Comparisons

Last month, a video showed up on Youtube showing a Lexus LFA, Mercedes SLS, Porsche GT3 RS, Lamborghini LP 570-4 Superleggera, and Ferrari 458 all parked on the side of a UK road — turns out this was the work of Top Gear Magazine, who pulled the “five greatest supercars of the year” together for a showdown.

Alas, the article has yet to appear online, but according to the preview on the Top Gear website, The Stig puts each of the supercars through its paces — which should make the comparison all the more interesting. Hopefully it surfaces somewhere…

[Source: Top Gear Magazine] (Thanks Jhonatan!)

Thanks to German Car Forums, we can get a sneak peek at the new Car Magazine Autocar comparison of the Lexus LFA, Ferrari 458 Italia, Porsche 911 GT3 RS & Noble M600 — here’s a LFA quote:

Even though pictures of the LFA have been circulating for years, and personally I’ve seen the car in the carbonfibre before, nothing prepares you for the sight of the Lexus on home ground, mixed in among everyday traffic. In our collection there are more beautiful shapes and brighter colors, but without a doubt the most striking shape is the LFA. It looks like it has arrived from Mars, circa the year 2050.

On a whole, the article reads like a 458 Italia love story — which is all well and good, except when it gets down to raw numbers:

To think that Autocar was only able to hit a 4.2s 0-60MPH time with the LFA — when Car & Driver and Motor Trend managed 3.7s & 3.8s respectively — makes me think two things right off the bat:

• This white LFA pre-production prototype is starting to show some wear after some very tough miles.
• The other three cars are equipped with launch control systems, which practically guarantees a solid launch. The LFA, on the other hand, requires more technical skill.

After all, it did take Car & Driver some experimentation to hit their reported 3.7s time, and that was with a different prototype. Unfortunately, neither of these facts are mentioned in the article.

Nevertheless, this article only highlights the need for launch control in the LFA — if only to even out the playing field and make for more accurate comparisons.

Update: This comparison is from Autocar, not Car Magazine.

[Source: Autocar via German Car Forum]

Georg Kacher first wrote a comparison of the Lexus LFA & Mercedes SLS AMG for CAR Magazine, and now he’s expanded on his initial review for Automobile Magazine this month:

The Lexus LFA and the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG are about as different in approach and ability as a muscular sprinter is from a sinewy long-distance runner. It’s a clash of characters along the lines of a Suzuki Hayabusa sportbike taking on a BMW K1300S, a Moog synthesizer compared with a Steinway piano, or techno music as opposed to Beethoven.

The LFA is a limited-edition, high-tech item that is heart-stoppingly pretty and very nicely put together, a street racer for track days and early Sunday mornings. The SLS is a powerboat for the road, a mighty mauler that evokes fond memories of a brand’s glorious past, a surprisingly practical and highly visible tool for the dedicated driver. Both cars are honest and straightforward, classy and competent, intriguing in the way they present themselves and perform, dynamically focused, and deeply rewarding. The final choice could come down to personal preferences, such as the more modern Lexus exterior and interior or the more practical packaging of the Mercedes.

There’s certainly a clash of ideals at work between these two supercars, and it’s one that Mr. Kacher manages to capture perfectly. No matter the cutting-edge technology that powers the SLS, the supercar has a decidedly retro appearance and draws (perhaps too) much of its character from the 300SL Gullwing, whereas the LFA is unlike any other vehicle on the road, and it’s that difference in philosophy that stands out the most when they’re put side-by-side.

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

Car & Driver took the Lexus ES 350, Hyundai Genesis, Buick LaCrosse & Ford Taurus Limited out on a golfing trip — here’s what they had to say about the ES 350:

[...]the ES350 is also the lightest car in this group, and good things always happen when you’re slim. For starters, the Lexus, while requiring premium fuel, easily attained the best observed fuel economy. And even though it offers just average horsepower, it was the second-quickest to 60 mph, tied the Genesis for best rolling start to 60 mph, achieved 100 mph the soonest, carried the greatest speed through the quarter-mile, and was the winner in 50-to-70-mph passing potential.

Throttle tip-in is perfect, sightlines are unobstructed (aided by thin A-pillars and a low beltline), and there’s an uncanny rightness about the interface among pedals, steering wheel, shifter, and center stack. Around town, especially, the ES350 felt light, airy, and more agile than its competitors.

Really, this comparison is a hodgepodge and the results are fairly predictable. In the end, the ES 350 placed second behind the Hyundai Genesis — hardly surprising given that the Genesis was released last year to compete against the Lexus GS & BMW 5-series, and car magazines will always prefer the sportier drive.

On the other hand, here’s a comparison that puts the four-year-old ES 350 ahead of two brand-new vehicles — including the LaCrosse which is pointed directly at the ES’ marketshare. In that regard, I’d say the ES 350 put on a good round.

[Source: Car & Driver]

Car Magazine has a supercar comparison we’ve all been waiting for as they pit the Lexus LFA against the Mercedes SLS — some choice quotes:

The LFA in particular is infamous for its insane intonations of raw power. Redlined at 9000rpm where the rev counter changes colour from snow white to devil´s red, the V10 is as intensely shrill as a Moto GP bike or a F1 racer. When the wide white wedge appears at the horizon, bystanders poise their mobile phones not only to freezeframe one of Europe´s rarest sports cars but also to capture that spine-tingling soundtrack.

In tunnels, people inadvertently step on the brake when the Lexus driver floors the loud pedal, because the xenon-eyed noiseball in their rear view mirror sounds and looks like an UFO heralding the end of the world. The SLS is more minor than major, all bass and tenor, roaring tiger rather than howling wolf.

The LFA is a limited-edition high-tech and high-mech item, heart-stoppingly pretty and very nicely put together, a puristic street racer for track days and early Sunday mornings. The SLS is a powerboat for the road, a mighty mauler which evokes fond memories of a glorious past, a surprisingly practical and highly visible tool for the dedicated driver.

Both cars are honest and straightforward, classy and competent, intriguing in the way they present themselves and perform, pleasantly free of gimmicks and tweaks, dynamically focused and deeply rewarding.

In the end, reviewer Georg Kacher takes the SLS over the LFA, mostly due to the stiffer suspension and some transmission jerkiness in the LFA, something he’s complained about before. Even so, it’s clearly a victory by a very narrow margin, and won mostly due to personal taste.

No matter the outcome, the article photos are superb:

And the best part? This comparison is only one of two — though the second part is currently only available in the actual Car Magazine.

[Source: Car Magazine]

Motor Trend has a new luxury off-road comparison featuring the Lexus GX 460 against the Land Rover LR4 and Mercedes GL 450:

The GX ends up finishing second behind the LR4, and was well-received by the Motor Trend writers, especially in terms of value — however, they deducted points for its low tow rating (6,500lbs) and the lack of cargo space.

There is a full text review as well, along with a very nice photo gallery — which included this shot:

Crazy!

[Source: Motor Trend]