Lexus LF-A vs 2012 GT-R Insideline

[565]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46Tm2NYuw1Q

Actually Insideline's got the LFA for a roadtrip, with Dyno runs, drag races vs a GT2-RS and reader test drives.

http://blogs.insideline.com/straightline/Manufacturers/Lexus/

[GoCougs]

Wow the LF-A sounds incredible, but also sounds relatively slow shifting too.

[r0tor]

Holy shit I love the sounds of the lfa... worth the price of admission for the screaming v10 F1 sound

Note to dodge: a v10 does not have to sound like ass

[CALL_911]

ZOMG THAT NOISE

I think that noise alone just trumped every ounce of MB's H+H.

[MX793]

Holy shit I love the sounds of the lfa... worth the price of admission for the screaming v10 F1 sound

Note to dodge: a v10 does not have to sound like ass

It does when it's a 2-valve, pushrod design displacing over 800cc per cylinder (vs 4-valve DOHC displacing a mere 480cc per cylinder).  I'd also point out that the Viper's V10, having been based on a V8, has a 90-degree bank angle and odd firing order while the LFA has a more ideal 72-degree bank angle and even firing order.

[MX793]

Wow the LF-A sounds incredible, but also sounds relatively slow shifting too.

According to the specs, both cars upshift in 0.2s.  I think the difference in the shifting sound may lie in the gear ratios of the first several gears.  Despite having a redline that is a couple of thousand RPM higher, the LFA's gearing isn't that much shorter than the GT-R's in the first couple of gears.  In fact, in 1st gear it's taller.

The GT-R's gearing, as expressed in mph/1000 RPM, in its first 3 gears are as follows:
1st:  5.3  (37.1 mph top speed)
2nd:  9.4  (65.8 mph top speed)
3rd:  13.6  (95.2 mph top speed)

The LFA's gearing is as follows:
1st:  5.6  (50.4 mph top speed)
2nd:  8.3  (74.7 mph top speed)
3rd:  11.3  (101.7 mph top speed)

[thewizard16]

That was fun to read/watch. I would love to have played with a car like that for a few days.

[Laconian]

The Lexus is the star of the drag strip. I can barely even hear the GT-R over the LF-A's banshee wail. My hairs are standing on end!

[GoCougs]

According to the specs, both cars upshift in 0.2s.  I think the difference in the shifting sound may lie in the gear ratios of the first several gears.  Despite having a redline that is a couple of thousand RPM higher, the LFA's gearing isn't that much shorter than the GT-R's in the first couple of gears.  In fact, in 1st gear it's taller.

The GT-R's gearing, as expressed in mph/1000 RPM, in its first 3 gears are as follows:
1st:  5.3  (37.1 mph top speed)
2nd:  9.4  (65.8 mph top speed)
3rd:  13.6  (95.2 mph top speed)

The LFA's gearing is as follows:
1st:  5.6  (50.4 mph top speed)
2nd:  8.3  (74.7 mph top speed)
3rd:  11.3  (101.7 mph top speed)

If anything the LF-A is doing some sort of F1-style engine management between shifts. Either way the LF-A sounds slow in comparison to me. A bit of Googlism shows it's a single-clutch sequential whereas the GT-R (and many others) are dual clutch.

GT-R.

LF-A.

[sportyaccordy]

Woof....

400K to get beat by a G38xS

Sounds damn good though

[Galaxy]

A symphony of sound:    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6D7S2rcyIQ

It does sound remarkably close to the old F1 V10s.


Also, most here probably have already seen it but just in case some have not, here is the Top Gear test.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tFPF6M5PLo

[omicron]

I don't care that the LFA is slower. I don't really care how fast it is at all. I don't care that entire herds of Alcantaras had to die to trim the interior. I don't care that the instrument panel has silly, flashy graphics. I don't care that it's a bit funny-looking. I don't care about the dubious value. I just don't care. I just want to drive the damn thing to within an inch of its life and hear that glorious, wondrous, fabulous engine shriek and scream and wail and cry.

There are very, very few modern cars that I truly want. This is one of them.

[Onslaught]

I'm with you guys. The sound of that LF-A is just so good.

[cawimmer430]

ZOMG THAT NOISE

I think that noise alone just trumped every ounce of MB's H+H.

I really don't see what the big deal is with this Lexus V10 sound. I've seen it on the 'Ring and heard it and yeah it's a cool sound, but there are other cars that sound just as good or even better.

LIKE THESE. 

















And this thing, which an aircraft engine would have totally destroyed that puny V10 engine sound of the LF-A if it weren't for WW2. 

[r0tor]

I don't care that the LFA is slower. I don't really care how fast it is at all. I don't care that entire herds of Alcantaras had to die to trim the interior. I don't care that the instrument panel has silly, flashy graphics. I don't care that it's a bit funny-looking. I don't care about the dubious value. I just don't care. I just want to drive the damn thing to within an inch of its life and hear that glorious, wondrous, fabulous engine shriek and scream and wail and cry.

There are very, very few modern cars that I truly want. This is one of them.

True

[Onslaught]

I really don't see what the big deal is with this Lexus V10 sound. I've seen it on the 'Ring and heard it and yeah it's a cool sound, but there are other cars that sound just as good or even better.

LIKE THESE. 

I can't buy these. Well, I can't buy an LF-A either so in the end I don't give a shit.

And don't act like that sound isn't orgasmic. If that noise came from a MB you'd be jerking off to one. You just don't like it because it's a Toyota.

[cawimmer430]

And don't act like that sound isn't orgasmic. If that noise came from a MB you'd be jerking off to one. You just don't like it because it's a Toyota.

Noise doesn't excite me. I already said the LF-A has a nice engine sound but people are hyping it up so much. To me a simple N/A BMW inline-6 has more charms than this V10. Seriously. "Sounds are subjective."

Let's not turn this into another flame fest.

[Onslaught]

To me a simple N/A BMW inline-6 has more charms than this V10.

How would you know? Yours is always broken down. 

[cawimmer430]

How would you know? Yours is always broken down. 

I have a 4-cylinder BMW but there are tons of 335i's on the street or older 330i's and they sound awesome.

[thewizard16]

Noise doesn't excite me. I already said the LF-A has a nice engine sound but people are hyping it up so much. To me a simple N/A BMW inline-6 has more charms than this V10. Seriously. "Sounds are subjective."

Let's not turn this into another flame fest.

Sound is subjective of course, but you're the first person I've heard that said they didn't like it. I always hated most of the after market exhaust or flowmaster crap people would stick on their trucks, cars, etc. because they apparently thought it sounded awesome and I thought it sounded like a sick tractor, but a V10 that weighs as much as a 6 and revs like an F1 car is just crazy sounding, whether it flips your switches personally or not. There's something special about the way they made this car sound, and it's one of the most appealing things about the car to me other than the overall bad-assness (which is a common feature in this segment and price range, but even then they did a good job). This is an objectively amazing machine though- there are several things about this car that simply hadn't been done before, and the engineers and designers were essentially given free reign to go nuts. As go nuts they did. There are a lot of supercars I'd love to have (and never will), but you have to admire the company known for cushy, floaty, reliable cars with minimal excitement letting their engineers off the leash and telling them to build a super car and turning out a car that has been liked, raved about, or praised by every reviewer in some way. The Top Gear test was one of my favorites to watch, but they're all good.

No one was arguing about this being the "BEST CAR IN DA WORLD" or anything, but there's no point in denying the impressive nature of what they've built and apparently built well (whether you prefer another car over it or not is irrelevant- it'd be like me claiming an SLS or Gallardo was boring and unimpressive because I liked the DBS better). I don't imagine I'll ever be in the market for something like the LFA, nor will most (if anyone) on this forum, but it'd sure looks fun to drive one.

[sportyaccordy]

If the LF-A was an MB Wimm would be jizzing in his pants

I understand having a favorite brand but dude you are ridiculous

[giant_mtb]

If the LF-A was an MB Wimm would be jizzing in his pants

I understand having a favorite brand but dude you are ridiculous

+1,328,452,573

[Galaxy]

Holy shit I love the sounds of the lfa... worth the price of admission for the screaming v10 F1 sound

Note to dodge: a v10 does not have to sound like ass

Interestingly the V10 powered Porsche Carrera GT sounds similar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFe_5JTixEw&feature=related

Sorry for the crappy video.

The Audi V10 sounds more V8ish.

[SVT32V]

, but a V10 that weighs as much as a 6 and revs like an F1 car is just crazy sounding,

As cool as it is, the LFA engine doesn't rev like an F1 car, the F1 V10s revved to 19,000 rpm, the LFA isn't even halfway there, its an ocean away. People said the same about the S2K, again not even halfway there. Both are a lot closer to your avg passenger car engine than an F1 engine.

[Laconian]

The V10 has 2.5 times more detonations per revolution than the S2k's I4.

[Submariner]

I've always loved the way the SLR sounded - the supercharger plus the exhaust = sex.

But this Lexus, damn, it's nice.

My dad's 911 sounds sexy underway, but I wish it was a bit more pronounced at throttle. 

[MX793]

As cool as it is, the LFA engine doesn't rev like an F1 car, the F1 V10s revved to 19,000 rpm, the LFA isn't even halfway there, its an ocean away. People said the same about the S2K, again not even halfway there. Both are a lot closer to your avg passenger car engine than an F1 engine.

The rate at which the LFA builds RPMs goes far beyond pretty much any other production road car.  How many other road cars can change RPMs so quickly that a regular analog tach can't keep up?

[Cookie Monster]

The rate at which the LFA builds RPMs goes far beyond pretty much any other production road car.  How many other road cars can change RPMs so quickly that a regular analog tach can't keep up?

Wasn't that a problem with the S2000 (at least the AP1)?

I thought that's why it had a digital dash.

[MrH]

The rate at which the LFA builds RPMs goes far beyond pretty much any other production road car.  How many other road cars can change RPMs so quickly that a regular analog tach can't keep up?

How fast a car builds RPM's is just a function of gearing and power.  That's not what makes it so special.  It's the sound

[68_427]

How fast a car builds RPM's is just a function of gearing and power.  That's not what makes it so special.  It's the sound

That's not what they mean.  Say you're in neutral and you rev the engine... an analog tach wouldn't be able to keep up.