Lexus LF-A: First drive of the production car + Ring Lap

[blue2fire]

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ive/index.html

It's no Ferrari 458 Italia, but with triad exhaust, huge radiator vents, and active wing, from behind LFA could pass for NASA starship.

Even in our gilded age of $5 coffee libations and $10,000 plasma TVs, the price shocks like a hornet sting: a Toyota that costs... nearly $400,000.True, the limited-edition, two-seat, rear-drive LFA supercar, due to appear here in early 2011, will hide its Toyota roots behind the velvet rope of its maker's Lexus brand, but the sticker is staggering nonetheless. The most expensive model in the current Lexus portfolio, the LS 600h hybrid luxury sedan, starts at $106,910.

"The LFA is a halo car for the F marque," says national manager for Lexus Advanced Business Development Paul Rohovsky, referring to the Lexus F performance division (think "AMG Mercedes") behind the IS F sport sedan. Indeed, Rohovsky is candid: "The LFA will raise passion for the brand, an admitted Lexus shortcoming," he says.
How do you inject "passion" into a lineup encompassing supremely competent but generally narcotic offerings like the RX 350 sport/ute and even the vaunted LS 460 premium sedan? To Toyota's way of thinking, you do a cannonball right into the pool currently occupied by the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, and Porsche.

Mind you, Toyota isn't diving in naked. "I have spent one-third of my career working on this single car," says LFA chief engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi, evidence not only of Tanahashi's tenacity but also of the LFA's unusually long gestation. Born of a clean-sheet concept etched in 2000, the first teaser car (then named LF-A) appeared at the 2005 Detroit show. Two years later came a revised concept; by then, camouflaged LF-A prototypes were making regular blitzes around the Nürburgring. Shadowy details emerged: Toyota was building a monster.

As inspiration, Tanahashi turned to Toyota's Formula 1 racing program, then playing to 3.0-liter V-10 regulations. So it was that the team sculpted an all-new, naturally aspirated V-10, this one a 4.8-liter with a 72-degree bank angle (optimal for smooth firing with a five-throw crank), dry-sump lubrication to lower the center of gravity (no giant under-engine oil pan), and an individual throttle body for each cylinder. Though it can't match an F1 car for revs, the LFA V-10 still spins like Karl Rove on a Tilt-A-Whirl: Redline is 9000 rpm. And while relatively compact and light, the engine screams with 552 horsepower at 8700 rpm.

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[josephr25]

Maybe Lexus can take away Porsche's "everyday supercar" moniker.

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by Kampfer

Maybe Lexus can take away Porsche's "everyday supercar" moniker.

Personally, i thought they were having a laugh. When i first looked at it, my thought was "10-15% premium over GT-R, worst case maybe R8 V10 money", not really $400,000.

But it is ridiculous to see that the original rumors were true.

[335fourdoor]

for company known for tercels and corollas selling a car for $400,000 in my opinion is criminal.i don't see any takers(buyers) for this car in Europe or U.S. this is for domestic consumption only(mainly patriotic reasons).what a joke at this price!

[domobrown]

Originally Posted by 335fourdoor

for company known for tercels and corollas selling a car for $400,000 in my opinion is criminal.i don't see any takers(buyers) for this car in Europe or U.S. this is for domestic consumption only(mainly patriotic reasons).what a joke at this price!

I think it's sad past conceptions of car companies are used against its new models. This car has no roots in the cheaper models. Its a brand new supercar, albeit at a European price

[335fourdoor]

Originally Posted by domobrown

I think it's sad past conceptions of car companies are used against its new models. This car has no roots in the cheaper models. Its a brand new supercar, albeit at a European price

hopefully without the unintended acceleration issues (current problem with the parent company).
anybody who would buy this car(400k),instead of ferrari 458 italia($250k) is a moron.

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by blue2fire

http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/...ive/index.html



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Wowowowowowoowowow.

[eVitO]

That is a nice sounding V10 though...

[josephr25]

Originally Posted by 335fourdoor

hopefully without the unintended acceleration issues (current problem with the parent company).
anybody who would buy this car(400k),instead of ferrari 458 italia($250k) is a moron.

Anybody who bought a 335i (around 40K) instead of a Corolla (less than 20K) is a moron.

[shahsk30]

Originally Posted by Kampfer

Anybody who bought a 335i (around 40K) instead of a Corolla (less than 20K) is a moron.

[Amir87]

For $400k that thing doesn't even have auto-dimming rearview? LOL.

Sorry Lexus, 400k is a joke. Another idea, why not lower the price to 85 grand and call it the new Supra

[footie]

Originally Posted by eVitO

That is a nice sounding V10 though...

Yes the noise is incredible..............but in a race car and certainly not in something with a Lexus brand on the bonnet. The brand stand for luxury, smoothness and quietness, not the fire spitting monster we see here with the sound track to match.

Does the world need another Ferrari?

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by footie

Does the world need another Ferrari wannabe?

Fixed.

[Robert]

In for the first crash picture.

I wouldn't knock it until driven one.

[radiantm3]

Personally, I think the car would have been better branded as a Toyota (at least it has a history in motorsports). Wasn't the Lexus brand created to get brand snobs to buy more expensive Toyotas?

[graider]

the release date is 2011. is it possible that yota may change the front end? please do so as this is completely hideous. I'm fine with the interior, rear, and somewhat ok side profile.

[335fourdoor]

Originally Posted by Kampfer

Anybody who bought a 335i (around 40K) instead of a Corolla (less than 20K) is a moron.

don't believe corolla forum would be as much fun.(no need to blame yourself).

[sparkyg]

I dunno, it is gonna have a hard time competing with Ferrari, seriously $400k is alot of dough and the L is not a F car

Would you buy this over a Scuderia?

[.:bHd:.]

Originally Posted by Kampfer

Anybody who bought a 335i (around 40K) instead of a Corolla (less than 20K) is a moron.

The 335 is twice the car that the corolla is. The LFA is definitely not twice the car that the 458 is.

retard

[guardianangel3290]

Originally Posted by .:bHd:.

The 335 is twice the car that the corolla is. The LFA is definitely not twice the car that the 458 is.

retard

+1

[Year's_End]

People should stop knocking it for the badge.

And this is coming from me, about a Lexus.

[guardianangel3290]

Originally Posted by Nikkahtropolis

People should stop knocking it for the badge.

And this is coming from me, about a Lexus.

i dont think its the badge, its the price tag.

with 400k, you can buy A LOT more car than the LF-A