Drag racing isn’t all about power.
If we use the phrase drag racing in conjunction with Lexus we most likely mean the LFA. This rule has its exceptions, as with every rule. Today’s drag race video features a different Lexus at the starting line.
It’s the elegant and luxurious LC500. Although it’s not the typical drag race car, it boasts a naturally-aspirated V8 that produces 470 horsepower (350kilowatts). It does, at least on paper.
Toyota also made a car against it. The brand’s flagship sports car is the 2021 Supra. It has a twin-turbo 3.0-liter Inline-Six engine under the bonnet, mated with an eight-speed manual gearbox, and produces 382 horsepower (285 kW). There is a significant difference in power output between the two cars, but that’s not what matters in drag racing.
The Supra’s driver uses its launch control to win the first race. This ensures that the lighter vehicle wins easily. The Supra runs the second race without a launch control, but it doesn’t change much – the Supra is still considerably faster than the LC500. One of the presenters explained that the Lexus’s cooling driver’s seat drains a lot power.
A rolling start drag race is the last chance for luxury grand tourers. It’s here that the action gets exciting as the cars race to the finish. Which car is faster at the end? To find out, watch the video second part at the top.