Lexus LFA Beats Ferrari 599 GTO in EVO Magazine Comparison

Posted by Kevin on August 26th, 2011

Finally managed to read the full Lexus LFA vs. Ferrari 599 GTO comparison from EVO Magazine, and it’s an absolute barnburner — believe me, I’d like nothing more than to keep the ending as a surprise, but the closing paragraphs is just too good not to quote:

What marks out the LFA for particular praise is its bravery and originality; for Lexus to create such a car from scratch, with no evolutionary engineering or existing bias from which to work, is a remarkable achievement. Innovative, extreme, immaculately executed and exquisite to drive, it’s the greatest high-performance car Japan has ever produced.

Get hung up on the badge and you’ll be blind to its magic. Revel in its rarity, its rare abilities and the fact we’re unlikely to see its like again and you’ll understand why the LFA is one of the greats, and why this test ends with three unexpected, hard-won and thoroughly deserved words: Lexus beats Ferrari.

Wow. Lexus has created a machine so extraordinary that it’s capable of besting Ferrari’s flagship model in a head-to-head comparison by the best automotive magazine currently available. What an amazing achievement — don’t waste any time, you have to read this article.

Download the EVO Lexus LFA vs. Ferrari 599 GTO Comparison (PDF)

ComparisonsCompetitorsEuropeLexus LFARacingReviewsUnited Kingdom
Popular Stories

Sorry. No data so far.

Comments
Y
I remember EVO Magazine is somehow like Autocar , quite lean towards Ferrari ... but it's really surprise me about EVO Magazine said Lexus beats Ferrari . Speaking of beats , did EVO put them both on something like Track or Cornering Road Time Attack ? I'm interested to see who's faster & how much faster .
Y
I remember EVO Magazine is somehow like Autocar , quite lean towards Ferrari ... but it's really surprise me about EVO Magazine said Lexus beats Ferrari . Speaking of beats , did EVO put them both on something like Track or Cornering Road Time Attack ? I'm interested to see who's faster & how much faster .
    K
    • K
      krew
    • August 26, 2011
    They did race them on an old airport runway -- the Ferrari was faster by a fair margin, but didn't handle as well as the LFA. All the details are in the above PDF.
    Y
    I expected the 599 GTO is handle bit more hyperactive after I see what Jeremy Clarkson comment it in both of his own DVD (The Italian Job) & Top Gear Series ... while the LFA is really amazing but I do realize LFA is slightly harder to drift . Anyway I'll check the PDF later on .
    K
    • K
      krew
    • August 26, 2011
    They did race them on an old airport runway -- the Ferrari was faster by a fair margin, but didn't handle as well as the LFA. All the details are in the above PDF.
L
I'm amazed! For a British car magazine to favour a Lexus over a Ferrari i staggering! Wonderful!
    T
    • T
      Tosh69
    • August 27, 2011
    Mind you they are not comparing a Lexus IS against a Ferrari.  They are comparing two similarly priced and engineered automobiles. 
    M
    • M
      Max_bramante
    • August 27, 2011
    So what? Lexus is specialized for luxury cars, not exotic. In this way they show to the world that they can play with the big supercars names and eventually beat them. By the way ferrari are very overrated, it's all about the name. Did you forget what happened to the 458 Italia last year?
    Y
    The reason that I like Lexus isn't because it's luxury ... but the perfection ; Toyota's quality is well-known top on the list , it's really can't imagine how perfect a Lexus is until I touched them . There's only 3-4 LS460 (not LS600hL as my area's people doesn't quite like Lexus in Hybrid ... so far only saw one Hybrid Lexus , the RX450h) , and everyone of them is perfection . Even the very first Lexus , the LS400 ... also being perfection in every single bit even it's 22 years old !
    D
    • D
      D2
    • August 30, 2011
    Yeah I know what you mean bro! Just looking at their tight fit & finish makes me drool!
    M
    • M
      Max_bramante
    • August 27, 2011
    So what? Lexus is specialized for luxury cars, not exotic. In this way they show to the world that they can play with the big supercars names and eventually beat them. By the way ferrari are very overrated, it's all about the name. Did you forget what happened to the 458 Italia last year?
B
  • B
    BOSS
  • August 27, 2011
Brilliant!
  • Anonymous
  • August 27, 2011
I'M SO HAPPY! And they're not just doing this to try to be different. I suppose we can also sort of say that Jeremy Clarkson really knew what he was talking about! (I always liked to consider Jezza's words as "valid opinions") And I'm also a big Chris Harris fan!
Y
  • Y
    Yosida
  • August 27, 2011
I can proudly say my IS is better than a Ferrari!!!!
B
  • B
    BlackDynamiteMB
  • August 27, 2011
Reinforces LFA's victory over the Ferrari 599 in C&D earlier this year BD
B
  • B
    bobby
  • August 27, 2011
this is a good day haha 
R
  • R
    Rottmaster_dnc
  • August 27, 2011
this news makes my day even better :)
0
  • 0
    05RollaXRS
  • August 28, 2011
It is by a 100% British publication that is one of the biggest supporters of Ferrari. Evo declaring LFA their winner over LFA says something about Lexus's passion, dedication and determination.
0
  • 0
    05RollaXRS
  • August 28, 2011
MotorTrend's Randy Pobst lapped the Lexus LFA around Leguna Seca and in this hot lap, Lexus LFA put down the 4th fastest lap time by a passenger vehicle. Ofcourse, on street Potenza tires. No track DOT competition tires like many of the supercars these days have OEM. To put things in perspective, no porsche has ever lapped quicker except GT2 RS ON Michelin cup super slick tires; Record laps around Leguna Seca: http://www.fastestlaps.com/tracks/laguna_seca.html Video of Lexus LFA lapping Leguna Seca (Listen to the sound of LFA V10 screaming to 9500 rpm. It is UNBELIEVABLE!!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKuoOtUsJxA&feature=player_embedded LFA is one "the greatest supercars of all times". PERIOD!
    O
    • O
      Oranji
    • August 29, 2011
    Great links! Thanks.
    Y
    CFRP Monocoque might be the reason ... seriously , LFA is insane !
T
  • T
    Testa
  • August 29, 2011
It's a promotion or a real report？
T
  • T
    Travis
  • August 29, 2011
EPIC win.   This comes to no surprize the LFA was already a fantastic supercar from the first day I saw it I feel in Love with it.
A
I think this is good News for all LFA Fans and owners even Future onwers wont be shy shout louder than before I am buying a Lexus LFA for 4 Bars.
B
  • B
    BlackDynamiteMB
  • September 1, 2011
BTW, I have it on VERY good authority that a Lexus Nurburgring Edition this week ran a 7:14 lap......STILL on performance street tires! BD
    W
    • W
      WhiteDynamiteBD
    • September 2, 2011
    I also heard from a VERY good authority that the Lexus Nurburgring Edition this week ran a 1:59 lap...... with no tires!!!! WD
    K
    • K
      krew
    • September 2, 2011
    Haha.
5
  • 5
    599Gotrobbed
  • September 2, 2011
So, the Lexus won the comparison because it was 50,000GBP more expensive, slower, had a loud gearbox, and it's antiquated traction control system and lack of torque made for easier hammering of the gas mid corner? This has got to be the ONLY article i've ever read where they complained about too much torque, and it makes less than a Z06...I wonder how large the bag of money was Lexus gave them for this article was.
H
  • H
    Hmmmm
  • September 3, 2011
So the Lexus won even though it's slower, costs more, has a louder gearbox and an antiquated skid control..... What was the point of this article except Lexus PR? I have never heard of EVO or ANY publication complain about too much torque, especially when it's making less torque than dozens of other sub 120,000 dollar cars out there.

H