---
title: 'Best-Sounding Drag Race EVER? Porsche Carrera GT vs Lexus LFA'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=wu78tDRSsOk'
video_id: 'wu78tDRSsOk'
date: 2026-07-18
duration_sec: 828
channel: 'carwow'
---

# Best-Sounding Drag Race EVER? Porsche Carrera GT vs Lexus LFA

> Source: [Best-Sounding Drag Race EVER? Porsche Carrera GT vs Lexus LFA](https://youtube.com/watch?v=wu78tDRSsOk)

## Summary

This video features a drag race between a Porsche Carrera GT and a Lexus LFA, two iconic V10-powered supercars. The host drives the Carrera GT for the first time, nervous about its tricky clutch, while Martinez from DK Engineering pilots the LFA. They compare performance, sound, and braking in a series of races.

### Key Points

- **Porsche Carrera GT Specs** [00:36] — 5.7L naturally aspirated V10, 612 hp, 590 Nm torque, 1,380 kg, six-speed manual, worth ~£2 million.
- **Lexus LFA Specs** [01:04] — 4.8L naturally aspirated V10, 560 hp, 480 Nm torque, 1,480 kg, six-speed automatic, worth ~£750,000.
- **Sound Comparison** [02:01] — Both cars have V10 engines reminiscent of Formula 1. The LFA's sound is tuned by Yamaha's music division; the Carrera GT sounds raw and unartificial.
- **Race Setup** [04:50] — To avoid damaging the clutch, they start from a rolling start rather than a standing launch. The Carrera GT's traction control is primitive and cuts power aggressively.
- **Quarter Mile Results** [08:37] — Porsche Carrera GT: 12.1 seconds; Lexus LFA: 12.2 seconds. The Porsche wins by 0.1 seconds.
- **Rolling Race (Half Mile)** [09:04] — From 30 mph in second gear, the Carrera GT gaps the LFA, attributed to its lighter weight and higher torque.
- **Third Gear Roll (50 mph)** [11:23] — The LFA wins this race, showing its top-end power advantage.
- **Brake Test** [12:55] — The LFA stops significantly shorter due to modern ABS; the Carrera GT's brakes are older but still carbon ceramic.

### Conclusion

The Porsche Carrera GT is quicker in the quarter mile and rolling races, but the Lexus LFA excels in braking and top-end speed. Both cars offer unique driving experiences and iconic V10 sounds.

## Transcript

WHAT WILL WIN in a drag race between a Porsche Carrera GT and a Lexus LFA? Are the standing quarter mile? I am so always wanted to drive one. I haven't until now. I'm going to drag race one.
Very first time. Though I am super nervous because these cars have a notoriously tricky clutch and they're expensive to break but easy to break.
Let me tell you about this wonderful Porsche Carrera GT. So, it's got a 5.7 L naturally aspirated V10 engine driving the rear wheels by a six-speed manual gearbox with a lovely wooden gear knob. We've got 612 horsepower, 590 Nm of
We've got 612 horsepower, 590 Nm of torque, and this car weighs 1,380 kilos. New back in '05, this was £330,000. However, today this particular car is worth about £2 million. I've got to be
very careful, but I'm not good at being careful. Next to me is the Lexus LFA. It has a 4.8 8 L natur aspirated V10 with 560 horsepower, 480 new m of torque,
driving the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox. That car weighs in at automatic gearbox. That car weighs in at £1,480 kilos and back in 2010 it costs about £340,000. Today that car's worth £750,000.
side by side. Now, let's quickly talk to its driver. His name is Martinez from DK Engineering. Martinez, how are you? >> Keeping well, thank you. How are you? I got an easy job. You've got an automatic. I've got a manual. One of the
trickiest manuals known in a production CAR [groaning] and a very expensive production car. But the thing about these cars is the sound. V10 engines. Reminds me of Formula 1 back in the day.
>> I might be biased, but I think it's mine. Yours looks the loudest in that the loudest and the best sounding. Let's do a sound check. I'm going to go first bit so I get induction and exhaust. Here we go, everybody.
>> Oh, god. Then beat that. >> Let's give it a go. Yamaha, the music division, not like the
But, which do you think sounds the best? Let me know in the comments. I'm going Let me know in the comments. I'm going for this. Sounds like a Formula 1 car. >> What do you do at DK Engineering? >> I do a bit of sales and a bit of quality
bit of everything. >> If you drive that car and it performs badly, it's not going to do well for sales, is it, Martinez? No pressure. >> Does the person who's bought it know that it's actually going on this drag
>> We'll find out when the video is live. [laughter] You must have told Have you told them? >> I think we have. Yeah, they know. >> I think. Oh dear. Well, if you just bought a Lexus LFA in yellow, it's been
drag race on car. You can see it right now. How's that though for like you've got a video of it competing against the Carrera GT. What an amazing matchup. one of these cars, so I've got to drive it down the runway for the very first
well, we're going to go up and down. Get a feel for them. >> No problem. Give it a go. >> The clutch is a bit like on my 911 ST. just lift off the clutch. Once it's fully engaged, then you go. So, here we
go. Do not stall. Do not stall. Do not stall. Do not stall. Did not stall. stall. Do not stall. Did not stall. There we go. Now, I'm off.
I've waited for this moment for 20 years. 20 years. going to take these off because I'm like a little bit emotional about it. That as a kid, I say kid, I wish I was a kid, but as a younger motoring journalist
writing news stories, never got anywhere near cars like this back in the day. cuz they got prescription lenses in them. I can't see Bugger without them.
the chap that lent me this. You know who you are. You're a legend and you've made true. When people ask me what car could you have if you could have any. I do sometimes get stuck cuz I've driven so many. But yeah, it's going to be this.
So, Martinez, how's your car feeling? >> Feels amazing, bud. Super comfortable. >> Do you have launch control? >> I do. Yeah, clutch. I'm not going to launch this. I'm not going to actually do it from a
standstill because I'd have to dump the clutch and that could destroy it in one want to destroy someone's car. What was the point? So, what we're going to do is going to engage the clutch and we're just going to like chug along to the
start line and the starter will start us. Soon as his hands go down, we go and we race over the quarter mile. We'll see which is the quickest. Here we go. which is the quickest. Here we go. >> Three, two, one.
>> He want to go sideways. I'll destroy that Lexus.
>> Stood up, unfortunately. Maybe I slept on the launch. I'm not sure. Yeah, I wasn't increasing the gap. I think you can do a better job than that. Have a little practice there. Just have a little practice.
happen. A stall. And that guy's filming it. do it this time? >> Watch out. Here comes the LFA. >> I'm not convinced by this. >> 3 2 1.
Oh, this is close. He's going to have me. >> Hair, basically. >> Yeah. I'm being careful with the gear
changes that I want to money shift cuz that will cost a lot of money. All right. All right. All right. So, it's one each. See you back down there. going to bleed it in because the traction control comes in. And because
traction control comes in. And because this car is like 2005, traction control system is pretty thick. It just cuts the power. So, I'm just going to be power. So, I'm just going to be smoother. Hopefully, that'll work.
Progressive with the power. Good on the gear shifts. You can do it, man. gear shifts. You can do it, man. >> 3 2 1
COME ON, CARRERA. YOU CAN DO IT, MY DARLING CAR. I love you.
>> good shifting. >> So then what exactly happened? Well, the Porsche one, it completed the rolling/4 mile in 12.1 seconds. The Lexus took 12.2 seconds. All right, and let's do a rolling race,
but let's go for a bit longer cuz that seems to pick up speed at the top end. let's see what happens when we go a bit faster. Things could change. We're going to roll in second gear, 30 mph, and then race over the half mile. Right,
race over the half mile. Right, Martinez, second gear, rolling. Copy. 3 Martinez, second gear, rolling. Copy. 3 2 1 go. That was actually
third. That would have just been so expensive. Don't need to change." I don't think I've put this into fifth gear yet. It
just started to gap, didn't it? >> I didn't have a chance, I think. fact this is lighter and it has more torque. But let's try it in a different gear. Let's try it in third from 50. >> I had to do that.
>> Don't stall. Don't stall. Don't stall. Don't stall. >> this is harder than the ST. ever so slightly harder and ever so slightly cars, if I owned one, was the delivery drivers knowing that because delivery
ramp on a truck if they don't know what they're doing, they're going to be applying throttle and that is not good. Let's practice fifth gear cuz I'm probably going to have to use it now. Fourth,
fifth. It's pretty clear. Hold that though. LFA. The LFA, you can tell it's been tuned to sound good.
because the engine is doing its job. The exhaust is doing its job. Doesn't sound like it's been artificially tuned to sound good. It just is. That is a load what I'm trying to say. Right now, we're going to do a third gear roll on. 50 mph
you can do it through car. You can sell your current car through CarWow. Have dealers all across the country bid on it or you can buy your next car through CarWow. Either used, new, or lease your car. Head to Carw Wow to check it out.
Oh, there's a link in the description. Or scan the QR code on screen now. Okay, Don't stall. Don't stall. Don't stall. Don't stall. Don't stall. Don't stall. Don't stall. Don't stall. Don't stall. Yeah, good. Okay, get level, Martinez. 3
Yeah, good. Okay, get level, Martinez. 3 2 1 go. Oh, he's ahead. change. Yeah.
LFA. >> I wouldn't say superior, but it's definitely faster. >> It is super bloody super. It is. Okay, the money. Which would you rather have? Porsche Carrera GT hypercar or an LFA
>> I'd have this in a heartbeat. I think it's easier to use and live with despite the CGT being a convertible which makes it tough to choose but it's still the >> Let's do a brake test. Here we go. Here's the cones.
all. The LFA destroyed this. There's a lot of ABS going on. Absolutely smashed me. Well, at least I can do something, which is stop if I can't beat you at >> Oh my god, that was a little bit worrying. That was maybe the tires are a
so well. That is one thing you really notice with modern cars. Braking performance and the ABS, the way it works is massively improved. >> Likewise, the fact that the Carrera GT is quicker despite being older and
braking performance is irrelevant. You'll still slow down on those carbon >> Oh, he's coming round to it now, isn't he? He's coming round to it. But is it really the best all round hypercar? Maybe something slightly later like the
Porsche 918 Spider or maybe a Ferrari or maybe it's actually the McLaren P1. To We drag race them. Anyway, listen. I hope you'll enjoyed the video if you other cars you'd like to see race in the comments below. Thanks for watching and
comments below. Thanks for watching and I'll see you very very very