The Fast and The Furious Cars Were Surprisingly Slow

When it comes to movies, the cars on screen often appear to be faster than they actually are. Craig Lieberman, a technical advisor on the first two Fast and Furious films, reveals the behind-the-scenes secrets that make these cars look so impressive on screen. In reality, many of the cars featured in the films were not as fast as they appeared. For example, Brian’s Mitsubishi Eclipse from the first movie only made about 125 horsepower and took nine seconds to reach 60 miles per hour in the real world. Similarly, Jessi’s Volkswagen Jetta had just 150 horsepower and took 18 seconds to complete the quarter-mile.

Lieberman explains that the cars in movies don’t need to be fast for filming purposes. In fact, he reveals that 90 percent of car stunts in movies happen below 60 miles per hour. For stunts that require higher speeds, remote controls or cables are often used to achieve the desired effect. Through clever editing, sound mixing, and other tricks, filmmakers are able to create the illusion of speed for moviegoers. Despite the lack of real speed in many of the cars, some did pack quite a punch. For example, Dom’s Mazda RX-7 delivered 305 horsepower and could achieve 0-60 times in the 5-6 second range, while Leon’s Nissan GT-R R33 achieved a 10-second quarter-mile time in the real world.

Overall, Lieberman’s insights into the world of movie car magic shed light on the tricks of the trade that make these vehicles appear to be faster than they really are. By revealing the true performance capabilities of the cars featured in the first two Fast and Furious films, he proves that movie magic plays a significant role in creating the high-octane action scenes that audiences love. While some of the cars in the films were indeed powerful, many were far from the high-performance machines they appeared to be on screen. Nevertheless, the exciting action sequences and impressive stunts continue to captivate audiences around the world, showcasing the power of movie magic at its finest.