Motor Trend pits Lexus LFA against Nissan GT-R in epic drag race

[coolmazda5]

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Japan is back in the supercar race in a major way following the introduction last year of the Nissan GT-R and the addition of the Lexus LFA for the 2011 model year. The question now is this: If the $85,000 GT-R is Godzilla, then what in the world (Or perhaps it's otherworldly? Read our review and decide for yourself.) is the nearly $400,000 (or more) Lexus?

Clearly, with a price gap that large, the two automakers don't necessarily count the opposing product as direct competition for its own... but that doesn't mean we aren't keenly interested in seeing how the two Japanese performance behemoths stack up when the light turns green. Got your interest piqued?

Fortunately for us, Motor Trend managed to procure a brand-new Lexus LFA for testing just long enough to line it up against the magazine's own long-term Nissan GT-R for an impromptu drag race. What happened? Well, the Lexus unleashed all 552 of its horsepower (at 8,700 RPM) and 354 pound-feet of torque (at 6,800 RPM) to its rear wheels and the Nissan used its all-wheel drive system to its advantage.


[MotorTrend via Autoblog]

 

[Flash5]

so what i got from that is you will pay about $320,000 more for 0.1 seconds in the 1/4 mile. yea id rather by a gtr, a 458 italia, an evo x and a cts-v for that price.

 

[mikeyb]

I am all set with the LFA. At the end of the day it is still a Lexus. Souless...

 

[genericuser]

The only real reason that anyone buys this car is because of the rarity. There are cheaper, faster, but more common options.

 

[coolmazda5]

The only real reason that anyone buys this car is because of the rarity. There are cheaper, faster, but more common options.

+1, I believe it is mentioned that there was only one car around in the US for the test?

I like these type of comparos, not apples to apples but always nice to relate their facts randomly, like the latest Mustang vs the BMW M3 (dunno)

 

[genericuser]

actually, I stand corrected.. you can't buy this car if I recall.

you have to lease it for 2 years.

 

[BlackCherry06]

The winner has to race the new 911 Turbo S.

 

[genericuser]

The winner has to race the new 911 Turbo S.

I'd do bad things to good people to get a 911 turbo.

 

[BlackCherry06]

Check out the new Turbo S......upped the horsepower to the previous GT2's level. YUM.

 

[CWPspeed3]

actually, I stand corrected.. you can't buy this car if I recall.

you have to lease it for 2 years.

thats what the lexus rep at the auto show told me. they are doing a lease to buy program for the LFA.

 

[Newf]

The question now is this: If the $85,000 GT-R is Godzilla, then what in the world (Or perhaps it's otherworldly? Read our review and decide for yourself.) is the nearly $400,000 (or more) Lexus?

Simply put, not worth it.

As for lexus being souless, I would have agreed years ago, but in the last few years they have made a few cars that I woudn't mind having.

LFA is sick, but wtf are they thinking at 400 grand?

 

[mazdaspeedwagon]

I would rather have the Datsun......

 

[BlackCherry06]

IS350 is about the only Lexus that has my interest. $400K is astronomically too much in a world where you can get a Gallardo for $260K. For that amount of money, it better EMBARASS a GTR...not beat it by a car length.

 

[Kymerik]

well i guess you can think of it two ways...

either the lexus is overpriced (which it is) or the GTR is just that much of a bargain

either way, GTR > LFA...that thing just doesnt do anything for me

 

[mikeyb]

I want to see how this thing will hold it's own with the rest of the supercars.

 

[BlackCherry06]

ZR1 would have it for lunch.

 

[mikeyb]

ZR1 would have it for lunch.

I was thinking the samething.