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Top Gear USA tests the California

Discussion in 'California(Portofino)/Roma(Amalfi)' started by early93viper, Jan 16, 2011.

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  1. early93viper

    early93viper Formula Junior

    Mar 17, 2006
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    Olathe, KS
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    Dan
    #1 early93viper, Jan 16, 2011
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2011
    Anyone else see the California on Top Gear USA last week? I couldn't believe it's lap time. There is no way this is right? Right? Slower than a Evora in the wet? Not possible.

    1.1:22.0 - Dodge Viper SRT10 ACR
    2.1:22.8 - Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera
    3.1:23.4 - Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SuperVeloce
    4.1:25.3 - Porsche Panamera Turbo
    5.1:26.9 - Lamborghini Gallardo LP550-2 Balboni
    6.1:27.6 - Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
    7.1:28.2 - Aston Martin V12 Vantage
    8.1:28.4 (wet) - Lotus Evora
    9.1:28.5 - Ferrari California
    10.1:29.2 - Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X GSR
    11.1:30.0 - BMW X6M
    12.1:39.0 - Hennessey F-150 VelociRaptor 600


    Full episode:
    http://www.streetfire.net/video/top-gear-usa-s01e08-season-1-episode-8_2187648.htm
     
  2. Cavalier

    Cavalier Karting

    Nov 9, 2010
    100
    Tiburon, Calif.
    #2 Cavalier, Jan 16, 2011
    Last edited: Jan 16, 2011
    Shocking. Embarrassing. This can't be.

    I just watched, but skimmed the before and after the segment on the California, but I never saw the test lap?
     
  3. XP1LM

    XP1LM Formula Junior

    Nov 28, 2005
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    Truong
    #3 XP1LM, Jan 17, 2011
    only 1.5 sec faster than the X6M?

    I doubt it.
     
  4. Maximus

    Maximus Formula Junior

    Jun 12, 2009
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    Jurgen
    #4 Maximus, Jan 17, 2011
    Nice to look, tnx for the tip.

    Just one question, why are some persons blurred and some aren't?
     
  5. Simon^2

    Simon^2 F1 World Champ

    Oct 17, 2005
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    #5 Simon^2, Jan 17, 2011
    Would you want your face shown on that show?

    As for the time... ouch.
     
  6. footnfan

    footnfan Rookie

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    #6 footnfan, Jan 17, 2011
    I think if you do not sign the braodcast waiver agreement, your face gets blurred.
     
  7. Simon^2

    Simon^2 F1 World Champ

    Oct 17, 2005
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    #7 Simon^2, Jan 17, 2011
    The time I find truelly amazing is the Panamera Turbo smoking the Gallardo Balboni.
     
  8. HH11

    HH11 F1 Rookie
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    Sep 4, 2010
    3,341
    #8 HH11, Jan 17, 2011
    +1. I think the Porsche/lambo time is more bizarre than the Evora to California. How can a lamborghini with 552 HP, 2 wheel drive monster be slower than a 4 door, 4 wheel drive sedan with 4 seats? Maybe it is just that damn fast. I think that many of the times should either be tested on a different track or with multiple drivers. I know this won't happen but it would be nice to see more consistent times, or at least believable ones :)
     
  9. Balsamina

    Balsamina Formula Junior

    May 19, 2010
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    #9 Balsamina, Jan 17, 2011
    Thanks for the heads up on the episode. I set my DVR to record both versions of Top Gear, but haven't watched either in a couple weeks, so now I'm curious to see what their remarks are.

    FWIW, I've test driven the Turbo on an autocross course as well as the open road, and have ridden hot laps with an instructor from the Porsche driving school to see how the car can really perform. While I don't particularly care for the look of the back half of the Panamera, to me it is an amazing piece of engineering in terms of the performance that it delivers in the context of a luxurious 4 door sedan. Porsche has clearly imbued its DNA into the overall package.
     
  10. Carsleuth

    Carsleuth F1 Rookie

    Dec 22, 2006
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    #10 Carsleuth, Jan 17, 2011
    The UK Top Gear's lap board is pretty accurate, or at least everything is where you'd think it would be. I cannot fathom a Panamera beating a Balboni... in anything. What is UK Top Gear doing that the US version isn't?
     
  11. Simon^2

    Simon^2 F1 World Champ

    Oct 17, 2005
    12,313
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    #11 Simon^2, Jan 17, 2011
    The UK Stig goes to the pub after the lap.
     
  12. deppi0

    deppi0 Formula 3

    Jun 30, 2010
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    #12 deppi0, Jan 17, 2011
    Haha good one Simon!

    The track must be different.... Just to give you an idea how the track can alter these results a magazine in the UK did a test of many cars on a wet circuit.....the 458 was one of the slowest cars even behind a basic hatchback with 100 hp!

    Lap times comparisons are good for TV audience but are not always if ever representative of real life.
     
  13. early93viper

    early93viper Formula Junior

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    #13 early93viper, Jan 17, 2011
    Check out the UKs lap board there is a lot of times that just plain don't make sense.

    Car used Time (mins)
    Bugatti Veyron SS 1.16.8
    Gumpert Apollo 1.17.1
    Ascari A10 1.17.3
    Koenigsegg CCX (with Top Gear spoiler) 1.17.6
    Noble M600 1.17.7
    Pagani Zonda F Roadster 1.17.7
    Caterham R500 1.17.9
    Bugatti Veyron 1.18.3
    Pagani Zonda F 1.18.4
    Maserati MC12 1.18.9
    Ferrari Enzo 1.19.0
    Lamborghini LP670 SV 1.19.0
    Ferrari 458 1.19.1
    Ariel Atom 1.19.5
    Lamborghini LP560 1.19.5
    Ferrari Scuderia 1.19.7
    Nissan GT-R 1.19.7
    Lamborghini LP640 1.19.8
    Porsche Carerra GT 1.19.8
    Koenigsegg CCX 1.20.4
    Corvette ZR1 1.20.4
    Ascari KZ1 1.20.7
    Mercedes McLaren SLR 1.20.9
    Ferrari 599GTB 1.21.2
    Audi R8 V10 1.21.6
    Ford GT 1.21.9
    Porsche 911 Turbo Convertable 1.22.2
    Audi R8 V10 Spyder 1.22.3
    Ferrari 360 CS 1.22.3
    Porsche GT3 RS 1.22.3
    Corvette Z06 1.22.4
    Noble M15 1.22.5
    Lexus LFA 1.22.8 (wet)
    Mercedes SL Black 1.23.0
    Murcielago 1.23.7
    Zonda 1.23.8
    Koenigsegg 1.23.9
    Aston Martin DBS 1.23.93
    Veritas RS III 1.24.2
    Prodrive P2 1.24.3
    Audi R8 1.24.4
    TVR Sagaris 1.24.6
    Mitsubishi Evo FQ400 1.24.8
    TVR Tuscan 1.24.8
    Bentley Continental Supersports 1.24.9
    Porsche Boxster Spyder 1.24.9
    Merc E63 AMG 1.24.9
    Noble M400 1.25.0
    Lotus Exige S 1.25.1
    BMW M3 Saloon 1.25.3
    Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder 1.25.7
    Lotus Evora 1.25.7
    Lamborghini Gallardo 1.25.8
    BMW Z4 M 1.26.0
    Porsche Cayman 1.26.2
    Porsche 911 Carrera 2S 1.26.2
    Brabus Biturbo Roadster 1.26.2
    BMW M5 1.26.2
    VXR Bathurst 1.26.3
    Lotus Exige 1.26.4
    Jaguar XFR 1.26.7
    Chevrolet Corvette 1.26.8
    Lexus IS-F 1.26.8
    Mercedes CLS 55 AMG 1.26.9
    Aston Martin Vanquish S 1.27.1
    Aston Martin DB9 1.27.1
    Holden Maloo 1.27.1
    Telsa Roadster 1.27.2
    Porsche 911 GT3 1.27.2
    TVR 350C 1.27.5
    Nissan 370Z 1.27.5
    Camaro 1.27.9
    BMW M3 CSL 1.28.0
    Roush Mustang 1.28.0
    Renault Megane R26R 1.28.1
    BMW Z4 1.28.2
    Marcos TSO GT2 1.28.2
    Subaru WRX Sti 1.28.2
    BMW X5M 1.28.2
    Mitsubishi Evo X 1.28.22
    Dodge Viper SRT-10 1.28.5
    MG SV 1.28.6
    Porsche 911 Carrera S 1.28.9
    Mitsubishi Evo VIII 1.28.9
    BMW Alpina Z8 1.29.0
    Mercedes CL65 1.29.0
    Ford Focus RS 1.29.3
    VW Golf W12 1.29.6
    Alfa 3.7 GTA Autodelta 1.30.0
    Ford Shelby GT500 1.30.0
    Subaru Impreza STI 1.30.1
    Vauxhall Monaro VXR 1.30.1
    Aston Martin DB7 GT 1.30.4
    Golf R32 1.30.4
    Audi S4 1.30.9
    Porsche 911 Turbo 1.31.0
    BMW 760Li 1.31.2
    Vauxhall VX220 turbo 1.31.3
    Vauxhall VXR8 1.31.3
    New Audi TT 1.31.4
    Honda NSX Type R 1.31.6
    BMW M3 1.31.8
    Nissan 350Z 1.31.8
    Mazda RX-8 1.31.8
    BMW 535d 1.31.8
    BMW 130 1.31.9
    Mercedes S63 AMG 1.32.0
    Ford Focus RS 1.32.2
    Mazda 6 MPS 1.32.2
    Lotus Esprit V8 1.32.5
    Audi TT V6 1.32.7
    MG ZT 1.33.0
    Noble M12 GTO 1.33.1
    Mercedes SL 55 AMG 1.33.2
    Volkswagen Golf R32 1.33.2
    Audi Q7 V12 TDI 1.33.2
    Cadillac CTS 1.33.3
    Honda Civic Type-R 1.33.5
    Holden Monaro 1.33.9
    Ford Mondeo ST220 1.34.5
    Jaguar XKR 1.34.7
    Ford Focus ST 1.34.9
    Volvo S60R 1.35.0
    Ferrari 575M 1.35.2
    Vauxhall Vectra VXR 1.35.3
    Our Car 1.35.4
    Fiat 500 Abarth 1.35.5
    Alfa 147 GTA 1.35.6
    Lotus Elise 1.35.6
    Aston Martin Vanquish 1.36.2
    Renault Clio V6 1.36.2
    Honda Civic Type R 1.36.5
    Alfa Romeo Brera 1.36.9
    Saab 95 Aero 1.37.9
    Maserati 3200 GT 1.38.0
    Alfa Romeo 8C 1.38.2
    Bowler Wildcat 1.39.4
    Bentley Arnarge 1.40.8
    Overfinch Range Rover 1.44.0
    Aston Martin DB5 1.46.0
    Hawk HF 3000 1.48.2
    Porsche Paw Au Chocolat 18.37.00


    I like car and drivers lightning lap seems more acurate.
     
  14. Carsleuth

    Carsleuth F1 Rookie

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    #14 Carsleuth, Jan 18, 2011
    I just scanned the list, but it looks pretty accurate to me...
     
  15. early93viper

    early93viper Formula Junior

    Mar 17, 2006
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    #15 early93viper, Jan 18, 2011
    Look at the base Corvette WAY LOW and same with the Z06 and even the ZR1s time seems a bit low to me. GT-Rs time is a bit high, Viper way low even for being tested in wet, Ford GT a bit high, 360 CS way high there's no way it's faster than a Z06, etc., etc.
     
  16. smj113

    smj113 Karting

    Oct 23, 2007
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    Philly Suburbs
    #16 smj113, Jan 19, 2011
    I thought this was a little suspect myself. A lot if things go into a lap time, so you can't really compare between different tracks/weather/drivers/etc. I can't imagine that they don't try 100% on every car. They have nothing to gain by showing slow lap times for cars if they want manufacturers to support their show.

    Keep in mind that the panamera is probably easier to drive at the limit than the balboni due to AWD etc. So while it is possible the the balboni "should" be faster, it may not always be the case.
     
  17. Bullfighter

    Bullfighter Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #17 Bullfighter, Jan 19, 2011
    I wonder if they can blur the hosts.
     
  18. Matt Andrews

    Matt Andrews Formula Junior

    Dec 31, 2006
    515
    Newport Beach, CA
    #18 Matt Andrews, Jan 25, 2011
    they are testing 1 car. not a sample of several. Lots of variables play in here - especially depending on who supplied the car. manufactures often send "hot" versions of the cars to be tested for shows and magazines. I personally know the shop that does the ecu reflashes on several japanese turbo cars for their press fleet. A bad alignment, shot tires, full fuel tank vs empty, can all make significant differences on the track. A used up beaten press car doesn't present as well as a fresh one. I've tested both ends of the scale before and the difference is major. Media also doesn't spend the day trying to squeeze the best time out of every car.
     

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