K.C. Colwell is Executive Editor at Car and Driver magazine with 87 recorded laps across 87 vehicles on LapMeta—perfect one-to-one ratio characteristic of professional automotive journalism systematic testing protocols. Colwell's automotive journalism career began when his grandmother gifted him a Car and Driver subscription for his 10th birthday. He joined Car and Driver as technical assistant in fall 2004, promoted to assistant technical editor in 2007, served as testing director from 2017-2022, then promoted to executive editor leading the brand to become one of America's top automotive magazines.
His LapMeta data shows all 87 laps concentrated at Grand West Course—Virginia International Raceway's configuration used for Car and Driver's annual Lightning Lap track test. Remarkably, K.C. set the production-car lap record at VIR for Lightning Lap and was just the sixth person to drive the Hendrick Motorsport Garage 56 Camaro—the NASCAR-based Le Mans prototype that competed at 24 Hours of Le Mans 2023. The 87-vehicle portfolio represents comprehensive automotive exposure spanning performance cars, supercars, and exotic machinery evaluated through standardized Lightning Lap testing methodology. His professional expertise combines technical knowledge with high-performance driving competency, conducting objective vehicle evaluations informing millions of readers. With 87 laps across 87 vehicles all at VIR Grand West Course, K.C. Colwell exemplifies the professional automotive journalist who sets lap records while systematically testing the industry's most significant performance vehicles.
On our 16th trip to Virginia International Raceway, we set lap times in 16 of the best performance cars of the year -- and one minivan.
See Car and Driver’s Lightning Lap 2023 feature and all the lap times here: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387169/lightning-lap-2023/
The contenders:
2022 Subaru WRX: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42386897/2022-subaru-wrx-lightning-lap-2023/
2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42386939/2022-volkswagen-gti-lightning-lap-2023/
2022 Hyundai Elantra N: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42386833/2022-hyundai-elantra-n-lightning-lap-2023/
2022 Hyundai Kona N: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42386856/2022-hyundai-kona-n-lightning-lap-2023/
2022 BMW i4 M50: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42386978/2022-bmw-i4-m50-lightning-lap-2023/
2022 BMW M240i xDrive: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387011/2022-bmw-m240i-xdrive-lightning-lap-2023/
2023 Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Edition: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387074/2023-toyota-gr-corolla-morizo-edition-lightning-lap-2023/
2023 Honda Civic Type R: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387050/2023-honda-civic-type-r-lightning-lap-2023/
2023 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Manual: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387087/2023-toyota-gr-supra-3-0-lightning-lap-2023/
2023 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387026/2023-cadillac-ct4-v-blackwing-lightning-lap-2023/
2022 Mercedes-AMG SL63: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387134/2022-mercedes-amg-sl63-lightning-lap-2023/
2022 Audi RS3: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42386957/2022-audi-rs3-lightning-lap-2023/
2023 BMW M4 CSL: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387119/2023-bmw-m4-csl-lightning-lap-2023/
2023 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387126/2023-lamborghini-huracan-tecnica-lightning-lap-2023/
2023 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42736219/2022-porsche-718-cayman-gt4-rs-lightning-lap-2023/
2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42387101/2023-chevrolet-corvette-z06-lightning-lap-2023/
2022 Kia Carnival: https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a42386881/2022-kia-carnival-lightning-lap-2023/
This year’s crop of cars doesn’t look too different from that first event’s, when we ran a Corvette Z06 but not one with a mid-engine 670-hp V-8. A Cayman appeared on the first roster, although it was not nearly as track focused as this year’s Cayman GT4 RS.
There have been massive performance increases in the past 17 years, and not just for Porsches and Corvettes. The Honda Civic Type R offers 315 horsepower from the factory. Toyota fielded two cars: the rally-inspired GR Corolla and a manual-transmission-equipped Supra. Zero Hyundais appeared in 2006, but two this year—Kona N and Elantra N—returned times that might surprise you. BMW sent the M4 CSL and the electric i4 M50; both were significantly quicker than the 2006 M6 in the first event.
A new Subaru WRX and Audi RS3 brought a rally-car experience at two different price points. After a few issues with the BMW M240i, the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, and the Volkswagen GTI last year, we invited them back for a chance to improve their lap times. Mercedes and Lamborghini were missing from the first roster, but this year we lapped the new SL63, a 2+2 with all-wheel drive, and Lamborghini brought out a Huracán Tecnica, a less extreme version of the Huracán STO.
Subscribe to Car and Driver http://bit.ly/SUBSCRIBEtoCARandDRIVER
00:00 Intro and how we test
01:45 Subaru WRX
03:12 Volkswagen Golf GTI
04:47 Hyundai Elantra N
05:54 Hyundai Kona N
07:13 BMW i4 M50
09:27 BMW M240i xDrive
11:05 Toyota GR Corolla Morizo Edition
12:36 Honda Civic Type R
14:32 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 Manual
16:33 Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing
18:00 Mercedes-AMG SL63
19:47 Audi RS3
21:27 BMW M4 CSL
23:15 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica
25:00 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 RS
27:10 Chevrolet Corvette Z06
29:35 Conclusion