The Lexus 5.0-liter V8 engine will go down as one of the all-time greats. 471 horsepower and 398 lb-ft of torque aren’t world-beating numbers, but the way this engine deploys is so unlike its rivals. Peak horsepower isn’t reached until 7,100 rpm, meaning you have to bring the LC to its redline to unlock its maximum performance. In the real world, the torque-rich turbocharged Germans will leave the Lexus in the dust, but they will completely miss out on the LC’s V8 symphony.
If there’s a better-sounding V8, we haven’t heard it. The LC’s engine emits a howl that reverberates through your spine to the pleasure sensors in your brain. Our questionable understanding of biology aside, this car demonstrates that speed and 0-60 times aren’t everything. When you attend a concert, you don’t need to capture every moment on video for posterity. Sometimes it’s better to sit back and enjoy the music.