Once seen as a mere luxury brand, Lexus has been gaining traction in the sports car arena. Spotted on ” target=”_blank”>Goodwood Road & Racing, race car driver and former Stig Ben Collins takes us on some hot laps with the Lexus LFA, RC-F, and GS-F at the Goodwood Circuit in the United Kingdom.

Through precision engineering and upholding their luxury brand, Lexus has developed three different beasts that reach a diverse audience. On one end you have the LFA, a supercar of sorts, the RC-F, a two-door runt that is quite fast, and the GS-F, a high-performance luxury sedan.

The LFA was a supercar that was in short production from 2010 to 2012, with only 500 vehicles produced. The LFA packs a 4.8-liter 1LR-GUE V10 that throws down 552 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a six-speed sequential electrohydraulic automatic transmission, the LFA is still a powerhouse to this day. While it’s somewhat of a unicorn, the LFA is supercar perfection from the brilliant minds in Japan.

“Drifting in the LFA is a bit of a bloodsport,” he said. “It’s been designed properly to go fast around the track. When you start driving it like an ape and get the initial slide going, it does tend to snap back a bit,” Collins remarks.

Collins was doing everything he could to get the LFA loose with its superior handling capabilities. “When it begins to slide, it’s great,” he said. “But the traction can come back quickly due to the low profile tires and double wishbone suspension, which makes handling very sharp.”

Up next was the RC-F, which Collins called just a few steps down from the LFA. With price being the biggest factor between the LFA and RC-F, Ben was still impressed with the RC-F. With the ability to take traction control off at the press of a button, Ben called it the “happy mode.”

Happy mode engaged.

With happy mode initiated, Collins gets the rear loose on the RC-F and flexes its 5.0-liter 2UR-GSE V8 engine on the circuit, enjoying the 394 horsepower and 383 pound-feet of torque. While it’s the more affordable option compared to the LFA, the RC-F is a powerful specimen that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Creeping right behind the RC-F is the GS-F, which looks to be a family friendly version of the bunch. But don’t let this sedan fool you. “This is the car you can share the sports with your friends,” Collins said. “You can terrify your family and work colleagues. You can really impress them with your prowess in a sporty, everyday car.”

Weighing just a little less than the RC-F, the GS-F has just as much pep in its step as the RC-F since it is running the same engine under the hood.

Collins simply underestimated the GS-F, impressed by its precise handling qualities.

“I expected the LFA and RC-F to be brutes on the track, but the GS-F surprised me because despite being a little heavier, it actually handles incredibly well, leading to a visceral experience when you drive it,” he said. It has been a long time since we got excited for Lexus as we look back to the roots of the IS, GS, and LS-series models that had great acclaim and are still seen on the streets today.

Touche Mr. Collins. What are your thoughts on the three high-performance vehicles from Lexus? Would you rather stick with that vintage LS400, GS400, or IS300? Let us know in the comments below.