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2022 Lexus IS 500 Drags Charger 392 in Ultimate Battle of the Last NA V8 Sedans

Sadly, we have reached a point where certain markets have just two naturally-aspirated V8 sedans to choose from. Such is the case over in Canada, where Sam, the host of the Sam CarLegion channel on YouTube, has decided to race them, of course.
2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion 29 photos
Photo: Sam CarLegion / YouTube
2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion2022 Lexus IS 500 vs Dodge Charger 392 drags and rolls on Sam CarLegion
With the advent of crossovers, SUVs, and trucks, the inevitable is almost upon us: MPVs, station wagons, and even sedans have taken a big hit. The YouTuber now claims that anyone looking for a big, naturally-aspirated V8-powered sedan will only have two distinct choices in 2022 – nothing more, nothing less.

Those are the 2022 Lexus IS 500 F Sport Performance, his personal car (though he is actively pursuing a sale for something new, something better), and the 2022 Dodge Charger 392 Hemi. The latter is present in cool Daytona specification for this particular battle (uploaded on June 21st, 2022), enabling a cool black against crimson-striped contrast on the camera lens.

As for the specifications, those paint an interesting picture: the Lexus is slightly less powerful but also much lighter than the “heavy beast” of a Dodge. However, the latter sounds better when roaring down the impromptu dragstrip that is securely located outside of reach for normal traffic – the windy spot is, most likely, a little airstrip.

As always, first up are the digs, which can be seen at the 2:50 and 4:45 marks. The nimbler Lexus, with experienced Sam at the wheel, has a much better exit off the mark, winning the first leg by at least a bus length. The second one is way more balanced, but the IS 500 still has the upper hand from start to finish.

Next up, from the 6:06 and 7:02 marks, come the roll races, initially performed from 30 mph/50 kph and then from 62 mph/100 kph to up the stakes a little bit. Interestingly, these show a surprising reversal of roles, although this Charger 392 only has a slim advantage over the Japanese performance sedan. Still, that also counts as a victory, so they are actually tied with two wins each by the end of the trials.

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About the author: Aurel Niculescu
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Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution.
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