Japanese Track Video: A8 vs 745i vs XJ vs LS460

Bill submitted on 12/14/2006 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 1:40 PM
from: www.youtube.com

Tags: Japanese Track Video: A8 vs 745i vs XJ vs LS460

It's not often you see luxury saloons racing in a wet race track. Strange they didn't use the Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The Audi is the heaviest and the least powerful car. But thanks to the 4WD Quattro, the A8 managed to beat all its rivals around the wet track.

Interesting they have the pre-facelift BMW 7-series (745i) against the new Lexus LS460 and despite having less power the Bimmer still beats it.
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GermanNut - 12/14/2006 2:16:27 PM

0 Boost

It is obvious that a car with AWD such as the Audi A8 would defeat its non-AWD rivals such as the BMW 745i and LS460.

The Audi S6, yes the S6, being as underpowered as when compared to the BMW M5 and Benz E63 AMG, would still defeat those two cars on a wet track.

The RS4 would take down the M3 on a wet track.

The S8 would take down even the A8, 750Li, S600, LS460 or XJR and whatever other luxury sedan you want to include when going on a wet track.

The beauty of AWD when the conditions get sloppy.

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S4cabriofoxone - 12/14/2006 6:04:42 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Okay what a useless post.

"The RS4 would take down the M3 on a wet track."

The RS4 would take down an M3 on a dry track, too- why is this a surprise?

Why are you comparing the S8 to such a random assortment of cars? 750Li, S600, XJR, LS460? What?

I think its only real competition is the XJR. But what're the S600 and LS460 doing there, let alone the 750? Those are all completely different.

1uberaudi - 12/14/2006 2:20:29 PM

-9 Boost

Your exactly right. I could not have typed it better myself.

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GS450h - 12/14/2006 2:25:14 PM

+5 Boost

It will be interesting to see how the LS600hL with AWD performs vs. the S8 and S-Class 4matic when it comes out.

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lexusis350 - 12/14/2006 3:19:17 PM

-1 Boost

Yes it will, considering the LS 600h L will have an engine equivilent to a V12.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/14/2006 10:49:27 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

The LS600hL will have AWD?

Interesting.

EL34 - 12/15/2006 1:09:32 AM

0 Boost

How about the LS600hL vs. an S65 AMG 4MATIC?

EL34 - 12/15/2006 12:50:04 PM

-1 Boost

The car is probally being designed as we type away.

lexusis350 - 12/15/2006 10:03:21 PM

+1 Boost

Because they've heard of Lexus' AWD system and needed something to compare with it...good luck Mercedes, you're gonna nedd it ;).

lexusis350 - 12/16/2006 12:10:26 AM

+1 Boost

NEED it, sorry.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/17/2006 1:40:27 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

"Because they've heard of Lexus' AWD system and needed something to compare with it...good luck Mercedes, you're gonna nedd it ;)."

LOL. Stop kidding yourself.

Audi's quattro system, followed by Mercedes's own 4Matic system, are the luxury AWD leaders. The Lexus's system is pretty generic. There's no distinguishing feature in it- like Acura's SH-AWD (which also is a leader) or Audi's 40:60 handling split.

lexusis350 - 12/17/2006 2:25:16 AM

+1 Boost

Who even cares what AWD system is on their car anyway? I mean, most people out there don't know one car from the next. Most people just see a shiny car at a dealership and buy it. Sad, but true. So basically, the only people who even look into AWD systems will know that there are different types of AWD systems.

IamEvilHomer - 12/20/2006 1:07:41 PM

+1 Boost

yes the AWD with the S8 would be better match

Heyhuub - 12/14/2006 2:37:34 PM

+2 Boost

How do you know the Audi is the heaviest?

The Audi A8 4.2 quatrro for example only weighs 1780KG,
That's allot lighter then the S450 (1840kg) and the BMW 750i (1885kg)

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Bill - 12/14/2006 2:46:57 PM

-1 Boost

I copied the wording from a forum I was reading. I thought the video was interesting because these cars were being driven on the wet track.

Either way, WHO CARES about the placing and outcome? No sane owner will drive their _____ on the track.

audiot - 12/14/2006 2:40:44 PM

-1 Boost

If I lived on a wet track, I know which car I'd get.

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AUDBMLEXMRC - 12/14/2006 3:41:49 PM

0 Boost

Audi is absolutely not the hevier. The heviest in this class are LS ansd S class which are the only two with more than 2 tones!

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AUDBMLEXMRC - 12/14/2006 3:43:25 PM

+2 Boost

this kind of test depend definitly on t driver and much less on car!

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izfuney - 12/14/2006 6:24:55 PM

0 Boost

FYI - its a vid from Best Motoring and the track is Tsukaba. You can hear the regulars on the show "Orrido" and the host "Tsuchiya" . The track itself is fairly small and tight and in general does not favour cars that have "long legs".

While Audi does well in the rain due to its Quattro drive. I would give the nod to big BMW for being a better handler and the Lexus next for performing so well in nearly all the segments.

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chewy - 12/14/2006 6:37:44 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Actually the A8 is lighter than the Lexus LS 460 and the BMW 7 series. Go Quattro power.

Saw a V6 Mustang spinning its wheels in the wet today, looked like a complete tool.

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I95SPEEDINGTICKETS - 12/14/2006 7:24:08 PM

+2 Boost

This should put to rest the Rumors about the LS460 having Shitty Handling and Bad Brakes (Chewy ??)
If you pay attention the LS was just behind the 745 all the way around the track till the END and the BMW is known to be the Best Handling Sedan.

Also for those who cannot figure out why such a test should be carried out.
If you lived in a Country with rainfall over 50% of the Year you would find this test useful.

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sracekili - 12/14/2006 10:01:13 PM

+3 Boost

Judging from what the drivers are saying, they are trying to push the cars as much as possible without losing control under the condition (yes, I can understand the language). I'm guessing that they are professional drivers, otherwise they won't be allowed on the track let alone in this very rainly condition. But what do I konw, huh?

By the way, the driver of A8 was praising the handling of the car very much. He said he would have spinning out of control on the coners if he was driving the other cars.

I do agree with I95SPEEDINGTICKETS that Lexus seems to be doing just fine right behind BMW.

S4cabriofoxone - 12/14/2006 10:50:51 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

Nice. Go A8!

M53R - 12/16/2006 8:39:17 AMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Wow u r happy because the Lexus LS460 was compared to the 745i that is 6 years older. Now how about try the 750 against the LS n we ll c who wins BY FAR!

TheGenius - 12/14/2006 11:34:21 PM

+1 Boost

Okay cry babies here are two AWD drive tests (snow and wet) with the same results

1) Snow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDt81H_-Xnc&mode=related&search=

2) Wet

http://www.roadandtrack.com/article.asp?section_id=31&article_id=3280

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2JZSoarer - 12/14/2006 11:59:39 PM

0 Boost

Tsuchiya(Drift king) was driving the A8 which would also give the car an advantage,over the other less
experienced drivers,oh and do you guys remember Top-Gear when the Audi TT went up against the BMW Z3,the Z3 lost on the wet track,but the Z3 killed the TT on the dry track,I think that would be the same outcome with these vehicles!!

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S4cabriofoxone - 12/15/2006 12:30:33 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

The C3 A8 has always been a better handler than the 745/750, wet track or not. AWD has a significant advantage.

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EL34 - 12/15/2006 1:17:14 AM

+4 Boost

Must remember all drivers are not created equal and a better test around the track would be one driver and one car at a time.

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Gennissen - 12/15/2006 5:38:16 AM

+1 Boost

Fabian555..

"If you had paid attention, you'd have seen that these cars were hardly pushed at all in this video. Put some professional drivers behind the wheel and tell them to achieve the best times, slaloms etc. and the BMW will leave the Lexus in the dust"

don't be silly. those drivers were at it full throttle. i happen to know that it takes a JTC Nissan Skyline GT about 53 seconds or so to go around tje tsukuba track on dry tar. the audi did it in 1.17 minutes. do the maths.

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ToyotaLexus - 12/15/2006 12:41:15 PM

+1 Boost

Anyway, why are they racing the XJ-R with them not the XJ-8?? Weird... I love the noise of the supercharger though, this car is pure british and very nice, handling is not good however and as we can see from the video probably traction.

Fabian555 whats ur point if they can't give it full throttle and they're not?

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ToyotaLexus - 12/15/2006 12:44:29 PM

+1 Boost

On other thoughts, the LS did do pretty well and would do much better on a dry track. The other thing is the Audi is the lighter by far, it's known about the aluminuim bodies they have.

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EL34 - 12/15/2006 2:51:16 PM

+1 Boost

I would like to see these cars with the S550 race on a NASCAR track like the California Speedway and a little bump and grind action would be fun to watch and most appropriate :D

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EL34 - 12/15/2006 3:27:40 PM

+1 Boost

I thought the LS460 looked very good racing around the track.

Was it the long wheelbase?

I wonder whick car the LS460 vs. LS460L is a better handler?

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EL34 - 12/15/2006 4:51:21 PM

+3 Boost

Every LS I have seen has been the LWB.

Why not spend a few more pennies and get the room, I know I would and may.

Now, which color to get???

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nybimmer - 12/15/2006 5:50:47 PM

-1 Boost

Interesting comparo - if only the LS600L was REAL AWD. I don't think the front drive wheels and the real drive wheels are integrated - I think they are separate - rear powered by gas engine and front powered by electric engine. I think it was engineered not for traction but for fuel economy.

I'd love to see an engineering analysis of the LS600L and true traction comparo to a MB 4matic or a BMW 'x' or Audi Quattro.

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M53R - 12/16/2006 12:41:43 PMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I wonder y they used the 745 not the 750, mayb they wanted to give the lexus some hope! anyway thats kind off not fair, comparing a 6 year old BMW to a brand new Lexus. Anyway the lexus didnt win!

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AmazingBimmer - 12/16/2006 2:16:11 PM

-1 Boost

insanity. the bmw 750 woudl win this hands down on a regular track, much like it wins everyday in the marketplace.

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S4cabriofoxone - 12/17/2006 1:43:27 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

LOL the 7 Series is incompetent.

Anyone who buys it over an A8, S-Class or LS460 is in need of brain surgery.

It's not as luxurious, not as good to drive (as A8 or S-Class), not as good-looking as any of them, and the controls (not just the iDrive, but things like the seat controls) are needlessly complicated.

The 7 Series is in need of a redesign. I'm sure the next one will be better- but then the new A8 will come out and whip it in every respect, much like the S550 has taken reign over the A8's former dominance.

huu76 - 12/16/2006 10:16:56 PM

+1 Boost

The A8 and LS are about 4700lbs.

Good video though, it's interesting that the Japanese have the gas pedal on the right too.

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Heyhuub - 12/17/2006 7:52:17 AM

+1 Boost

No, the A8 4.2 is only 3900LBS and the W12 is 4300LBS.
This all because of the Full Aluminium Space Frame.

huu76 - 12/18/2006 11:39:48 PM

+1 Boost

Hmmm, either Car and Driver doesn't know jack about cars, or VW is lying.
http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/12086/2006-audi-a8l-quattro.html
Click on the "test sheet", the A8L weighs in at 4500lbs.

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