Perspective is everything. Is the Lexus LC 500 a discount Aston Martin GT made with the quality of Japanese craftsmanship? Is the Aston Martin an overpriced car only made good by a German engine? We need a couple of unbiased adjudicators to decide.
Motor Trend's new dynamic duo continues to impress us, re-establishing what was great about Head 2 Head, but without Jason Camissa. About half a year ago, the Lexus LC surprisingly came out ahead of the DB11 V12 in Motor Trend's Best Driver's car competition. But now it's back with a smaller V8 engine.
How is the smaller engine better you ask? Well, it improves the balance of the car and makes better use of the quick-ratio steering rack. As any good comparison video should, this one starts with bickering about which car looks better. Surprisingly, it's the American journalist that loves the British GT more, saying that it has perfect proportions, that the highest spot on the hood is in the right place and more.
Some believe the LC 500 is a mess, but it's a well thought out mess. The DB11 respects the traditional values of a sports car, but the Lexus thinks outside the box with many panels that can only be designed three-dimensionally on the computer.
Making this review means completely ignoring the issue of price because the DB11 V8 costs almost exactly twice as much as the Lexus. This newcomer also surprises with perfect dashboard stitching that 'can only be made by people who can fold a crane with their left hand.' The amount of standard tech is also impressive... to say the least.
Coming back to the issue of perspective, Jonny Lieberman points out that Lexus is huge in America, with the RX outselling the BMW X3. But in Britain, the brand means absolutely nothing at all. In fact, the LC 500 probably won't have in impact either.
Handling seems to be a force of the Japanese car, developed with input from Motor Trend's tame racing driver. It's predictable and doesn't fight you on the track, but the two hosts admit this won't be a factor in this segment and call the DB11 V8 the winner of this competition.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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