http://www.lexus.com/showroom/model/ls_exterior.html

Says it all right there. Corvette no longer can boast the lowest Cd among vehicles. And this from a large, 2 ton luxury sedan, no less.

I hear these are some of the best cars around. People seem to really like them.

Personally..I'm not a big fan of the Lexus LS430..its kind of blocky and bulky looking..

The drag coefficient is lowered supposedly on this car by its undercarriage..

There is a compromise of weight vs. good aerodynamics..

The under trays are really the last horizon for aerodynamics..

Interestingly the Ferrari 360 used a flexible undertray to get downforce at speed..sometimes thats more important than low drag...

I'd say its a question of balance..low weight..good downforce..and low coefficient of drag..

If you get a chance..check it out..

As far as the Lexus..its a fine automobile ..but I'd pass..Imho..there are better choices ...hopefully one day they will be more innovative..if just from a styling perspective..and thats always just a personal individiual choice.

I think they should relabel this car the DRAG QUEEN..

[ 12-20-2001: Message edited by: JBsC5 ]

How in THE hell did that car get a Cd of 0.25?? Is it really possible to get that figure just from the undercarriage?

In reading up on this in the past..thats the basic premise that they worked on outside of the normal design of the body...

It really does make for a better CD..

But what is that worth....I'd rather be driving a car that had a slighly higher Coefficient of drag and had the beauty to make the ownership experience more exciting..

Thats just me..

BTW..if your looking for a luxury car Brian...the best luxo deal I just worked out for my fatherinlaw..is a subsidized lease thats been kept quiet for some reason at Acura..

He just signed the papers on an Acura TL3.2 S type four door..

1000 at inception including a 400 refundable security deposit..and motor vehicles..tags..blah..blah..

400 even a month..42 months 42,000 miles..all under the warranty period..

Nice car..moves to sixty mph in mid sixes...

He's ordered silver..with the black interior .. with a sunroof,and it comes with active handling too..(no navigation system though)

260horsepower....

Best deal out there for a subsidized lease.

JB, I do really like that sedan, but I would have to purchase it. They're not expensive, and I would also have to have the nav. system. I was also looking at RX300, X5, Grand Cherokee, Rodeo, Pathfinder, 5-series, 7-series, etc. Not sure if I want an SUV or a car. Also don't want to buy brand spanking new if I can help it.

The LS430 is not really my style, but it is a nice car.

The C5 was never able to boast about having the lowest CD of "all cars".

However, its claim to aerodynamic fame was that it had the lowest CD among all "production sports cars". Several electric cars have lower CD's than the C5. Plenty of prototype cars have as well. But, production sports cars are where the C5 shines.

Redshift,

Check out the RX300. I bought the wife one and she LOVES it. I wasn't sure about having a SUV either but now I really like it. And there is NO comparison to Lexus service.

I've heard they are going to change them in the next year or two and possibly call it the RX330 (bigger engine).