[Dimman]

Many of you may recall a series of lengthy rants by myself regarding Toyota's (Lexus') LFA.

Well in the August 2010 issue of Automobile magazine, titled: "Supercar Street Fight!" they put it up against the new Mercedes Benz SLS AMG (which for the record is about HALF the price of the LFA).

The stats:
LFA:
$375000 (Value as they can only be leased for 2 years apparently.)
4.8L 40v DOHC V-10, 553 hp @ 8700 rpm, 354 lb-ft @ 6800 rpm!
6 Speed automated manual
265/35R20 Front tires, 305/30R20 Rear tires
3460 lbs

SLS AMG:
$183000 (But sold out until mid 2011 already.)
6.2L 32v DOHC V-8, 563 hp @ 6800 rpm, 479 lb-ft @ 4750 rpm
7 Speed dual clutch automatic
265/35R19 Front tires, 295/30R20 Rear tires
3573 lbs

The Test Numbers:
LFA:
0-60 mph: 3.9s
0-100 mph: 8.0s
0-120 mph: 11.2s
0-140 mph: 15.6s
1/4 mile: 11.8s @ 126 mph

Braking from 70 mph: 154ft

Average of Left and Right Lateral G: 1.05g

SLS AMG:
0-60 mph: 3.8s
0-100 mph: 7.7s
0-120 mph: 10.6s
0-140 mph: 14.5s
1/4 mile: 11.7s @ 127 mph

Braking from 70 mph: 152ft

Average of Left and Right Lateral G: 1.00g

Last paragraph of the article:

"But as should be the case when you compare two such evenly matched machines, the real deciding factor hides beneath the skin. The Lexus LFA is let down by its transmission, and it is, albeit to a lesser extent, handicapped by the need to rev its melodious engine to more attention-getting volumes than the more relaxed, bigger-bore V-8. In all other departments, it's a very close decision. I could quite easily live with the LFA's less compliant suspension, and if this was toy number six or seven, even the screaming engine wouldn't matter that much. But the clutch does, because it's at odds with what the halo car of the brand should deliver: ultimate quality in every respect. The Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, on the other hand, establishes a credible link to its maker's F1 and DTM racing efforts. And it proves, fifty-six years after the original Gullwing and only weeks after the final production run of the SLR McLaren, that Mercedes still knows how to make a supercar."

Well the heavier Benz (slightly) out-drags the LFA. This I will take as support for what I said in earlier posts that the super-high torque peak and small rpm spread to peak power show that this motor is not super-driveable.

Additionally for those of you that assured me of the technology trickle-down effect, I have to disagree. It seems the LFA is being used for nothing more than selling their F-Sport brand (re-branded performance parts, just like TRD), as demonstrated in a fancy pull-out ad in Automobile's July issue. Laser guided circular carbon-fiber loom is now being used to make super-overpriced carbon engine covers for IS and GS series owners?

Sigh...

(Nomex on!)