Pro driver Randy Pobst hot laps the 2018 Lexus LC500 Hot Lap! around Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca for Motor Trend's 2017 Best Driver's Car.
Category
🚗
MotorTranscript
00:00 (engine revving)
00:02 (upbeat music)
00:14 The big coupe from Lexus is large and lovely,
00:17 on the inside at least.
00:18 The polarizing sheet metal causes joy in some,
00:21 consternation and confusion in others.
00:23 However, the LC500 comes with what you crave
00:26 in a driver's car,
00:28 a free revving naturally aspirated V8
00:30 that's good for 471 horsepower.
00:32 All that power is routed to the rear wheels
00:35 through a 10 speed automatic transmission.
00:38 Also, those rear wheels can steer.
00:41 If there's a knock on the large Lexus, it's exactly that.
00:44 At 4,364 pounds, the LC500 is the heaviest car in the group.
00:49 Let's see what Randy makes of it.
00:52 (engine revving)
00:56 (engine revving)
00:58 Nice little predictable drift out of turn one there,
01:01 turn 11.
01:02 There we go.
01:06 Not quite so aggressive on the initial attack
01:09 of the brake pedal.
01:10 Entry under steer.
01:12 Putting down power pretty well.
01:20 Entry under steer, see the angle of that wheel.
01:23 (engine revving)
01:26 Nice balance on the exit though.
01:28 Entry under steer, wow, does not like to turn.
01:31 I've got all the stability controls turned off.
01:35 It's certainly a very easy car to drive fast.
01:49 (engine revving)
01:52 It's not a threatening car, you know what I mean?
02:04 It's stopping really well for just plain old street tires.
02:07 Plain old street tires,
02:13 they're Michelin Pilot Sports Super Sports,
02:16 which is a really great tire.
02:19 (engine revving)
02:22 Come on, turn in baby.
02:23 Interesting.
02:27 Does not like turning in.
02:32 Little more aggressive on the throttle there.
02:39 Got a little bit of power under steer, actually a lot.
02:46 That's a beautiful car, the Lexus LC 500.
02:50 It's a luxury coupe.
02:52 This car is not in the same category
02:54 as a lot of the other cars we've driven.
02:56 Yet on track, it was really a delightful experience
02:59 except it had a one sore thumb sticking out.
03:02 In corner entry, it had a lot of under steer.
03:05 I was impressed with the braking performance on the Lexus,
03:08 especially on a street tire.
03:10 Really a good performer on track
03:12 except for that corner entry under steer.
03:16 While not the quickest car of the competition,
03:18 the LC 500 did nothing to embarrass itself.
03:21 It's time of 1.43.40 lands it right between a BMW 1M coupe
03:26 and an AMG C63 507.
03:29 That's great company to be in.
03:31 At times, there was too much under steer,
03:33 especially on the track.
03:35 Also, while the transmission changed gears quickly
03:37 and assertively enough,
03:39 none of the 10 speeds seemed to be the ideal gear
03:41 for a given situation.
03:44 But of course, the LC 500's largest problem is itself,
03:47 its weight.
03:49 Could Lexus chop 500 pounds out of it?
03:51 Until then, eighth place.
03:53 (car engine roaring)
03:56 (upbeat music)
03:59 (car engine roaring)
04:02 (car engine roaring)
04:05 (car engine roaring)
04:08 (dramatic music)