Mister Two

Since these luxury barges are never meant for sporty driving, I'm more impressed by how much quieter the LS is and how much better it brakes.

The Hyundai isn't all that bad considering its price point though.

http://blogs.insideline.com/straight...460-sport.html



2011 Hyundai Equus vs. 2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport

Inside Line tests hundreds of vehicles a year, but not every vehicle gets a full write-up. The numbers still tell a story, though, so we present "IL Track Tested." It's a quick rundown of all the data we collected at the track, along with comments direct from the test drivers. Enjoy.

Hyundai Equus vs Lexus LS 460. Ten, heck, five years ago, this would've been the start of some sort of gag comparison. "We pit the new Hyundai sedan against a Lexus we found in a river!" And the Lexus, still full of free river carp, would probably walk away with a solid victory.

But that was before the Genesis coupe took shot at the Mazdaspeed 3s and G37s of the world; before the Hyundai Sonata ran to third place in the midsize car sales race; and most importantly, before Hyundai launched the full-size, rear-drive, $60,000 Equus luxury sedan.

The 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate has a plush 12-way leather driver seat, rear video screen and climate control, heated and cooled reclining and massaging rear seat and a rear fridge. It's got nav, parking sensors, adaptive headlights and an analogue clock set in the dash.

It's also got a 4.6-liter, 385 horsepower V8, 19-inch wheels and a suspension firming sport mode. Try to tell us the 2011 Hyundai Equus doesn't swim in the same pond as the $76,915 2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport. The Lexus packs a 380 horsepower V8, 19-inch wheels, air springs (as part of the Sport package) and years of buyer confidence as the de facto standard German-alternative luxury car.

So, which will it be? You've read the 2011 Hyundai Equus Full test, and now it's about the test numbers as compared with those of the 2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport.

LS 460 Sport Equus
0-30 (sec): 2.6 2.6
0-45 (sec): 4.3 4.5
0-60 (sec): 6.4 6.7
0-75 (sec): 9.1 9.6
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 14.5 @ 98.8 14.8 @ 96.8
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 6.1 6.4
30-0 (ft): 29 33
60-0 (ft): 113 131
Skid pad lateral accel (g): 0.81 0.79
Slalom 62.6 63.1





Vehicle: 2011 Hyundai Equus
Odometer: 1,929
Date: 8/31/2010
Driver: Josh Jacquot
Price: $67,000 (est)


Specifications:
Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: 6-speed automatic
Engine Type: 90-degree V8
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 4,627/282
Redline (rpm): 6,750
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 385 hp @ 6,500 rpm
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 333 lb.-ft. @ 3,500 rpm
Brake Type (front): Ventilated disc with four-piston fixed calipers
Brake Type (rear): Ventilated disc with one-piston sliding caliper
Steering System: Electric-assist power rack-and-pinion steering
Suspension Type (front): multilink
Suspension Type (rear): multilink
Tire Size (front): P245/45R19
Tire Size (rear): P275/40R19
Tire Brand: Continental
Tire Model: ContiProContact
Tire Type: All season
Wheel size: 19-by-9 inches
Wheel material (front/rear): Chrome alloy
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 4,598


Test Results:
0-30 (sec): 2.6
0-45 (sec): 4.5
0-60 (sec): 6.7
0-75 (sec): 9.6
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 14.8 @ 96.8
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 6.4
30-0 (ft): 33
60-0 (ft): 131
Slalom (mph): 63.1 (62.4 stability control on)
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.77 (0.79 stability control on)
Db @ Idle: 39.5
Db @ Full Throttle: 72.4
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 61.4


Acceleration Comments: Wheelspin is nearly impossible so traction "on" and traction "off" are virtually identical -- not certain if this is an indication of modest low-end torque or a non-defeat traction control system. Either way, a total of five runs with various techniques all produced nearly identical results. Upshifts are smooth, but not at all what I would describe as seamless. Also, no measurable difference in Normal or Sport modes. Noticeably quiet, even at wide-open throttle.


Braking Comments: Noticeable dive, but decent rebound damping under full-ABS braking. While the distances are not particularly short, they were remarkably consistent; varying by less than 1 foot over five stops. No measurable differences in Normal or Sport modes.


Handling Comments: Slalom: Good control and a reasonable sense of what's going on but still a very large car and it shows when attempting to change direction quickly -- even in Sport mode. With ESC on intrusion isn't awful -- simple trimming here and there to accomplish what the system thinks the driver wants. NOT Toyota style, which punishes severely. ESC off isn't possible. Even with multiple dash-indicating electronic measures disabled, the Equus still intruded with some intervention as the absolute limits were approached. Skid pad: ESC on: As easy as holding your foot down and steering, the Equus does a good job of achieving its limits without actually being "driven." Turn it off and it's still on with a marginally increased level of control and increased punishment which ultimately serves to thwart any real improvement. Still, there's a real chassis under this car that manages to maintain reasonable manners.


Vehicle: 2010 Lexus LS 460 Sport
Odometer: 585
Date: 11/24/09
Driver: Josh Jacquot
Price: $76,915

Specifications:
Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: 8-speed automatic
Engine Type: 90-degree V8
Displacement (cc/cu-in): 4,608/281
Redline (rpm): 6,600
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 380 hp @ 6,400 rpm
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 367 lb.-ft. @ 4,100 rpm
Brake Type (front): Ventilated disc with six-piston fixed caliper (part of sport package)
Brake Type (rear): Ventilated disc with two-piston fixed caliper
Steering System: Electric-assist power rack-and-pinion steering
Suspension Type (front): Independent, multilink, air springs (part of Sport package), stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent, multilink, air springs (part of Sport package), stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 245/45R19
Tire Size (rear): 245/45R19
Tire Brand: Dunlop
Tire Model: SP Sport Maxx
Tire Type: Asymmetrical, directional summer tires
Wheel size: 19-by-8 inches
Wheel material (front/rear): Aluminum
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 4,522

Test Results:
0-30 (sec): 2.6
0-45 (sec): 4.3
0-60 (sec): 6.4
0-75 (sec): 9.1
1/4-Mile (sec @ mph): 14.5 @ 98.8
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 6.1
30-0 (ft): 29
60-0 (ft): 118
Slalom (mph): 62.6 (61.7 stability control on)
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): 0.80 (0.81 stability control on)
Handling Rating: Good
Db @ Idle: 39.2
Db @ Full Throttle: 65.3
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 58.2

Acceleration Comments: Very little technique to improve acceleration times. Doesn't really respond to brake torque... just wood it and go. "ECT Power" mode does little to improve times, either. Shifts in "D" come at redline. Minimal wheelspin.

Braking Comments: Brake response feels somewhat isolated from pedal input. Distances, however, are respectable for this 4,500-pound machine.

Handling Comments: Skid pad: Remarkable balance and feedback at the limit. You can easily drive with throttle despite low limits and relatively slow responses. Slalom: Surprisingly, turning stability control off actually means "off." Not much to be gained in doing so in slalom, however. Rear loses grip first, and this is a big car to slide at 65 mph.

LexFather

The LS SPort has gotten nothing great reviews all around. Seems Lexus got the sport part right....Now about that bodykit

speedflex

I find it amazing that we live in an age when a Hyundai can even be compared with a straight face to a car like the LS.

IS-SV

Good info for us gear-heads, thanks.

LS is quite capable given the level of luxury, amazing. Equis is no slouch when viewed by the numbers too.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

LS: What an ugly body kit, but I do like those wheels! It looks sporty while luxurious at the same time.

PhilipMSPT

iTrader: (5)

I haven't test ridden the LS Sport yet. The regular LS was quite sedate and overly electro-nannied.

It's sorta odd to pair the Equus specifically with the LS Sport. Perhaps a regular LS would have been a better comparo...

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

True that. I think if they really wanted to make it a serious contender, they'd use the F motor

GFerg

I think the LS sport is an option package like the S550 AMG, 750i Sport, A8 S-line etc. Who knows, maybe a proper LS F will come next generation.

Like said above, I just do not like the bodykit at all, and the fact that you are still very limited with how you can option the Sport model (SWB only, limited options, only one interior color choice etc).

Hoovey689

iTrader: (16)

The Black and Saddle Tan leather-trimmed interior is to me hah

GFerg

^^ Yea it really is not a bad combination at all. I do like it. However, it would be nice to see them offer more than one option. Its a common complaint, but there is to much take it or leave it when it comes to optioning out certain Lexus vehicles.

mmarshall

For those of you old enough to remember, this is roughly what many 60's-vintage American muscle cars were running. 14-15 second quarter-miles were about average for all except the very top-level and most powerful 427 Tri-Carb Corvettes, Dual-4-barrel Hemi-Barracudas, and AC Cobras, which did 13-14 seconds. Some versions of the dragster-king 427 AC Cobra were a little faster still. But, for the most part, what is today's luxury-car-performance was once run-of-the-mill muscle-car performance.

Fulorian

Yeah, but those guys were running 8L V8s and lower total weight. Now, the exact same hp is coming out of 4-5L V8s.

And the difference in gas mileage is astounding...