GM Dominates "Lightning Lap" 2008

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GM Dominates "Lightning Lap" 2008
Car And Drivers annual performance test indicates GM is packin' when it comes to performance.
www.gminsidenews.com
September 24, 2008

(Photo Courteous of: Car And Driver)

Every year Car And Driver magazine pulls together some of the hottest, best-performing cars at the time and pits them against each other; dividing the cars into specific classes based on retail price. This, of course, being their annual "Lightning Lap" feature article. For 2008 "Lightning Lap" brings three General Motors vehicles to the track. Those three: Chevrolet Cobalt SS (Turbocharged), Chevrolet Corvette Z51, and the all-new Cadillac CTS-V. GM is always represented in the "Lightning Lap" feature, but this year is particularly interesting as all three GM products did extremely well in their respective classes. Actually; the only two Chevrolet cars in the group took the number one spots in their respective classes. Cobalt SS took the top spot in the "LL1" class; beating out the Dodge Caliber SRT-4 and Volvo C30 T5 Version 2.0. On top of that, the Cobalt SS was just shy of beating an overall "LL1" record set by the Nissan 350Z back in 2006. GM's perennial performance king managed to solidly keep it's gold in the "Lightning Lap" of 2008. The Z51-spec Corvette beat out a slew of cars within the "LL2" class; not that any of that is a surprise. As for the new kid, CTS-V, well...let's just say the General should be honored that this year's "Lightning Lap" made it clear that performance is still a staple at GM.

For all the details on all of the "Lightning Lap" cars and full results on the CTS-V and Chevrolet products, Click Here.

Cobalt SS Results

Corvette Results

CTS-V Results

[American_Muscle]

awesome.

[genjy]

Who won what when?

Seems like I can't find the lap times and stats.

[American_Muscle]

Cobalt won the LL1 class over the Caliber and Volvo something or other.

The Corvette won the LL2 class
The CTS-V took second place in the LL2 class, so GM won gold and silver in a category that consisted of the BMW M#, Mercedes C63 AMG, Lancer EVO MR, BMW 135i, Audi S5, Chalanger, Lotus Elise, etc.

[chevypowa670]

so glad they tested the cobalt in red instead of that fugly yellow, it really helps it's looks.

[genjy]

Originally Posted by American_Muscle

Cobalt won the LL1 class over the Caliber and Volvo something or other.

The Corvette won the LL2 class
The CTS-V took second place in the LL2 class, so GM won gold and silver in a category that consisted of the BMW M#, Mercedes C63 AMG, Lancer EVO MR, BMW 135i, Audi S5, Chalanger, Lotus Elise, etc.

Oh.

It's sort of pointless without numbers.

[Mrbowtie]

Cobalt SS.........3 seconds off 2007 Mazdaspeed 3.......not bad for an American car. This must be hard for some to digest.

[free_energy0]

The GT-R ran two seconds faster than the Z06. After all the bickering over the past year...

[RamJet502]

Originally Posted by free_energy0

The GT-R ran two seconds faster than the Z06. After all the bickering over the past year...

Over last years Z06, if the new Corvette Z51 shaved 2.4 seconds off its previous time then new Z06 might be faster too.

[ProjectRS]

+1 for the Cobalt SS!

[free_energy0]

Originally Posted by RamJet502

Over last years Z06, if the new Corvette Z51 shaved 2.4 seconds off its previous time then new Z06 might be faster too.

Yes, cause the Z06 changed quite a bit between this years and lasts.

[RamJet502]

Originally Posted by free_energy0

Yes, cause the Z06 changed quite a bit between this years and lasts.

How did the Corvette Z51 change between this year and last year?

[GMusa]

How come they didnt test the ZR1 in the LL3 class??

[LAChevy24]

that is awesome. even more to tell my friend how good the cobalt is. he is thinking about getting one, and his current car is a BMW 328i

[jbernie]

Originally Posted by chevypowa670

so glad they tested the cobalt in red instead of that fugly yellow, it really helps it's looks.

that and red goes faster too.