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Not sure about the Giken, haven't driven a car equipped with one, but the TVD is very impressive. I can even feel the improvement in handling from the passenger seat. Where we have a timed course and clock, it is a noticeable difference in lap times, usually 5-8% depending on driver.
Not sure about the Giken, haven't driven a car equipped with one, but the TVD is very impressive. I can even feel the improvement in handling from the passenger seat. Where we have a timed course and clock, it is a noticeable difference in lap times, usually 5-8% depending on driver.
FWIW, Car and Driver did their own direct comparison test between two RC-Fs (one equipped with the Torsen LSD and one equipped with the TVD) on a 1.7 mile track.
The Torsen equipped RC-F pulled a lap time of 1:19.1 and the TVD equipped RC-F pulled a lap time of 1:18.7, which equates to about a 0.5% difference in lap time.
FWIW, Car and Driver did their own direct comparison test between two RC-Fs (one equipped with the Torsen LSD and one equipped with the TVD) on a 1.7 mile track.
The Torsen equipped RC-F pulled a lap time of 1:19.1 and the TVD equipped RC-F pulled a lap time of 1:18.7, which equates to about a 0.5% difference in lap time.
FWIW, Car and Driver did their own direct comparison test between two RC-Fs (one equipped with the Torsen LSD and one equipped with the TVD) on a 1.7 mile track.
The Torsen equipped RC-F pulled a lap time of 1:19.1 and the TVD equipped RC-F pulled a lap time of 1:18.7, which equates to about a 0.5% difference in lap time.
In the hands of professional drivers where turn-in, trail braking, rotating and lines mean something, the difference is .5%. A professional can adjust their driving technique between a clutch type and elsd on the fly and know exactly how each system performs and take it to the limit. Novices would drive each car exactly the same. Its like driving a AWD like a RWD car through corners, you can get on the gas so much sooner with the AWD. In the hands of everyday joe drivers who rarely or ever take their car to the track, it inspires confidence to push the car harder than with just the LSD. After all, I believe that was Lexus' intention with the TVD, to inspire confidence in regular drivers. I suspect the difference would be greater in that situation.
In the hands of professional drivers where turn-in, trail braking, rotating and lines mean something, the difference is .5%. A professional can adjust their driving technique between a clutch type and elsd on the fly and know exactly how each system performs and take it to the limit. Novices would drive each car exactly the same. Its like driving a AWD like a RWD car through corners, you can get on the gas so much sooner with the AWD. In the hands of everyday joe drivers who rarely or ever take their car to the track, it inspires confidence to push the car harder than with just the LSD. After all, I believe that was Lexus' intention with the TVD, to inspire confidence in regular drivers. I suspect the difference would be greater in that situation.
You make a great point about Lexus' intention with the TVD and how that could lead to better lap times for everyday enthusiast drivers (5-8%) vice professional drivers (0.5%). Those that are not professional drivers can more easily and confidently reach the limits of the vehicle via an advanced stability and traction control system which utilizes the available tech of the TVD to better maintain stability and improve agility while still keeping the driver out of hot water.
04-19-17, 12:21 PM
