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Top Gear’s Supercar Showdown


At long last, some kind soul at Toyota Nation has scanned the Top Gear magazine article that pitted the Lexus LFA against the Mercedes SLS AMG, Ferrari 458 Italia, Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera & Porsche 911 GT3 RS.

As it turns out, the LFA doesn’t really get a fair shake — for reasons confusing at best, the other four supercars get fresh new laptimes, but the LFA has to make due with its old wet laps from last year’s Top Gear appearance, which understandably places it in last place. However, the Top Gear team still has high praise for the Lexus’ supercar, here are some quotes:

[The LFA is] also the number one crowd-stopper and though not all the people we spoke to like it, everyone wants to know what it is.

Its interior is also remarkable. It’s sensationally well-made. It has easily the best door handles and indicator stalks that I’ve ever used…

[The Stig’s] feedback was that, even with the traction gizmos switched on, the LFA is a knife-edge thing, one that instantly wants to get cozy with the limit. It’s the sort of car that needs to be driving accurately. Ditch the safety stuff and you’re on your own. It’s as mad as its V10 exhaust howl.

The Stig also weighs in directly:

The Stig Weighs in Directly

Uneven or not, this Top Gear article is still a fun read — and should you have the same issue I had reading the scans, I’ve found a more conveniently sized zip.

[Source: Top Gear Magazine via Toyota Nation]

ComparisonsCompetitorsLexus LFAUnited Kingdom
Comments
W
  • W
    WorldofLuxury
  • September 20, 2010
This is great! This is not great! This still has some greatness!
  • krew
  • September 20, 2010
WorldofLuxury wrote:This is great! This is not great! This still has some greatness!
Haha. Nice summary! :-)
J
  • J
    JVX
  • September 21, 2010
Thanks for sharing the attached zip file. Good reading and a big thumb up for Lexus. It's a huge step forward for Toyota and for Japan. Once considered as 'inferior' cars, now standing side-by-side, if not ahead, of the greatest. It was just a matter of time, as expected.
S
  • S
    seal
  • September 21, 2010
If someone wants the OFFICIAL C200H PARIS MOTOR SHOW BROCHURE just mail me ;)
E
  • E
    Enthusiast
  • September 30, 2010
Even by their own admission (this and previous shows) Lexus makes some of the best cars in the world. But it seems that since Jeremy Clarkson doesn't like them, they will never get a fair shake. As long as this showed is looked at as only entertainment (and I find it very entertaining) and not a "real" automotive review show I guess it's ok.
G
  • G
    GB
  • October 6, 2010
Poor "Top Gear" guys - how they must have agonized over how to avoid giving LF-A a fair shake at a dry laptime, which surely would have embarrassed its competitors. BTW, it seems the British themselves are getting quite sick of Jeremy Clarkson and his sick jokes on air.

G