Very fast time. I would like to see what Horst can do, though. He's previously managed to make the E46 M3 CSL even faster than this time.
GM is on the roll. German cars are being attacked from west and east. They better step up their program.
They seem to have turned it around...positive reviews on their crossovers (Acadia etc.) Malibu, G8, CTS, Vette...let's hope they can keep it going...
Do you guys think GM cheated their ring time? Flying start, no FIA official timing, cut slicks, non-stock suspension tuning, and underrated horsepower?
Cheat? Well, in one way..... They have world-class driver, engineer, and program chief all in one John Henriechy driving the CTS - V to a record lap time.... that doesn't mean that you can do it
I found out how GM did it. Look close at the interior of the CTS-V. 1 of 2 things will happen with this car. Either it's not a production vehicle, or we're getting Sparco seats and a roll cage with the CTS-V. Looks like no manufacturer these days can produce a time without altering the final product. Image Unavailable, Please Login
I'll be damned, I think you are right about the roll cage and Sparco seats. Looks like the suspension is sitting very low as well. Please tell me that is NOT the vehicle that claimed the 7:59 time. Major limp rod for GM.
That might be for safety sake if that makes sense, The roll cage anywhoo i think offsets any of that weight. As for the suspension its just compressed due to stress i believe.
When GM started racing the CTS V in America, they were allowed to bend the **** out of the rules like moving the engine back in the chassis more than a foot. When they want to be first, they just do it. It doesn't mean anything to me until a non-GM employee tests a production car.
Every manufacturer puts a safety cage in for NS testing, yes.... even Nissan, Porsche, Mercedes, BMW, etc. etc. etc..... unless the car has an integrated safety cage, a-la Ford GT...
And I suppose they all get Sparco seats, and that, right? Who knows what else is done to this car. Even so, I don't see it as a valid time to compare to BMW, Mercedes, or Audi since their times are being done in production cars (by mags), cars that are what the customer will see. It's just manufacturers trying to cut corners to claim their faster.
Its difficult to see if those are sparco's or not IMHO.... they look like the CTS V seats to me, but it doesn't matter. Additionally, it will be interesting what Sport Auto do in the Supertest. As I mentioned earlier.... John Henreichy did this amazing lap, doesn't mean you can those saying the car looks lowered... well, it is.... the suspension is compressed heavily at that turn (among others) and he is under braking..