Never before has there been such a varied range of powertrains for performance cars. Decades ago, if you wanted a car that was fun to drive,  you opted for something with a rear-wheel-drive chassis that was mated to the largest-displacement engine with the highest number of cylinders that the manufacturer could fit in the engine bay. Things have changed. Massive naturally aspirated engines no longer reign supreme, as automakers have downsized their engine offerings to improve fuel efficiency and emissions. The mantra “There’s no replacement for displacement” has been replaced; now the preference is for forced-induction, small-displacement turbocharged and supercharged engines. At the same time, engines have started to be paired with high-tech hybrid systems in the performance arena, not solely to improve fuel efficiency but to add speed with a less severe efficiency penalty than in the past.  Lexus is in a somewhat unique position and is bucking that trend. When it comes to powertrain technology in three top Lexus performance models, the operative words are natural aspiration, displacement, and sophistication. Whether it’s feature-laden 32-valve V-8 engines mated to their latest up-to-10-speed automatic transmissions, or advanced multistage hybrid powertrains, Lexus is able to deliver performance in different ways.
The V-8 used in the 2017 Lexus RC F and GS F benefits from years of evolution?three decades, in fact. Take a look at today’...