One moment of glory, two luxury sports coupes.
The Motor1.com crew is a drag racer like every other car enthusiast. We’re treated this time to a pair luxury coupes that have more similarities than differences. However, the atmosphere is quite different. We can only sprint a quarter mile on the short stretch of asphalt. The cinematic backdrop of two cars racing into sunset is another. Do you think there is a deeper meaning? We’ll get to that in a moment.
We start by introducing the competitors in this video from Motor. On the left is the sleek Lexus LC500 with bold grille, 5.0-liter naturally aspirated engine and a 5.0-liter V8. The Jaguar F Type is in the left lane, but it doesn’t come with a V8. This is the P380 version. It has a 3.0-liter V6 under the bonnet. This means that the Jag has a significant power disadvantage. It boasts 375 horsepower (280kilowatts), compared to 470hp (351kW) in the Lexus.
Although it seems unfair, the Lexus is 4,255 pounds (1.930 kg) and the LC 500 is 1,930 kg. The Jaguar weighs in at 3,466 lbs (1.572 kg), while the Lexus has a similar power-to-weight ratio. Basic math shows that these cars are identical. The numbers indicate that this race will be close, despite minor differences in gearing. This is what we get.
The Jag was lighter and had a faster start. It finished with a time of 4.9 seconds (0-100 km/h) compared to 5.1 seconds for the Lexus. This gives the Jag a slight advantage in the first lap, but can the LC 500’s powerful power reel in F-Type at one end? What’s more, can each car stop before it runs out of pavement? We won’t spoil the fun, it’s an awesome video you can experience.
The deeper meaning is that you can look majestically into sunset. It is sometimes interpreted as a metaphor for an endless story. However, in general, it indicates an end and a rebirth. We will see many more races such as this. Two-door coupes that are sleek and stylish with long hoods and internal-combustion engines at the front. Although performance will never stop, we are rapidly approaching the end of the fossil-fueled automobile era. It is possible that this setting was selected with this metaphor in view.
Maybe the drivers were too scared to stop in time that they needed to drive all day to build up enough courage to continue. You can relax and enjoy the gas-powered ride.