:22.9. min

------------------------------

RS4
Although it shares its V-8 engine with the R8, the Audi RS 4 didn’t impart the same sort of driving satisfaction. It’s a porky beast—at 3952 pounds, the heaviest of the 13 cars featured here. It’s actually better at masking its weight than the similarly obese Shelby GT500, but the mass is especially apparent when cornering, where the tires squeal in a protracted wail of protest.

The closest comparative car this time around was the BMW 335i coupe, which also has decent-sized rear seats. The BMW was almost one second quicker around VIR, despite dramatically lower peak speeds on the straights. The RS 4 simply overloads its tires too quickly when the steering wheel is turned. If it weren’t for the four-wheel-drive system ensuring that the power can be applied early at corner exit, the RS 4 would have been even farther behind the competition in the LL3 class.

R8
The R8 benefits from having the same marvelous engine mounted amidships. Plus, the car is 400 pounds lighter than the RS 4. The R8 is actually easy to drive quickly, thanks to communicative steering and a chassis that is benign at the limit. Because of its all-wheel-drive system, it also puts its power down remarkably well, evidenced by a good time in Sector One.

The R8 sounds stupendous, but the gated shifter becomes tiresome after a while because the throws are too long. Furthermore, being the second heaviest car in LL3 counted against the R8 around VIR. It was 8.2 mph down on the Corvette Z06 at the exit of Sector Five and a massive 14.9 mph down at the end of the long front straightaway that starts Sector One. Still, it showed the way home to the more powerful 911 Turbo from LL4. For Audi’s first attempt at a supercar, that’s an impressive achievement.

Z4M Coupé
Another surprise was with our brace of BMWs. On paper, the Z4 M coupe is the more sporting of the two, with a low-profile, two-seat body that weighs 54 fewer pounds than the four-seat 335i coupe. Plus, the M coupe has a lusty naturally aspirated 330-hp inline six-cylinder engine rather than the twin-turbocharged 300-hp six of the 335i.

335i
Between the two, you’d expect the 335i to be more supple over bumps, have vastly more interior room, and be as refined as a Lexus. But what floored us was that the 335i’s best lap (3:10.5) was 1.2 seconds quicker than the M coupe’s. It’s a case of neutral handling over outright speed. Whereas the M coupe had understeer at turn-in that switched to oversteer at the exit, the 335i was nearly perfectly balanced everywhere and made up most of its time in the region between the braking zone and turn apex. The 335i does everything remarkably well, which is why many of us at Car and Driver think it’s the best all-around car in the world.

GT500
There were no such discussions concerning the Ford Shelby GT500, which returned because bad ignition parts soured its visit to last year’s Lightning Lap. It’s a strange car—it moves around obsessively when driven hard, with so much body roll and pitch that it’s hard to believe it was designed to perform in such a manner. It is, however, a safe car to drive fast because it is exceptionally predictable, is seemingly impossible to spin, and has brakes that hold up well. As long as the ambient temperature was below 70 degrees, the GT500 was fairly quick and posted a 3:05.9 lap. But when the temperature climbed to about 90 degrees, the engine started lying down, and the lap time lengthened by four seconds. None of the other cars was so affected by the heat.

Buyers are apparently still paying 10 grand over sticker for GT500s, a phenomenon that continues to mystify us.

Imhotep Evil · 06-30-2007, 11:54 AM

I usually don't trust american magazines.

So I don't really understand how could a 335i beat an RS4 and Z4M car. Maybe there's always an exception. Different tracks different results.

Again the R8 beat the 911 Turbo. If Porsche won't veto the upcoming super diesel R8 ...

Just_me · 06-30-2007, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imhotep Evil

Different tracks different results.

of course thats the case and also perhaps the RS4 wasnt tested with its famous R-tires?

Just_me · 06-30-2007, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imhotep Evil

So I don't really understand how could a 335i beat an RS4 and Z4M car. Maybe there's always an exception. Different tracks different results.

good explanation for you IM

"You can't assume that just because the RS4 is faster at one track, then its better then the 335i/M3, etc at all tracks. Every track has different demands on the car, different length straights, etc. The article points out problems with understeer with the RS4 and as well as understeer and oversteer with the Z4M whereas on this particular track, the 335i felt more balanced. This doesn't mean the 335i will go blow away these cars at every track."

go0gle · 06-30-2007, 08:58 PM

"The Z06's 2:58.2 lap made it the first Lightning Lapper to get around the VIR's Grand Course in less then three minutes, which is all the more remarkable considering it does not have the sticky, racing-type tires the 911 GT3 enjoys."

Nice battle between 335i and the RS4

Z06

Just_me · 07-01-2007, 05:49 AM

scans been included

Yannis · 07-01-2007, 08:03 AM

The title should be changed to "C&D: Audi R8 beats BMW 335i and Z4M around a track".

Just_me · 07-01-2007, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yannis

The title should be changed to "C&D: Audi R8 beats BMW 335i and Z4M around a track".

Nah, its not as surprising to see 335i beating a Z4M and A Rs4.

Centurion · 07-01-2007, 10:57 AM

I read that article earlier this week but didn't bother posting it since there obviously something wrong with the test.

Just_me · 07-01-2007, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luwalira

I read that article earlier this week but didn't bother posting it since there obviously something wrong with the test.

what is wrong? R8 faster than 997 TT?

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German Car Zone

[scans]C&D: BMW 335i beats Z4M and RS4 around a track