2015 Audi RS 5 Vs 2015 Lexus RC F

Invalid Displayed Gallery

Our world is full of rivalries: dogs vs. cats, Coke and Pepsi, Donald Trump bickering with Rosie O’Donnell. These famous faceoffs are often highly entertaining and sometimes even give us unique perspectives on certain issues.

In the automotive sphere, there are all kinds of binary tussles, like Ford vs. Chevrolet, WRX STI vs. Lancer Evolution and Ferrari vs. Lamborghini. How boring would our world be without these vitriolic rivalries? Probably as bland as daytime TV.

The Audi RS 5 and the Lexus RC F may not have a rich history of head-to-head opposition like other vehicular feuds, but they are pretty much a perfect pairing. Each one has two doors, eight-cylinders, suitably luxurious trimmings and, most importantly, offers the promise of all-out performance. But is there a clear-cut winner? Does one provide more smiles per gallon?

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

Starting alphabetically, the Audi RS 5 features an old friend, a 4.2-liter V8. Two-by-fours of this displacement have been in the four-ring family for decades, it seems, and each year, they just keep getting better.

This iteration of the powerplant puts out a gallant 450 horses, spinning like a hummingbird to an enthralling 8,250 rpm. Taking it to the max, time and time again is an exhilarating experience, as redline comes up quickly in lower gears and is accompanied by a mechanical noise akin to the music trumpeted by an F1 car’s exhaust pipes.

Despite its high-strung nature, this Audi V8 is still surprisingly flexible at less-than-crazy revolutions. Appropriate gearing keeps it on the boil; direct injection, variable valve timing and other goodies bolster basement-level torque.

Beyond that, the Lexus V8 also produces a few extra horsepower, with 467 on tap, a number it delivers without the frantic wail of the Audi.

The RC F’s 5.0-liter engine sings a different tune, one that’s more Woodward Avenue than Watkins Glen. Judging by the throaty rumble, it should have a build date sometime around 1963, because it thunders like an American muscle car.

The Audi’s engine is matched to a seven-ratio, dual-clutch automatic that can shift in the blink of an eye, though its Japanese rival does one-up it. The Lexus RC F has an eight-speed slushbox. It doesn’t change gears quite as quickly, though it is more refined.

At times, the Audi transmission can get confused. If you nail the accelerator on occasion, there will be awkward delay before real acceleration starts, probably because the clutches have to sort out what they’re doing. Also, at times shifts can feel pretty shabby, especially at low speeds.

However, one advantage to the Audi’s dual-clutch gearbox is responsiveness. It’s speedy and has absolutely no qualms about giving you first gear at 30 miles an hour and revving up to seven grand or more. The Lexus won’t do that; with downshifts, it shies away from redline – by thousands of rpm. Can you say wet blanket? Also, when using the paddles, shifts can often be delayed by an uncomfortably long half-second or more.

Following their transmissions, the drivetrain layouts of these two automobiles are different as well. Predictably, the RS 5 features Audi’s industry-leading quattro all-wheel-drive system; the RC F is straight up rear-drive with a Torsen limited-slip differential, though you can get an electronically controlled torque-vectoring diff, which is included in the optional $5,500 Performance Package.

Infotainment technology is also worth mentioning. Audi’s MMI system is friendly and familiar. Contrast that with Lexus’ Remote Touchpad, which brings a laptop pointing surface to the automobile. This interface is catastrophically challenging even with clever haptic feedback. Really, it shouldn’t be this hard.

SEE ALSO: 2015 Audi RS5 Cabriolet Review

Nobody buys a luxury coupe for backseat room or trunk space. The aft accommodations in each model here are inhospitable for children and downright hostile to adults. Likewise, storage space is at a premium, though the Audi does have a slight advantage, with 12.4 cubic feet of trunk space; the Lexus make do with just 10.1 cubes.

With more horses, extra torque and a lighter body, the RC F should be a bit quicker to 60 miles an hour, doing the deed in around 4.4 seconds; the RS 5 is only one-tenth slower.

As these numbers suggest, in real-world use, the Lexus feels a little bit faster, though just barely. Each of these cars is blazingly quick; power is never lacking.

Another thing about driving the RC F is how confined it seems compared to the RS 5, in fact, it’s nearly four inches narrower inside. Additionally, outward visibility is more restrictive, and that’s never a good thing.

Unfortunately, both of these coupes weigh more than two tons, so they’re really not all that involving; as vehicles go, they’re more of the point-and-shoot variety. Don’t get me wrong, they’re both a lot of fun and will put a smile on your face, but it’s the engines that do that, not lightness or tossability. Ultimately, a Miata probably delivers more satisfaction for a lot less dough.

Picking a winner is tough, as they’re both extremely enjoyable cars. But at the end of the day, it’s the Audi’s key I keep reaching for.

Discuss this story on either our Audi Forum or Lexus Forum.