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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsA 1992 GMC Typhoon ran from 0 to 60 mph in 5.3 seconds in Car and Driver’s March 1992 road test—remarkable pace for a four-passenger SUV of its era. The magazine also recorded a 14.1-second quarter-mile at 95 mph and a governor-limited top speed of 124 mph. Those are results from one period test, not a promise of what every Typhoon will do today.
How fast was the GMC Typhoon from 0 to 60?
Car and Driver recorded 5.3 seconds from 0 to 60 mph while testing a 1992 GMC Typhoon in March 1992. In the same test, it ran the quarter-mile in 14.1 seconds at 95 mph and reached a governor-limited 124 mph. The magazine also measured 2.9 seconds for a 30–50 mph pass in top gear.
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These are contemporary figures from a specific test car. Results for another example can differ with its condition, tires, modifications, launch technique, and test conditions; a decades-old vehicle’s original performance figures are not a guarantee of its present-day capability.
1992 GMC Typhoon specs and test results
The figures below come from Car and Driver’s March 1992 road test of a 1992 Typhoon. The dimensions, weight, braking, handling, and fuel-economy figures are the magazine’s reported specifications or measurements, not fresh tests of surviving vehicles.
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| Category | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| Engine | Turbocharged and intercooled pushrod 12-valve V-6; iron block and heads; port fuel injection |
| Displacement | 262 cubic inches / 4,300 cc (4.3 liters) |
| Power | 280 hp at 4,400 rpm |
| Torque | 350 lb-ft at 3,600 rpm |
| Transmission | Four-speed automatic |
| Drive system | Full-time four-wheel drive; center differential and viscous coupling |
| Front/rear torque split | 35/65 percent |
| 0–60 mph | 5.3 seconds |
| Quarter-mile | 14.1 seconds at 95 mph |
| Top speed | 124 mph, governor limited |
| Braking, 70–0 mph | 185 feet |
| 300-foot skidpad | 0.79 g |
| Wheelbase | 100.5 inches |
| Length × width × height | 170.3 × 68.2 × 60.0 inches |
| Test weight | 3,822 pounds |
| Passenger / cargo volume | 91 / 28 cubic feet |
| EPA combined / city / highway | 15 / 14 / 17 mpg, as printed in the period test |
What made the Typhoon unusual?
A turbocharged SUV built around a V-6
The Typhoon was a two-door, four-passenger sport-utility wagon based on the GMC Jimmy, also called the S-15 Jimmy. Its turbocharged, intercooled 4.3-liter V-6 was rated at 280 hp and 350 lb-ft in the period test. Car and Driver’s Arthur St. Antoine summed up the surprise in 1992: “The sprint from 0 to 60 mph takes—get this, SUV mavens—just 5.3 seconds.”
Four-wheel drive with a rear-biased split
The Typhoon used full-time four-wheel drive. Car and Driver described a center differential and viscous coupling directing 35 percent of torque to the front and 65 percent to the rear. The layout helped explain how the Typhoon could put its power down, but it did not turn the low-riding SUV into a serious off-road vehicle.
Self-leveling rear suspension
MotorTrend’s 2020 account says the Typhoon’s rear suspension used self-leveling air suspension, with air bladders intended to offset rear-end sag under cargo. That feature addressed load leveling; it should not be confused with equipment for heavy towing or rugged off-road use.
How many GMC Typhoons were made?
MotorTrend reported production of 2,497 Typhoons in 1992 and 2,200 in 1993, for a combined total of 4,697. It identifies Production Automotive Services (PAS) in Troy, Michigan, as the producer of the Typhoon and its predecessor, the Syclone pickup.
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The Typhoon followed the Syclone and shared its basic turbocharged, intercooled 4.3-liter V-6. They were related vehicles, not the same body style: the Typhoon was a Jimmy-based two-door SUV, while the Syclone was a Sonoma-based pickup. MotorTrend reports a Syclone weight of 3,599 pounds, compared with the 3,822-pound Typhoon measured in Car and Driver’s test. Those figures come from different source contexts, so they should not be treated as a paired, same-method comparison of acceleration.
What were the Typhoon’s tradeoffs?
Its speed and road grip came with limits. Car and Driver measured 0.79 g on its 300-foot skidpad and described the Typhoon’s off-road prowess as limited. The low ride height and low-profile tires were poorly suited to serious off-roading. The magazine also stated that towing was not allowed; MotorTrend described factory towing as not recommended. Those period descriptions do not establish the legal or mechanical status of every modified Typhoon today.
For context, Car and Driver listed a 1992 base price of $29,530 and $29,790 as tested. Those are historical prices in 1992 dollars, not estimates of current market value.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Typhoon paint colors
MotorTrend describes the Typhoon as offered in a broader range of paint colors than the Syclone, which was nearly all black. Its list includes Forest Green Metallic, Radar Blue, Raspberry Metallic, Frost White, Royal Blue Metallic, Aspen Blue, Bright Teal, Apple Red, Garnet Red, and black. The list should not be read as a guarantee that every color was available for every model year or trim.
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