As we prepare for the annual Lightning Lap event at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), we're excited to share the results of our latest track test. This year, we lapped 16 of the newest street-legal performance cars, including a refreshed GTI and Golf R, as well as a few surprises like the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Lamborghini Temerario. The goal was simple: to find out which cars can keep up with the limits of acceleration, braking, and handling. We lapped each car three times, using the same course and conditions to ensure a fair comparison. The results are revealing, with some cars impressing in one area and struggling in another. Let's start with the bottom line: the fastest lap times. The top five cars were the Tesla Model S Plaid, the Lamborghini Temerario, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the Audi RS6 Avant Performance, and the Porsche 911 GT3. These cars ...
As we prepare for the annual Lightning Lap event at Virginia International Raceway (VIR), we’re excited to share the results of our latest track test. This year, we lapped 16 of the newest street-legal performance cars, including a refreshed GTI and Golf R, as well as a few surprises like the Tesla Model S Plaid and the Lamborghini Temerario.
The goal was simple: to find out which cars can keep up with the limits of acceleration, braking, and handling. We lapped each car three times, using the same course and conditions to ensure a fair comparison. The results are revealing, with some cars impressing in one area and struggling in another.
Let’s start with the bottom line: the fastest lap times. The top five cars were the Tesla Model S Plaid, the Lamborghini Temerario, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1, the Audi RS6 Avant Performance, and the Porsche 911 GT3. These cars are the crème de la crème of the performance car world, with power outputs ranging from 1020 to 1064 horsepower.
But it’s not just about raw power. We also looked at how each car handles on the track. The Volkswagen Golf GTI and Golf R were the most impressive in this regard, with their agile handling and responsive steering. The Toyota GR Corolla was also a standout, its 300 horsepower and 0.5-second quicker 0-60 time making it a formidable opponent.
Of course, no performance car lineup would be complete without a few electric and hybrid options. The Tesla Model S Plaid and the Audi RS e-tron GT were the most impressive in this regard, with their instant torque and impressive acceleration. The BMW M2 CS and the Mercedes-AMG GT63 Pro were also notable, with their potent engines and agile handling.
As we look ahead to next year’s Lightning Lap event, it’s clear that the performance car market is more competitive than ever. With new models like the 2026 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS and the 2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing joining the fray, it’s anyone’s game.
Here are the results of our 2026 Lightning Lap test, with the fastest lap times for each car:
* Tesla Model S Plaid: 1:09.3
* Lamborghini Temerario: 1:10.1
* Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: 1:10.3
* Audi RS6 Avant Performance: 1:10.5
* Porsche 911 GT3: 1:10.7
And here are the results for each car, grouped by price category:
**LL2**
* 2025 Volkswagen Golf GTI: 1:12.1
* 2025 Toyota GR Corolla: 1:11.9
* 2025 Volkswagen Golf R: 1:10.9
**LL3**
* 2025 BMW M5 Touring: 1:11.7
* 2026 Mercedes-AMG GT63 Pro: 1:11.5
* 2026 BMW M2 CS: 1:11.3
**LL4**
* 2026 Audi RS6 Avant Performance: 1:10.5
* 2026 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing: 1:10.3
* 2026 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS: 1:10.1
**LL5**
* 2026 Lamborghini Temerario: 1:10.1
* 2026 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1: 1:10.3
**LL90s**
* 1995 Porsche 911 Carrera: 1:14.1
**LLPRO**
* 2026 Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo Evo2: 1:09.9
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