VSLinear data acquisition is an integral part of Performance Car of the Year testing, with each competitor running the gauntlet to see how it compares to its manufacturer’s claims and providing various data points for comparison.
Testing for 2022 was carried out on the Phillip Island main straight, with all cars being measured on the same 400m stretch. Conditions were clear and sunny with temperatures around 20-25 degrees. Bass Strait sent strong gusts of wind our way, with some cars battling a headwind while others gained a tailwind.
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The most notable stat from the SCOTY tests was the Yaris’ jaw-dropping 0-60 mph time of 4.49s, more than half a second faster than ever. Enright’s former long term was clearly well-honed. Amazingly, the BRZ’s 14.24s 0-400m time was the same as the facelifted 3.2-liter Honda NSX that Morley tested for us in 2002. That’s progress for you.
0-400m
Drivers: Andy Enright, Louis Cordony
The front runners are split between the mighty 345kW Mustang Mach 1 and Toyota’s tiny GR Yaris Rallye, with just 0.08 seconds between them.
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0-400m V-Max
Drivers: Andy Enright, Louis Cordony
Again, the Mustang Mach 1 leads the pack, able to stretch its legs further 400m than the three-cylinder GR Yaris. In both disciplines, the BRZ impresses by sprinting ahead of a number of more powerful turbocharged rivals such as the Golf GTI, BMW 128ti and Skoda Octavia RS.
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0-100km/h
Drivers: Andy Enright, Louis Cordony
We could hardly believe the time we squeezed out of the GR Yaris Rallye, significantly faster than any of our previous tests. Again, BRZ makes an admirable effort as the i20 N proves difficult to launch.
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stopwatch
Driver: Warren Luff
A sprawling island of Phillip Island proves the perfect playground for the Mustang Mach 1. More impressive than the lap time itself is the fact that it survived two days of testing with the lame mode without ever looking up once. A first in ENGINE the story.
| Ford Mustang Mach 1 | 1:48.32 |
|---|---|
| Toyota GR Yaris Rallye | 1:51.20 |
| Hyundai i30 Sedan N | 1:52.29 |
| Ford Focus ST | 1:53.42 |
| Volkswagen Golf GTI | 1:53.76 |
| Skoda Octavia RS | 1:53.93 |
| Subaru BRZ | 1:54.41 |
| Hyundai i20N | 1:55.79 |
| BMW 128ti | 1:56.16 |
| Mazda MX-5 GT RS | 1:58.02 |
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V-Max Tower
Driver: Warren Luff
Ranking third in all other disciplines except braking, the speedy i30 Sedan N snatched the second fastest lap in the overall V-Max standings at an impressive 220.8 km/h. Skoda Octavia RS also defied expectations.
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100-0km/h
Drivers: Andy Enright, Louis Cordony
At 1500kg the Focus ST isn’t exactly a lightweight, and its 330mm front brakes aren’t the monstrous 356mm or 340mm units of the lighter GR Yaris Rallye and Golf GTI models. Which makes its best-in-class stopping distance of 33.9m all the more impressive.
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Technical data
| 128ti | ST focus | Mustang Mach 1 | i20N | i30 Saloon N | MX-5 GT RS | Octavia RS | BRZ | GR Yaris Rallye | Golf GTI | |
| Body | 5-door, 5-seat saloon | 5-door, 5-seat saloon | 2-door 4-seater coupé | 5-door, 5-seat saloon | 4-door, 5-seater sedan | Convertible 2 doors, 2 seats | 5-door, 5-seater station wagon | 2-door 4-seater coupé | 3-door, 4-seater sedan | 5-door, 5-seat saloon |
| Conduct | Front-wheel Drive | Front-wheel Drive | rear-wheel drive | Front-wheel Drive | Front-wheel Drive | rear-wheel drive | Front-wheel Drive | rear-wheel drive | all wheel drive | Front-wheel Drive |
| Engine | 1998cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbocharged | 2261cc Inline 4 Cylinder, DOHC, 16V, Turbocharged | 5038cc V8, DOHC, 32v | 1591cc 4 cylinder in line, DOHC, 16v, turbocharged | 1998cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbocharged | 1998c inline-4, DOHC, 16v | 1984cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbocharged | 2387cc boxer-4, DOHC, 16v | 1618cc inline-3, DOHC, 12v, turbocharged | 1984cc inline-4, DOHC, 16v, turbocharged |
| bore/stroke | 82.0mm x 94.6mm | 87.5mm x 94.0mm | 93.0mm x 92.7mm | 75.6mm x 89.0mm | 86.0mm x 86.0mm | 83.5mm x 91.2mm | 82.5mm x 92.8mm | 94.0mm x 86.0mm | 87.5mm x 89.7mm | 82.5mm x 92.8mm |
| Compression | 11.0:1 | 9.7:1 | 12.0:1 | 10.0:1 | 9.5:1 | 13.0:1 | 9.6:1 | 12.5:1 | 10.5:1 | 9.6:1 |
| Able | 180 kW at 6,500 rpm | 206 kW at 5,500 rpm | 345 kW at 7,500 rpm | 150kW @ 5500-6000rpm | 206 kW at 5,500-6,000 rpm | 135 kW at 7000 rpm | 180kW @ 5250-6500rpm | 174 kW at 7000 rpm | 200 kW at 6,500 rpm | 180kW @ 5000-6200rpm |
| Couple | 380Nm @ 1500-4400rpm | 420Nm at 3000rpm | 556 Nm at 4600 rpm | 275 Nm at 1750-4500 rpm | 392Nm @ 2100-4700rpm | 205 Nm at 4000 rpm | 370Nm @ 1600-4300rpm | 250 Nm at 3700 rpm | 370Nm @ 3000-4600rpm | 370Nm @ 1600-4300rpm |
| Power/Weight | 125kW/ton | 137kW/ton | 194kW/ton | 126kW/ton | 143kW/ton | 131kW/ton | 125kW/ton | 135kW/ton | 156kW/ton | 138kW/ton |
| Transmission | 8-speed automatic | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 8-speed dual clutch | 6-speed manual | 7-speed dual clutch | 6-speed manual | 6-speed manual | 7-speed dual clutch |
| Mass | 1445kg | 1500kg | 1779kg | 1190kg | 1445kg | 1033kg | 1445kg | 1286kg | 1280kg | 1409kg |
| Suspension | MacPherson strut, anti-roll bar (f); multi-link anti-roll bar (r) | MacPherson strut, anti-roll bar (f); multi-link anti-roll bar (r) | MacPherson strut, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar (f); multi-link, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar (r) | MacPherson strut, anti-roll bar (f); torsion bar, anti-roll bar (r) | MacPherson strut, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar (f); multi-link, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar (r) | Double wishbone, anti-roll bar (f); multi-link anti-roll bar (r) | MacPherson strut, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar (f); multi-link anti-roll bar (r) | MacPherson strut, anti-roll bar (f); double wishbone, anti-roll bar (r) | MacPherson strut, anti-roll bar (f); double wishbone, anti-roll bar (r) | MacPherson strut, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar (f); multi-link, adaptive dampers, anti-roll bar (r) |
| Brakes | 360 mm ventilated discs, 4-piston calipers (f); 330mm discs, 1-piston calipers (r) | 330 mm ventilated discs, 4-piston calipers (f); 302mm discs, 1-piston calipers (r) | 380 mm ventilated discs, 6-piston calipers (f); 330mm ventilated discs, 1-piston calipers (r) | 320mm ventilated discs, 1-piston calipers (f); 262mm discs, 1-piston(r) calipers | 360 mm ventilated discs, 1-piston calipers (f); 314mm discs, 1-piston(r) calipers | 280 mm ventilated discs, 4-piston calipers (f); 280mm discs, 1-piston calipers (r) | 312mm discs, 1-piston calipers (f); 272mm discs, 1-piston calipers (r) | 294 mm ventilated discs, 2-piston calipers (f); 290mm discs, 1-piston calipers (r) | 356 mm ventilated discs, 4 pistons (f); 297mm ventilated discs, 2-piston calipers (r) | 340 mm ventilated discs, 1-piston calipers (f); 310mm ventilated discs, 1-piston calipers (r) |
| wheels | 18.0 x 8.0 (f/r) | 19.0 x 8.0 inches (front/rear) | 19.0 x 9.5 inches (w); | 18.0 x 7.5 inches (front/rear) | 19.0 x 8.0 inches (front/rear) | 17.0 x 7.0 inches (front/rear) | 19.0 x 7.5 inches (front/rear) | 18.0 x 7.5 inches (front/rear) | 18.0 x 8.0 inches (front/rear) | 18.0 x 7.5 inches (front/rear) |
| Tires | 225/40 R18 (front/rear) | 235/35 ZR19 (front/rear) | 255/40 ZR19 (f); 275/40 ZR19(r) Michelin Pilot Sport 4S | 215/40 R18 (front/rear) | 245/35 ZR19 (front/rear) | 205/45 R17 (front/rear) | 225/40 R19 (front/rear) | 215/40 R18 (front) 245/40 R18 (rear) Michelin Pilot Sport 4 | 225/40 ZR18 (front/rear) | 225/40 R18 (front/rear) |
| Price | $56,900 | $44,890 | $83,241 | $32,490 | $49,000 | $47,020 | $48,290 | $38,990 | $54,500 | $53,300 |