More of a visual learner? Watch all of our new car reviews in one handy playlist over on our YouTube channel.
How fast is that car for real?
We have a benchmark for that: lap times from GRM’s official test track, the Florida International Rally & Motorsport Park.
Located in Keystone Heights, less than 100 miles from our home base, the FIRM offers a 1.6-mile course that’s safe, repeatable and accessible.
The track features a mix of medium- and slower-speed corners, and most of it is run in third and fourth gear–aside from the second-gear hairpin. It also features longer sweepers that test steady-state grip as well as traditional road course kinks that test braking, turn-in and corner exit.
We’ve tested a number of cars at the FIRM–including hot new rides, old favorites and our project cars–and we’re constantly adding to the list.
[How we track test cars and what the numbers mean]
Keep reading for synopses of each car tested–fastest to slowest–and scroll down for an easy-to-digest chart at the bottom.
2004 Chevrolet Corvette Z06–LS3 V8 engine swap
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
2022 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 2LT w/ Z51 Performance Package
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
2004 Nissan 350Z–LS1 V8 engine swap
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Convertible 2LT
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
Photography Credit: J.G. Pasterjak
2019 Mazda MX-5–Triple Threat Miata
1996 Mazda Miata–LFX V6 engine swap
Photography Credit: Tom Suddard
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
2023 Volkswagen Golf R
Photography Credit: J.G. Pasterjak
2021 Honda Civic Type R
Photography Credit: J.G. Pasterjak
2023 Hyundai Elantra N (DCT)
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
2022 Volkswagen GTI Autobahn (DSG)
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
Photography Credit: Tim Suddard
Photography Credit: J.G. Pasterjak
V8 Roadsters V6-powered Mazda Miata
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
2022 Subaru WRX
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
V8 Roadsters V6-powered Mazda RX-8
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Sport–ESC Off Tune
Photography Credit: Tom Suddard
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
Photography Credit: David S. Wallens
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
2017 Volkswagen Golf GTI Sport–Baseline
Photography Credit: Tom Suddard
Photography Credit: Chris Tropea
Photography Credit: David S. Wallens
2021 Toyota Prius 2020 Edition
Photography Credit: J.G. Pasterjak
*GRM and Classic Motorsports project cars are denoted with a gold outline
You've been asking, and here it is: Our official lap time board for all the cars we test at the FIRM–new cars, project cars and pretty much anything in between.
Be sure to check back frequently for updates.
Very cool to see where the Elantra N placed, about where I would have expected it. I really hope you are able to add a lot more cars to the board.
In reply to pinchvalve (Forum Supporter) :
That's the plan. In addition to keeping the board updated with times for new cars, we'll be updating the board as we modify our project cars and (hopefully) make them faster.
RadBarchetta said:Reminds me of the old Top Gear leaderboard. Which one of you guys is the GRM Stig?
JG posted most of the times on the board since he does our new car testing, while I posted the times from my projects. Him and I seem to be fairly evenly matched so at some point we'll need to do a race in the same car or something.
In reply to RadBarchetta :
Yeah like Tom said all the new cars are me. And you can check out this sidebar for a look at the methodology. At the end of the day, the ultimate capabilities of these cars is probably a few clicks faster than what you see here, but we also can't be giving cars back to press fleets with chunked tires or crushed unibodies. So while my approach also factors preservation of equipment into it, I'm 100% confident that I'm pushing all the cars to the same relative 99% and the ultimate finish order reflects the real world of unlimited tries and track insurance pretty acuurately.
Kinda curious why JG was driving the Miata whilst wearing his Hans Hybrid, without connecting the tethers?
Thanks for also putting information about the tires used for the tests. For all the grief that the new Supra has gotten, it sure looks like a great performer for the dollar.
glyn ellis said:Kinda curious why JG was driving the Miata whilst wearing his Hans Hybrid, without connecting the tethers?
While I try to live by the ATGATT motto, I'm not going to say I'm not above forgetting a couple straps when we're in a hurry to catch good light or something. But, yeah, the goal is to exercise and model proper track safety.
Really you should just be thankful I remember pants in all these videos.
As an E30 devotee and 318is owner myself, I'm pretty sad about the 318is... was that with the stroker engine and everything?
gearheadE30 said:As an E30 devotee and 318is owner myself, I'm pretty sad about the 318is... was that with the stroker engine and everything?
Yep. I've spent some time driving that car at speed and while I love it... it's ultimately underpowered, undertired and undersprung to compete against the cars on this list. But that's what makes it such a rewarding street car on back roads.
gearheadE30 said:As an E30 devotee and 318is owner myself, I'm pretty sad about the 318is... was that with the stroker engine and everything?
Yeah the only thing that car disappointed was the stopwatch. It was awesome to drive, just slow.
ShinnyGroove (Forum Supporter) said:Thanks for also putting information about the tires used for the tests. For all the grief that the new Supra has gotten, it sure looks like a great performer for the dollar.
For all the grief I *give* the Mk5, I've been on track with them. Bit of typical Supra tinkering and they are *very* fast on track. I'd love to set my wife's Mk4 up like I did my Mk3 (all the suspension, bushings, small single, reliability mods, etc) and see if I could truly hang with the new car.
Granted, her car has 220k on it, and from 10 feet you'd never know it. Would be curious to see how the new car holds up in 25-30 years.
You'll need to log in to post. Log in