GM's V-series challenge

[G35COUPE]

Originally Posted by Guibo

Think you're right. If Car Magazine's recent comparo at the Rockingham road circuit is anything to go by, the Evo has an excellent shot.

1:36.22 - Mercedes E63 AMG
1:36.64 - Mitsu Evo FQ400
1:36.83 - Porsche Panamera Turbo
1:38.85 - Cadillac CTS-V
1:39.07 - Audi S4
1:39.37 - Jaguar XFR

E90 M3 should be pretty close too. Randy Pobst's time at Laguna Seca in the E92 M3 coupe w/dual clutch transmission last year was 1:43.0, and his time this year with the CTS-V was a 1:43.9. The E90 sedan isn't that much slower than the coupe. C&D's editors lapped Laguna in 1:44.10 in an E90 M3 with the 6-speed manual, which is 0.2s slower than their time in the E92 M3 w/DKG on a different day.

I would love to see the following matchups:
Ulrich Bez in Rapide vs Lutz in CTS-V
Hans Stuck in M3 vs Heinricy
W. Rohrl in Panamera vs Heinricy

Nice data. I am not a fan of Mitsubishi at all. To those who wish to deride and look down upon an Evo, make sure you never try to race one, ever---protect your honor. If you do race one, be sure you have 450 horses and above under the hood. In fact, under some conditions, the Evo can still flog you. This is a kiddie car with the heart of a giant.

[cmcpokey]

another problem with the FQ-400 is that for this challenge, the car needs to be avaliable in the US. IIRC, the FQ-400 is built by Ralliart in the UK for the UK market only.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by G35COUPE

Nice data. I am not a fan of Mitsubishi at all. To those who wish to deride and look down upon an Evo, make sure you never try to race one, ever---protect your honor. If you do race one, be sure you have 450 horses and above under the hood. In fact, under some conditions, the Evo can still flog you. This is a kiddie car with the heart of a giant.

Which has been the way with all Group A homologation specials since Lancia invented the HF 4WD.

Originally Posted by cmcpokey

another problem with the FQ-400 is that for this challenge, the car needs to be avaliable in the US. IIRC, the FQ-400 is built by Ralliart in the UK for the UK market only.

I think some European markets have them as well, but not the 400.

[Runfromcheney]

Originally Posted by cmcpokey

another problem with the FQ-400 is that for this challenge, the car needs to be avaliable in the US. IIRC, the FQ-400 is built by Ralliart in the UK for the UK market only.

Yeah. GM intended this challenge for the CTS-V to go against its direct competitors. No weird foreign cars will be allowed.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by Runfromcheney

Yeah. GM intended this challenge for the CTS-V to go against its direct competitors. No weird foreign cars will be allowed.

Except that the CTS-V isn't sold only in the US...

[Runfromcheney]

I know, it is sold in Europe as well. What I was trying to say was that GM intended this to be a pissing contest between them and their most obvious competition. It isn't, "come and see if you can bring a faster car than the CTS-V". They intended this to be a match between the Cadillac and the likes of the BMW M5, Audi RS8, Jaguar XFR, Mercedes-Benz AMC E-63, etc. IDK if they would allow some car built by an obscure European tuning house. Hey, this is a GM publicity stunt, so they are obviously going to stack the deck in their favor, is the main point. Remember that GM has to approve each challenger.

[cmcpokey]

so jag pulled out, saying that they didnt feel that their brakes were up to the task of being pummeled for 5 laps on a track. it's now going to be an EVO X MR.

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by cmcpokey

so jag pulled out, saying that they didnt feel that their brakes were up to the task of being pummeled for 5 laps on a track. it's now going to be an EVO X MR.

Your 280bhp version?

It's going to bite the dust very badly against a 560bhp super saloon....

[cmcpokey]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

Your 280bhp version?

It's going to bite the dust very badly against a 560bhp super saloon....

i am afraid i agree with you albert. i just dont see a way to make up for the serious hp differential, and it seems to be a power circuit for the most part as well. here is a side by side for the cars:



and for the write up to go along with the chart: Cadillac CTS-V Vs Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution MR: By The Numbers - Jalopnik Vs GM - Jalopnik

[henk4]

So this will end up with GM proudly announcing that nobody dared to take up the challenge, at the same time proving that the Caddy is the best sports sedan in the world.....hurrah

[NSXType-R]

Originally Posted by henk4

So this will end up with GM proudly announcing that nobody dared to take up the challenge, at the same time proving that the Caddy is the best sports sedan in the world.....hurrah

But it still wouldn't help if it didn't sell cars...?

So I still fail to see the help that they'd get in it. Sure, Cadillac will have brand recognition, but that doesn't help Chevy or Buick.

And with the poor economy in the first place, who would go for a Cadillac anyway?

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

But it still wouldn't help if it didn't sell cars...?

So I still fail to see the help that they'd get in it. Sure, Cadillac will have brand recognition, but that doesn't help Chevy or Buick.

And with the poor economy in the first place, who would go for a Cadillac anyway?

Adverstising one is better than advertising no brands at all. Even if the one chosen seems to be the most likely to get hit by a recession.

Originally Posted by cmcpokey

i am afraid i agree with you albert. i just dont see a way to make up for the serious hp differential, and it seems to be a power circuit for the most part as well. here is a side by side for the cars:

The only way I'd see the Evo winning is in a wet or damp very twisty hillclimb course. Not that GM is going to make their car look bad...

[RacingManiac]

like they say, any publicity is good publicity...

[cmcpokey]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

Adverstising one is better than advertising no brands at all. Even if the one chosen seems to be the most likely to get hit by a recession.

The only way I'd see the Evo winning is in a wet or damp very twisty hillclimb course. Not that GM is going to make their car look bad...

funny you mention that. the track added a chicane in the middle of the long straight, helping the evos comparitive lack of hp. and it rained last night, so a very wet track. so the evo got a little bit of a break.

[cmcpokey]

Official Times: Mike Cooper, M3: 2:50:424; Jack Baruth, CTS-V: 2:51:153; Lawrence Ulrich, CTS-V: 2:53:157; Bob Lutz, CTS-V: 2:56:321; Mike Mainwald, M5: 3:05:348; Wes Siler, Evo: 3:08:126....then a bunch of others, including the Jag at 3:15 something...