Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 173: Lizzie's Little Sisters

Confessions of an Automationeer, Part 173: Lizzie's Little Sisters

After finishing both variants of the LVC LS60, I decided to ask myself another question: What if that car had a smaller, cheaper stablemate, with a less powerful engine to set it apart in the marketplace? As usual, I came up with the answer fairly quickly. This time, it was the LVC LS35 - a mid-engined supercar much like its larger sibling, but with an aluminum chassis and bodywork, and with a V8 instead of a V12 nestled between its rear wheels.

Above and below: The LVC LS35 draws some aesthetic inspiration from the flagship LS60 (especially up front), but condenses it into a smaller, more affordable package.

With 400 horsepower (at 8,700 rpm, 300 shy of the redline at 9,000 rpm) sent to the rear wheels via a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox and helical LSD, and a curb weight of 1,260kg, it can reach 60 mph from a standstill in 4.1 seconds (on sports tires, not semi-slicks). Combined with track-ready yet supple suspension tuning (complete with switchable adaptive dampers!), it can generate a maximum cornering force 1g on a 200-meter skid pad. A lightweight interior (available in a wide range of colors and finishes) imparts a sporty ambiance, while race-bred aerodynamics (including small front and rear spoilers, as well as an undertray) keep the tires planted on the ground at any speed. Finally, dual front airbags, traction control, and large ABS-assisted 4-wheel vented discs help bring it to a stop without a hint of fade, while also keeping the occupants safe 24/7.

But what if I told you that there was an even lighter and more affordable car in the LVC range? The LVC LS25 is exactly that. I've made several iterations of it before, but this one, powered by a 2.5-liter flat-six developing 250 horsepower, with an 8,000 rpm redline, is my favorite - it was too fast when I shoehorned a V8 into it, and too slow with any four-cylinder. This is the sweet spot, but it still takes no prisoners - unlike the LS35, it lacks driving aids (for a more analog feel), which helps keep the cost down ($38,000 in-game, compared to $57,500 AMU for the LS35). Narrower tires overall mean it doesn't quite match its bigger brothers on the skid pad, but it still comes very close. And it's only 0.3 seconds slower to 60 mph than the more balanced, but heavier, LS35, with similarly good braking performance, to boot.

Above and below: The bottom of the mid-engined LVC range is the LS25, whose high-revving 250-bhp 2.5-liter flat-six and lightweight construction make it an ideal starting point for enthusiasts loyal to the brand, especially with styling that resembles a scaled-down version of its siblings.

In short, if the LS25 is the starter of the mid-engined LVC lineup, then the LS35 is their appetizer, while the LS40 serves as their highly sumptuous main course. All of them are so alluring, however, that you may not even need (or want) the four-wheeled equivalent of a dessert - so choose the one which suits your budget and needs the most.

Update (June 3rd 2024): Here is the entire 1995 mid-engined LVC range in its current state, after the LS25 switched to an aluminum body and gained 25 horsepower to offset the resulting weight gain:

Above, from top: The full lineup of mid-engined LVCs for 1995: the 275-bhp LS25 (yellow) serves as the entry-level offering, while the 500-bhp LS60 (blue) sits at the very top, with the 400-bhp LS35 (red) occupying a nice middle ground between those two.

The LS35, with its 3.5-liter V8, bridges the gap between the LS25 and LS60, and is a formidable performance car in its own right - it feels great to have finally finished all three of them!

And as an added bonus, I created a coupe version of the 4.0-engined LS60, just to show off another possible exterior/interior color combination:

Above, from top: An LS60 4.0 GT Coupe in bright red, with silver wheels, red brake calipers, and red interior accents.

With the addition of this variant, I may well consider taking the idea further to include convertible/roadster variants of the other two mid-engined LVCs, and/or a new model line in the form of a front-engined 2+2 grand tourer to complement the existing range.