InsideLine roadtrip with LFA, GT2 and GT-R (merged threads)
04-13-11, 01:41 PM
#61
Lexus Connoisseur
2012 Lexus LFA Road Trip: Hauls the Mail
By Josh Jacquot | April 13, 2011
Come on, really. If someone gave you a Lexus LFA for 72 hours you'd find a way to do it, too. You know you would. We know you would. The only question is how long it would take to find the right place. And where, exactly, is that place?
Of course, this comes with all the usual disclaimers: Pro driver, closed course, heavy foot, etc. It was stunning out there last night as the sun was going down.
Enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=feLAkSWTh2o
http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...-the-mail.html
Last edited by flipside909; 04-13-11 at 01:53 PM.
04-13-11, 01:45 PM
#62
Lexus Connoisseur
2012 Lexus LFA Road Trip: Vegas. It's Dumb. But We're Here
By Josh Jacquot | April 13, 2011
And there's no shortage of visuals. We lit up the strip for a time tonight. But in the end there's nothing to do in town in one of the world's fastest cars.
Still, the weirdest part was yet to come. After a massive miscalcuation by one nameless Internet travel site, our crew of five (yes, we bring photographers along) found ourselves in the 12,600-square-foot Conrad Suite in the Las Vegas Hilton. So it is here, 29 (and 30) floors above the valley floor, that we find ourselves retiring for the evening -- pool and all. It's gawdy, but, really, would you mind?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf2NuICs-P4
Only Hollywood could outdo this adventure. And that would require Mike Tyson and a tiger. But there is no VIP parking. So we took matters into our own hands.
And there's no shortage of visuals. We lit up the strip for a time tonight. But in the end there's nothing to do in town in one of the world's fastest cars.
Still, the weirdest part was yet to come. After a massive miscalcuation by one nameless Internet travel site, our crew of five (yes, we bring photographers along) found ourselves in the 12,600-square-foot Conrad Suite in the Las Vegas Hilton. So it is here, 29 (and 30) floors above the valley floor, that we find ourselves retiring for the evening -- pool and all. It's gawdy, but, really, would you mind?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tf2NuICs-P4
Only Hollywood could outdo this adventure. And that would require Mike Tyson and a tiger. But there is no VIP parking. So we took matters into our own hands.
04-13-11, 02:02 PM
#63
Lexus Connoisseur
Man, the more I see these videos and read these blog entries, it really disappoints me on how IL administered this. I used to think highly of them...now they make the LFA look like an expensive play toy to abuse for 72 hours, courtesy of Lexus.
04-13-11, 03:13 PM
#65
Guest
Posts: n/a
Might deserve its own thread!
2012 Lexus LFA vs. 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS. What we've got here is approximately $635,000 worth of alphabet soup with a combined 1,172 horsepower. We never thought we'd pit a Lexus against a 911 either, but in the end, while their approaches are worlds apart, these cars are both about going fast -- damn the cost.
The 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS is the latest in a decades-long refinement project by Porsche to build the best car the 911 could ever be. And if this isn't the peak, we're scared to see what is. The GT2 RS gets its 620 horsepower from a twin-turbo flat-6 mounted in the rear of the car and hooked to a six-speed manual transmission. This is how a Porsche should be.
Conversely, the 2012 Lexus LFA is in no way what a Lexus should be. Errr, let's rephrase that, it is in no way what Lexus is right now. There's not even a hybrid badge on it. Five-hundred fifty-two horsepower dumps out of a screaming 4.8-liter V10 that sounds barely removed from Toyota's F1 efforts. The transmission is a six-speed auto-clutch manual that, again, sounds and feels race-ready. The LFA doesn't feel like a Lexus, it feels like the future.
So it's the old school against the new school. V10 against flat-6. Turbos against revs and displacement. Porsche against....Lexus?
Vehicle: 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Odometer: 1,465
Date: 4/12/2011
Driver: Chris Walton
Price: $260,980
Specifications:
Drive Type: Rear-engine rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Six-speed manual
Engine Type: DOHC, 3.6-liter Flat-6
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 3,599cc (220 cu-in)
Redline (rpm): 6,800
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 620 @ 6,500
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 516 @ 2,250
Brake Type (front): 15-inch two-piece ventilated carbon-ceramic discs with 6-piston fixed calipers
Brake Type (rear): 13.8-inch two-piece ventilated carbon-ceramic discs with 4-piston fixed calipers
Steering System: Hydraulic-assist speed-proportional rack-and-pinion steering
Suspension Type (front): Independent MacPherson struts with dual lower ball joints, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent multilink, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 245/35 ZR19 (88Y)
Tire Size (rear): 325/30 ZR19 (101Y)
Tire Brand: Michelin
Tire Model: Pilot Sport Cup
Tire Type: Summer, asymmetrical
Wheel size: 19-by-9 inches front/19-by-12 inches rear
Wheel material (front/rear): Forged aluminum
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,167 (38.7% front bias)
Test Results:
Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 2.0
0-45 (sec): 2.7
0-60 (sec): 4.1
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 3.8
0-75 (sec): 5.2
1/4-mile (sec @ mph): 11.64 @ 127.24
Braking
30-0 (ft): 24
60-0 (ft): 100
Handling
Slalom (mph): 72.5
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 1.03
Sound
Db @ Idle: 61.1
Db @ Full Throttle: 85.1
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 73
RPM @ 70 mph: 2,150
Tester's Comments:
Acceleration: With stability/traction off, there's still some electronic management of A) allowable revs at a standstill and B) power/torque being made in the engine. Result is bogging launch with reduced power then a rush of power when it comes back online. I believe the electronics are keeping mechanical parts from breaking. Also, the tach needle is slow, so the shift light is critical to not hitting the rev limiter. Finally, it feels as if there is a pretty massive torque reduction between each upshift.
Braking: Incredibly hard pedal, zero dive un-fadeable brakes. The only difference in distance from run to run is attributable to the surface of the track.
Slalom: In the Porsche 911 tradition, the only way through a slalom course is with progressive throttle application -- otherwise (and even with maintenance throttle) the rear steps out. Luckily, the tires break free progressively, not abruptly. Best run is slow-in/fast-out to best utilize the LSD on exit -- and it works beautifully, rocketing through the finish line at W.O.T.
Skid pad: Large discrepancy between clockwise and counter-clockwise with driver inboard, (CCW) the car would oversteer slightly and controllably. However, with driver outboard, the car would understeer. Either way, the steering is highly informative and weighted just right.
Vehicle: 2012 Lexus LFA
Odometer: 2,994
Date: 4/12/2011
Driver: Josh Jacquot
Price: $375,000
Specifications:
Drive Type: Front-engine rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Six-speed single-clutch automated manual
Engine Type: DOHC, 3.6-liter V6
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 4,805cc (293 cu-in)
Redline (rpm): 9,000
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 552 @ 8,700
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 354 @ 6,800
Brake Type (front): 15.4-inch carbon-ceramic vented discs with six-piston aluminum calipers
Brake Type (rear): 14.2-inch carbon-ceramic vented discs with four-piston aluminum calipers
Steering System: Electric-assist speed-proportional rack-and-pinion steering
Suspension Type (front): Independent, coil springs, double wishbone, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent, multilink, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 265/35 ZR20 (95Y)
Tire Size (rear): 305/30 ZR20 (99Y)
Tire Brand: Bridgestone
Tire Model: Potenza S001
Tire Type: Summer, asymmetrical
Wheel size: 20 inches front and rear
As tested Curb Weight (lb.): 3,546 (50.1% front bias)
Test Results:
Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 1.9
0-45 (sec): 2.7
0-60 (sec): 3.9
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 3.6
0-75 (sec): 5.1
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 11.63 @ 123.18
Braking
30-0 (ft): 27
60-0 (ft): 106
Handling
Slalom (mph): 75.1
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 1.02
Sound
Db @ Idle: 52.3
Db @ Full Throttle: 92.3
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 71.9
RPM @ 70 mph: 2,950
Tester's Comments:
Acceleration: Default run in "auto" shifts @ 7,800 and C-R-A-W-L-S off the line. Otherwise, best launch came from a 3,000 rpm neutral drop with careful throttle modulation. 4,500 rpm -- per Lexus -- just smokes the tires.
Braking: Solid, consistent, stink-free stops. This test doesn't even touch the capability of this system.
Slalom: Incredibly well suited to the slalom. Balance and communication very good. Power delivery (high revs, little torque) very good for slalom. Easy to control as I rolled back into throttle at end of slalom. ESC is fully defeatable.
Skid pad: Very easy to find limit of grip and drive right to it. Third gear best for skid pad to reduce throttle sensitivity. ESC on drives like a Toyota -- can use WOT and simply steer. ESC off means balancing against the throttle. Powerslides are easy.
The 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS is the latest in a decades-long refinement project by Porsche to build the best car the 911 could ever be. And if this isn't the peak, we're scared to see what is. The GT2 RS gets its 620 horsepower from a twin-turbo flat-6 mounted in the rear of the car and hooked to a six-speed manual transmission. This is how a Porsche should be.
Conversely, the 2012 Lexus LFA is in no way what a Lexus should be. Errr, let's rephrase that, it is in no way what Lexus is right now. There's not even a hybrid badge on it. Five-hundred fifty-two horsepower dumps out of a screaming 4.8-liter V10 that sounds barely removed from Toyota's F1 efforts. The transmission is a six-speed auto-clutch manual that, again, sounds and feels race-ready. The LFA doesn't feel like a Lexus, it feels like the future.
So it's the old school against the new school. V10 against flat-6. Turbos against revs and displacement. Porsche against....Lexus?
Vehicle: 2011 Porsche 911 GT2 RS
Odometer: 1,465
Date: 4/12/2011
Driver: Chris Walton
Price: $260,980
Specifications:
Drive Type: Rear-engine rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Six-speed manual
Engine Type: DOHC, 3.6-liter Flat-6
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 3,599cc (220 cu-in)
Redline (rpm): 6,800
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 620 @ 6,500
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 516 @ 2,250
Brake Type (front): 15-inch two-piece ventilated carbon-ceramic discs with 6-piston fixed calipers
Brake Type (rear): 13.8-inch two-piece ventilated carbon-ceramic discs with 4-piston fixed calipers
Steering System: Hydraulic-assist speed-proportional rack-and-pinion steering
Suspension Type (front): Independent MacPherson struts with dual lower ball joints, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent multilink, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 245/35 ZR19 (88Y)
Tire Size (rear): 325/30 ZR19 (101Y)
Tire Brand: Michelin
Tire Model: Pilot Sport Cup
Tire Type: Summer, asymmetrical
Wheel size: 19-by-9 inches front/19-by-12 inches rear
Wheel material (front/rear): Forged aluminum
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,167 (38.7% front bias)
Test Results:
Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 2.0
0-45 (sec): 2.7
0-60 (sec): 4.1
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 3.8
0-75 (sec): 5.2
1/4-mile (sec @ mph): 11.64 @ 127.24
Braking
30-0 (ft): 24
60-0 (ft): 100
Handling
Slalom (mph): 72.5
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 1.03
Sound
Db @ Idle: 61.1
Db @ Full Throttle: 85.1
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 73
RPM @ 70 mph: 2,150
Tester's Comments:
Acceleration: With stability/traction off, there's still some electronic management of A) allowable revs at a standstill and B) power/torque being made in the engine. Result is bogging launch with reduced power then a rush of power when it comes back online. I believe the electronics are keeping mechanical parts from breaking. Also, the tach needle is slow, so the shift light is critical to not hitting the rev limiter. Finally, it feels as if there is a pretty massive torque reduction between each upshift.
Braking: Incredibly hard pedal, zero dive un-fadeable brakes. The only difference in distance from run to run is attributable to the surface of the track.
Slalom: In the Porsche 911 tradition, the only way through a slalom course is with progressive throttle application -- otherwise (and even with maintenance throttle) the rear steps out. Luckily, the tires break free progressively, not abruptly. Best run is slow-in/fast-out to best utilize the LSD on exit -- and it works beautifully, rocketing through the finish line at W.O.T.
Skid pad: Large discrepancy between clockwise and counter-clockwise with driver inboard, (CCW) the car would oversteer slightly and controllably. However, with driver outboard, the car would understeer. Either way, the steering is highly informative and weighted just right.
Vehicle: 2012 Lexus LFA
Odometer: 2,994
Date: 4/12/2011
Driver: Josh Jacquot
Price: $375,000
Specifications:
Drive Type: Front-engine rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: Six-speed single-clutch automated manual
Engine Type: DOHC, 3.6-liter V6
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 4,805cc (293 cu-in)
Redline (rpm): 9,000
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 552 @ 8,700
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 354 @ 6,800
Brake Type (front): 15.4-inch carbon-ceramic vented discs with six-piston aluminum calipers
Brake Type (rear): 14.2-inch carbon-ceramic vented discs with four-piston aluminum calipers
Steering System: Electric-assist speed-proportional rack-and-pinion steering
Suspension Type (front): Independent, coil springs, double wishbone, stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent, multilink, coil springs, stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 265/35 ZR20 (95Y)
Tire Size (rear): 305/30 ZR20 (99Y)
Tire Brand: Bridgestone
Tire Model: Potenza S001
Tire Type: Summer, asymmetrical
Wheel size: 20 inches front and rear
As tested Curb Weight (lb.): 3,546 (50.1% front bias)
Test Results:
Acceleration
0-30 (sec): 1.9
0-45 (sec): 2.7
0-60 (sec): 3.9
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 3.6
0-75 (sec): 5.1
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 11.63 @ 123.18
Braking
30-0 (ft): 27
60-0 (ft): 106
Handling
Slalom (mph): 75.1
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 1.02
Sound
Db @ Idle: 52.3
Db @ Full Throttle: 92.3
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 71.9
RPM @ 70 mph: 2,950
Tester's Comments:
Acceleration: Default run in "auto" shifts @ 7,800 and C-R-A-W-L-S off the line. Otherwise, best launch came from a 3,000 rpm neutral drop with careful throttle modulation. 4,500 rpm -- per Lexus -- just smokes the tires.
Braking: Solid, consistent, stink-free stops. This test doesn't even touch the capability of this system.
Slalom: Incredibly well suited to the slalom. Balance and communication very good. Power delivery (high revs, little torque) very good for slalom. Easy to control as I rolled back into throttle at end of slalom. ESC is fully defeatable.
Skid pad: Very easy to find limit of grip and drive right to it. Third gear best for skid pad to reduce throttle sensitivity. ESC on drives like a Toyota -- can use WOT and simply steer. ESC off means balancing against the throttle. Powerslides are easy.
04-13-11, 04:35 PM
#67
Lexus Champion
no l/c, short shifting also, 105ft braking from 60mph, it adds up to a bad surface and LFA tech ignorance. Still was quicker than the gt2. But 4.1 to 60mph for the gt2? That's when you know something is off.
04-13-11, 04:35 PM
#68
Lexus Test Driver
Porsche GT2 RS vs Lexus LFA head to head drag race
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKUn0...layer_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rlYy...mbedded#at=131
Tired of the literal shootouts and in the mood for us to get back to cars for a few minutes? Good.
After we'd finished track testing the 2012 Lexus LFA and 2011 Porsche 911 GT2, we took out the testing equipment, headed to the prepped side of the dragstrip and hooked up the tree for some head-to-head drag racing.
The Porsche is saddled with a clutch and six-speed manual while the Lexus has paddles and, essentially, launch control. Power and weight favor the Porsche. Repeatability and technology favor the Lexus. Jacquot and Walton are to-the-hundredth equal. Four races. Who ya got?
*note: Like with the track tested, we didn't know the Porsche was hiding fault codes when we were racing.
Last edited by 05RollaXRS; 04-13-11 at 04:51 PM.
04-13-11, 05:17 PM
#70
Lexus Test Driver
Lexus LFA's transmission seems to be too good for the GT2 RS to handle despite the lighter weight.
04-13-11, 05:24 PM
#72
Lexus Test Driver
He said GT2 RS has stronger acceleration, but the LFA's transmission shifts much faster and it is easier to cleanly and quickly get off the line. The GT2 RS is also suffering from boost lag off the line.
04-13-11, 05:28 PM
#73
Lead Lap
Join Date: Apr 2010
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I think this is the part of costs of building a fan base for the LFA. Unless Lexus starts to publish performance figures, this is probably the best way for the LFA to gain respect by holding its own against a hardcore Porsche.
04-13-11, 05:47 PM
#74
Lexus Test Driver
They are going to the Vegas dragstrip again tonight and going to put on a show for people there.
I think LFA will win a lot of fans over there at the dragstrip. I don't see where the abuse is here? It is a normal part of a high-performance supercar and everyone has to go through this in order to prove its credentials.
Even though, they are not using the launch control system, I think they figured out a very good way to cleanly get off the line without much wheelspin.
I still don't understand Lexus. They are telling people to neutral slam the car, yet not allowing to use launch control system. I think the neutral slam is harder on the transmission since it requires dumping from N to 1.
I think LFA will win a lot of fans over there at the dragstrip. I don't see where the abuse is here? It is a normal part of a high-performance supercar and everyone has to go through this in order to prove its credentials.
Even though, they are not using the launch control system, I think they figured out a very good way to cleanly get off the line without much wheelspin.
I still don't understand Lexus. They are telling people to neutral slam the car, yet not allowing to use launch control system. I think the neutral slam is harder on the transmission since it requires dumping from N to 1.
Last edited by 05RollaXRS; 04-13-11 at 05:51 PM.