The is a two-seat
sports car
A sports car is a car designed with an emphasis on dynamic performance, such as handling, acceleration, top speed, the thrill of driving and racing capability. Sports cars originated in Europe in the early 1900s and are currently produced by ...
manufactured by
Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota. The Lexus brand is marketed in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. It has ranked among the 10 largest Japanese ...
, the luxury car division of
Toyota
is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...
. It is the second model in the
F marque line of performance vehicles from Lexus, following the
IS F
In linguistics, a copula (plural: copulas or copulae; abbreviated ) is a word or phrase that links the subject of a sentence to a subject complement, such as the word ''is'' in the sentence "The sky is blue" or the phrase ''was not being'' i ...
, and also the first standalone Lexus F model. Three concept versions were unveiled, each debuting at the
North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), also known as the Detroit Auto Show as of 2022 and prior to NAIAS, is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., at Huntington Place. The show was held in January from 1989 to 2019. ...
with the LF-A designation as part of the
LF Series concept line. After beginning development in the early 2000s (with a codename of TXS), the first LF-A concept premiered in 2005, followed in 2007 by a second concept with a more completely furnished interior and exterior. The third version of the LF-A, featuring a
roadster body style premiered in 2008. The production model, trademarked LFA,
was unveiled at the
Tokyo Motor Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October–November at the Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), it is a recognized international show by ...
in October 2009.
According to Lexus, the "A" in production LFA name stands for the "Apex" of the LF line of cars.
Akio Toyoda
is a Japanese business executive and the current president of Toyota Motor Corporation. He is the great-grandson of the Japanese industrialist, Sakichi Toyoda, and the grandson of both the founder of Toyota Motors, Kiichiro Toyoda, and the found ...
, CEO of parent company Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) saw the LFA as an opportunity to create a global icon for the Lexus brand, embodying Toyoda's idea that the ultimate Lexus should connect with its owner.
The production version of the Lexus LFA features a
V10 engine
A V10 engine is a ten-cylinder piston engine where two banks of five cylinders are arranged in a V configuration around a common crankshaft. V10 engines are much less common than V8 and V12 engine
A V12 engine is a twelve-cylinder pis ...
developed in collaboration with
Yamaha Yamaha may refer to:
* Yamaha Corporation, a Japanese company with a wide range of products and services, established in 1887. The company is the largest shareholder of Yamaha Motor Company (below).
** Yamaha Music Foundation, an organization estab ...
exclusive to the car and a body made from
carbon fibre-reinforced polymer
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon compo ...
(CFRP). CFRP materials account for 65 percent of the LFA's body composition by mass.
The LFA went into production in late 2010.
[ A circuit-tuned variant debuted in 2012,][ and was one of the most expensive Japanese road cars ever built. Production ended in December 2012 with 500 cars produced, the final car being a Nürburgring Package model.
In February 2016, Lexus' European boss Alain Uyttenhoven confirmed that there would be no new LFA replacement in the near future.
, Lexus still had four unsold LFAs after selling three LFAs in 2019. However, two were sold in March 2020 and another in September 2020, still, an LFA remains unsold even though the car's production ended in 2012.
]
Development
2000–2004
The LF-A sports car began development with a codename of TXS, which was intended to showcase the performance capabilities of Toyota Motor Corporation and its Lexus marque. The first prototype was completed during June 2003. Prototypes of the LF-A were spotted regularly undergoing testing at the Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
, the famous motorsport race track in Nürburg, Germany, since October 2004. Numerous test vehicles had been equipped with automatic retractable rear spoilers, and carbon ceramic brake discs.
2005–2006
In January 2005, the first LF-A concept premiered at the North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), also known as the Detroit Auto Show as of 2022 and prior to NAIAS, is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., at Huntington Place. The show was held in January from 1989 to 2019. ...
in Detroit, Michigan as a design study with no plans for production. The first LF-A concept had an overall length of , while its wheelbase measured The concept was nearly in height, with a width of .[ Some news outlets reported the concept name as referring to Lexus Future-Advance, a claim later dismissed by Chief Engineer Tanahashi.] The first LF-A concept featured a glass roof and side cameras mounted in the side mirrors. Twin rear radiators were installed behind the rear wheels, and visible behind large screens. The rear bumper featured a triple exhaust placed in an inverted triangle formation. The wheels were shaped like turbines, and air-scoops were placed on the C-pillars.[ Following enthusiastic public reaction for the LF-A concept on the auto show circuit, development continued with a greater emphasis on a possible production model.][ Concurrently, Lexus was preparing for the launch of its long-rumored F marque series of performance vehicles, with a production LF-A being a possible future member of this lineup. Reports in 2006 suggested that the LF-A concept car had received the green-light for production, however these reports were not officially confirmed.
]
2007–2008
Following the original LF-A concept, development time was lengthened by the switch from an aluminum frame to a carbonfibre tub, the result of engineering efforts aimed at improving the LF-A's power-to-weight ratio.[ The LF-A was reported to draw engineering resources from Toyota's Formula One team.][ In January 2007, a restyled LF-A concept car premiered alongside the first production F marque vehicle, the IS F sports sedan. The second LF-A concept featured a more aerodynamic exterior, a near-production interior, and F marque emblems. Later that year, Lexus Great Britain director Steve Settle indicated plans for a ]V10
A V10 engine is a ten-cylinder piston engine where two banks of five cylinders are arranged in a V configuration around a common crankshaft. V10 engines are much less common than V8 and V12 engines. Several V10 diesel engines have been pr ...
and hybrid
Hybrid may refer to:
Science
* Hybrid (biology), an offspring resulting from cross-breeding
** Hybrid grape, grape varieties produced by cross-breeding two ''Vitis'' species
** Hybridity, the property of a hybrid plant which is a union of two dif ...
version of the LF-A. The hybrid version, combining a petrol engine with electric motors, was to feature a V8 powertrain similar to that designed for the Lexus LS 600h L. LF-A test mules continued to be spotted at the Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
, including early models with a large, fixed rear wing.[ In December 2007, '']Auto Express
''Auto Express'' is a weekly motoring magazine sold in the United Kingdom published by Autovia Limited. The editor-in-chief is Steve Fowler.
History and profile
Launched in September 1988, its 1,000th issue was published on 20 February 2008. ...
'' reported that the LF-A had set an unofficial 7:24 lap at the Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
.
In January 2008, Lexus displayed a roadster version of the LF-A concept car designated LF-A Roadster, or LF-AR, at the North American International Auto Show
The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), also known as the Detroit Auto Show as of 2022 and prior to NAIAS, is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., at Huntington Place. The show was held in January from 1989 to 2019. ...
. Initial specifications for the roadster were a V10 engine having a displacement of 5.0 L and rated at over . The car's top speed was reported to be over . Automotive photographers capturing the LF-A in various test guises had photographed a disguised convertible test model, dubbed LF-A Spyder, on the Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
as early as October 2005. After its debut at the 2008 North American International Auto Show, the LF-A Roadster was also shown at the 2008 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance
The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is an automotive charitable event held each year on the Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach, California. It is widely considered the pinnacle event of its kind and one of the most prestigious car events in ...
, the 2008 Geneva Motor Show, the United States Open Championship tournament, and at Lexus exhibits in Japan. A single LF-A racing prototype was also entered into Veranstaltergemeinschaft Langstreckenpokal Nürburgring endurance races at the Nürburgring in May 2008, competing in the SP8 class of VLN events.[ Media reports uncovered an LFA trademark filing with the ]United States Patent and Trademark Office
The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is an agency in the U.S. Department of Commerce that serves as the national patent office and trademark registration authority for the United States. The USPTO's headquarters are in Alexa ...
in December 2008, with the concept LF-A name dropping its hyphen to become LFA for a possible production model.[
The second LF-A concepts had an overall length of , and a wheelbase of ; height remained the same as the prior concept, while width grew to .] While the original LF-A had been strictly a concept model, the second concept's design reflected engineering analysis for possible production. The exterior design had been restyled to take advantage of the flexibility offered by carbon-fibre construction, with improved aerodynamics and surface features aimed at improving the car's overall top speed.[ The reshaped exterior featured smoother lines with additional detailing, and more curved surfaces. The aft radiator cooling vents were retained, but integrated into the rear fascia, and the lower side and front air intakes were restyled, along with the forward fascia and headlamps.] Designers reportedly drew inspiration from the 1965 2000GT sports coupé, which was also produced in a front-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, and represented the combination of Japanese technology and design ethics in a sports car.[ However, no design features on the LF-A were directly derived from the 2000GT.][ The second LF-A concept and accompanying LF-A Roadster were also equipped with a retractable rear wing for improved handling at speed and a two-seat interior with a two-tone colour scheme.
]
2009
On 5 August 2009, Toyota's new CEO, Akio Toyoda
is a Japanese business executive and the current president of Toyota Motor Corporation. He is the great-grandson of the Japanese industrialist, Sakichi Toyoda, and the grandson of both the founder of Toyota Motors, Kiichiro Toyoda, and the found ...
, publicly confirmed production of the LF-A in his speech at a conference held at the Center for Automotive Research in the United States. The production vehicles were expected to carry V10 engines.
Two LF-A prototypes had also competed at Nürburgring VLN endurance races in mid-2009.
In September 2009, reports in Japanese automotive magazines indicated that the 4.8 L V10 engine for the LF-A would carry a ''1LR'' designation.
A subsequent television ad for the Japanese market showed the pre-production LFA testing at the Fuji Speedway
is a motorsport race track standing in the foothills of Mount Fuji, in Oyama, Suntō District, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. It was built in the early 1960s. In the 1980s, Fuji Speedway was used for the FIA World Sportscar Championship and nati ...
.
On 21 October 2009, the production version of the Lexus LFA was unveiled on the first press day of the 41st biennial Tokyo Motor Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October–November at the Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), it is a recognized international show by ...
. The car was introduced by Akio Toyoda at a press conference, in which it was disclosed that the vehicle would be limited to 500 production copies. The car carried the same designation as the concepts, LFA, but without the hyphen. The production designation reportedly stood for Lexus Fuji Apex, another claim dismissed by Chief Engineer Tanahashi. The LFA was shown as the final vehicle of the press conference, following the LF-Ch hybrid concept.[
The production announcement for the LFA marked the 20th anniversary of the launch of Lexus.][ Given the high cost of construction and development, analysts did not expect LFA sales to be profitable.][ However, the LFA was intended to serve as a testbed for new car technologies, including carbon-fibre mass-production, and related performance vehicle development.] At its debut, a circuit-ready model was also indicated for a 2012 launch.
Production
Lexus began taking orders for the LFA on 23 October 2009. Buyers were selectively chosen by Lexus in the second quarter of 2010. Production began in December 2010. Only 500 total cars were made for worldwide markets, with only 20 produced each month with a base price of $375,000 (£340,000). Each car had to be custom ordered to the customer's specifications.[
Following the LFA's Introduction at the ]Tokyo Motor Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October–November at the Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), it is a recognized international show by ...
, Lexus unveiled a website with an 'LFA configurator', which allowed users to select exterior and interior colours, brake caliper colours, seats, steering wheel leather, and other interior designs.[Alt URL]
/ref> In total, there were over 30 billion possible combinations.[ Each LFA was hand-built by a dedicated production team of engineers and specialists at Toyota's Motomatchi plant in ]Aichi
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of Honshū. Aichi Prefecture has a population of 7,552,873 () and a geographic area of with a population density of . Aichi Prefecture borders Mie Prefecture to the west, Gifu Prefectu ...
, Japan.
In the North American market, 150 cars were initially sold through a two-year lease program. This was to prevent owners from reselling the vehicle for a profit. Racing driver Scott Pruett was hired to give test drives to interested buyers, demonstrating the vehicle's capabilities at Auto Club Speedway. The Lexus division of Toyota Motors USA stopped taking orders at the end of 2009, at which time they planned to open discussions about a purchase plan for the lessees. Lexus later changed their stance and allowed outright purchase, but only on the condition that they sign an agreement giving the dealer the first right of refusal to buy back the LFA if the owner wanted to sell it within the first two years. The dealer would have the option to buy back the used LFA for either fair market value or the original sticker price, whichever is lower. In the European market, buyers could order their LFA through a single Lexus dealer located in Park Lane
Park Lane is a dual carriageway road in the City of Westminster in Central London. It is part of the London Inner Ring Road and runs from Hyde Park Corner in the south to Marble Arch in the north. It separates Hyde Park to the west from ...
, London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
where it was purchased outright.
During the LFA's production, each vehicle received an individually numbered plaque, indicating the unit's place in the production run. Each LFA V10 engine carried the signature of the specialist who assembled it.[ With 20 units produced monthly, production of the LFA extended from December 2010 to December 2012. Production ended on 14 December 2012, with the last car finished in white exterior colour and equipped with the Nürburgring package. When production ended, no successor was scheduled. The LFA plant in Motomachi continued making parts with a small team.
]
Overview
Engine
The Lexus LFA is powered by a 72-degree bank angle V10 engine
A V10 engine is a ten-cylinder piston engine where two banks of five cylinders are arranged in a V configuration around a common crankshaft. V10 engines are much less common than V8 and V12 engine
A V12 engine is a twelve-cylinder pis ...
equipped with Dual VVT-i
VVT-i, or Variable Valve Timing with intelligence, is an automobile variable valve timing technology developed by Toyota. It was first introduced in 1995 with the '' 2JZ-GE'' engine found in the JZS155 Toyota Crown and Crown Majesta.
The VV ...
carrying the '' 1LR-GUE'' designation with a maximum output of delivered at 8,700 rpm. Its maximum torque output of arrives at 6,800 rpm, 90 percent of which is available from 3,700 rpm. The engine redlines at 9,000 rpm, but with a fuel cutoff set at 9,500 rpm, and is constructed using forged aluminum pistons, forged titanium connecting rod
A connecting rod, also called a 'con rod', is the part of a piston engine which connects the piston to the crankshaft. Together with the crank, the connecting rod converts the reciprocating motion of the piston into the rotation of the cranksh ...
s, and solid titanium valves. The V-angle of the LFA's V-10 engine is set to 72-degrees to fully balance the firing force from the pistons. This 72-degree angle allows for even firing from the pistons without the use of a split-journal crankshaft, thus improving engine efficiency as well as lowering the overall weight. Dry sump lubrication
A dry-sump system is a method to manage the lubricating motor oil in four-stroke and large two-stroke piston driven internal combustion engines. The dry-sump system uses two or more oil pumps and a separate oil reservoir, as opposed to a conve ...
prevents engine oil starvation through high-speed corners and lowers the engine's center of mass
In physics, the center of mass of a distribution of mass in space (sometimes referred to as the balance point) is the unique point where the weighted relative position of the distributed mass sums to zero. This is the point to which a force may ...
. Air is fed directly from beneath the hood through a visible slit passing into a dual-stage variable intake manifold
In automotive engineering, an inlet manifold or intake manifold (in American English) is the part of an engine that supplies the fuel/air mixture to the cylinders. The word ''manifold'' comes from the Old English word ''manigfeald'' (from the ...
and then into ten individual throttle bodies before finally exiting from a dual-stage titanium muffler.
The LFA's engineers selected a V10 engine over an equivalent displacement V8 engine for its ability to rev higher,[ and over a V12 for its lower reciprocating mass,][ allowing for more rapid engine response. Lexus claimed their engine could rev from idle to its redline in 0.6 seconds and an analog tachometer needle could not accurately track the LFA's changes in engine speeds. This necessitated the use of a digital tachometer which can instantly display engine speed. The engine reportedly weighs less than the manufacturer's own 3.5-litre ''2GR-FE'' V6 engine. Engineers attempted to make the engine sound like that of a Formula One car with high revs, while at the same time maintaining reliability and vibration control. Along with other manufacturers such as ]Ferrari
Ferrari S.p.A. (; ) is an Italian luxury sports car manufacturer based in Maranello, Italy. Founded by Enzo Ferrari (1898–1988) in 1939 from the Alfa Romeo racing division as ''Auto Avio Costruzioni'', the company built its first car in ...
, Toyota had produced its own F1 engines and chassis designs.[ The exhaust note has been described by Toyota engineers as the "roar of an angel", and a US television spot later used the engine sound to shatter a champagne glass via ]resonance
Resonance describes the phenomenon of increased amplitude that occurs when the frequency of an applied periodic force (or a Fourier component of it) is equal or close to a natural frequency of the system on which it acts. When an oscillatin ...
frequency.
The powerplant gives the LFA a weight-to-power ratio of 2.67 kg/hp and enables it to reach a top speed of around . Unlike the IS F
In linguistics, a copula (plural: copulas or copulae; abbreviated ) is a word or phrase that links the subject of a sentence to a subject complement, such as the word ''is'' in the sentence "The sky is blue" or the phrase ''was not being'' i ...
's 2UR-GSE engine, Yamaha co-developed the entire engine, and not just the cylinder heads. The engine exceeds Euro V emissions. The engine is installed with a front mid-engine placement. According to Chief Engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi a front engine layout was selected instead of a mid engine layout as it is inherently more forgiving dynamically, affording less experienced drivers a wider safety net.
Transmission
The gearbox built by Aisin
is a Japanese corporation that develops and produces components and systems for the automotive industry. Aisin is a Fortune Global 500 company, ranked 359 rankings. Aisin is a member of the Toyota Group of companies.
Aisin was founded in 1965 ...
is a six-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission
The automated manual transmission (AMT) is a type of transmission for motor vehicles. It is essentially a conventional manual transmission but uses automatic actuation to operate the clutch and/or shift between gears.
Many early versions of t ...
actuated with paddle-shifters.
Chassis
The Lexus LFA's frame is made from an in-house designed and manufactured carbon fibre-reinforced polymer
Carbon fiber-reinforced polymers (American English), carbon-fibre-reinforced polymers (Commonwealth English), carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon-fiber reinforced-thermoplastic (CFRP, CRP, CFRTP), also known as carbon fiber, carbon compo ...
(CFRP) centre monocoque
Monocoque ( ), also called structural skin, is a structural system in which loads are supported by an object's external skin, in a manner similar to an egg shell. The word ''monocoque'' is a French term for "single shell".
First used for boats, ...
with aluminium front and rear subframe
A subframe is a structural component of a vehicle, such as an automobile or an aircraft, that uses a discrete, separate structure within a larger body-on-frame or unit body to carry certain components, such as the engine, drivetrain, or suspen ...
s. The subframes, which can be removed and replaced minimising potential repair costs, are joined to the monocoque using a newly developed aluminum flanged collar designed to create a stronger joint.[ According to the manufacturer, the quality of the CFRP material matches that of aeronautical grades and is woven by a laser monitored circular loom, one of only two in the world.][ Overall 65% of the vehicle's total body mass is CFRP material while the remaining 35% is aluminum.][ Manufacturer data indicates that the use of CFRP saves over equivalent aluminum materials.
]
An electric power steering rack with a 14.3:1 gear ratio is used. The front suspension utilises a double-wishbone arrangement and there is a multi-link arrangement at the rear with coil-over dampers at all wheels. The damper
A damper is a device that deadens, restrains, or depresses. It may refer to:
Music
* Damper pedal, a device that mutes musical tones, particularly in stringed instruments
* A mute for various brass instruments
Structure
* Damper (flow), a mechan ...
s are a monotube design, each with a remote fluid reservoir that includes an expanding and contracting bellows
A bellows or pair of bellows is a device constructed to furnish a strong blast of air. The simplest type consists of a flexible bag comprising a pair of rigid boards with handles joined by flexible leather sides enclosing an approximately airtigh ...
: a purely mechanical system. The LFA further features six-piston front and four-piston rear Brembo
Brembo S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of automotive brake systems, especially for high-performance cars and motorcycles. Its head office is in Curno, Bergamo, Italy.
History
Brembo was established in Paladina, Italy on January 11, 1961 ...
monobloc brake caliper
A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against a disc or a "rotor" to create friction. This action slows the rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle, either to reduce its rotational speed or to hold ...
s with front and rear carbon ceramic discs controlled by Toyota's Electronically Controlled Brake-by-wire system. Forged 20-inch BBS
BBS may refer to:
Ammunition
* BBs, BB gun metal bullets
* BBs, airsoft gun plastic pellets
Computing and gaming
* Bulletin board system, a computer server users dial into via dial-up or telnet; precursor to the Internet
* BIOS Boot Specificat ...
wheels fitted with front and rear Bridgestone
is a Japanese multinational tire manufacturer founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi (1889–1976) in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of , meaning 'stone bridge' in Japan ...
next-generation Potenza tyres are standard.[ The LFA is equipped with a three-mode Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) ]stability control
Electronic stability control (ESC), also referred to as electronic stability program (ESP) or dynamic stability control (DSC), is a computerized technology that improves a car handling, vehicle's stability by detecting and reducing loss of Tract ...
system with Sport setting.[
To maintain a near-ideal weight distribution, a rear ]transaxle
A transaxle is a single mechanical device which combines the functions of an automobile's transmission, axle, and differential into one integrated assembly. It can be produced in both manual and automatic versions.
Engine and drive at the s ...
is used, in addition to the mounting of the fuel tank ahead of the rear axle and the radiators at the rear. The windshield washer fluid reservoir is mounted in the center next to the fuel tank to improve further the center of weight. Overall 48% of the LFA's mass is distributed along with the front wheels with 52% at the rear. The fuel tank straddles the exhaust system keeping weight centered along the left-right axis. The engine is connected to the transaxle via a rigid carbon-fibre torque tube which the exhaust system runs directly below.[ This stacked driveshaft and exhaust arrangement decreases the width of the centre tunnel allowing for centrally located seating.
]
Exterior
The LFA has an overall length of , while its wheelbase measures , with a height of and width of .[Official LFA press information]
Compared to the prior 2007–2008 concepts, the production model is nearly longer, with identical width, height, and nearly same wheelbase dimensions.[ The exterior design of the LF-A concepts and the final production model was the work of car stylists led by Lexus Design general manager Kengo Matsumoto.][ The overall design ethos was based on the principle of ]form follows function
Form follows function is a principle of design associated with late 19th and early 20th century architecture and industrial design in general, which states that the shape of a building or object should primarily relate to its intended function ...
, with aesthetics
Aesthetics, or esthetics, is a branch of philosophy that deals with the nature of beauty and taste, as well as the philosophy of art (its own area of philosophy that comes out of aesthetics). It examines aesthetic values, often expressed thr ...
secondary to aerodynamics
Aerodynamics, from grc, ἀήρ ''aero'' (air) + grc, δυναμική (dynamics), is the study of the motion of air, particularly when affected by a solid object, such as an airplane wing. It involves topics covered in the field of fluid dyn ...
and operation.
The LFA's body features sharp edges and cutoffs for improved aerodynamic performance, made possible by the carbon fiber body.[ The body was designed with an emphasis on downforce. There are air scoops located over the rear fenders which feed the aft-mounted radiators and help cool the brakes.][ A horizontal hood gap also feeds air to the engine.][ Two small aft vents expel air that is collected by an underbody air scoop and used to cool the titanium exhaust pipes.][ Dual hood ducts serve to move hot air away from the exhaust manifold.][
The LFA's speed-sensitive rear wing incorporates a ]Gurney flap
The Gurney flap (or wickerbill) is a small tab projecting from the trailing edge of a wing. Typically it is set at a right angle to the pressure-side surface of the airfoil
and projects 1% to 2% of the wing chord.
This trailing edge device can i ...
and deploys at speeds over .[ With the wing retracted the LFA's body has a drag coefficient of .][ The LFA body was offered with a choice of 28 standard exterior colours,][ along with 3 wheel colours and a matte black option. Additional special colours are available to order.][ The front and rear fenders, doors, roof rails, and rocker panels are made out of blast fiber reinforced sheet panels, while the tail lamps are ]light-emitting diode
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor device that emits light when current flows through it. Electrons in the semiconductor recombine with electron holes, releasing energy in the form of photons. The color of the light (cor ...
(LED) lights.[
]
Interior
The LFA interior incorporates carbon fibre, leather, alcantara, and metallic surfaces. There are two bucket seat
A bucket seat is a car seat contoured to hold one person, distinct from a flat bench seat designed to fit multiple people. In its simplest form it is a rounded seat for one person with high sides, but may have curved sides that partially enclose ...
s, and Lexus' Remote Touch controller interface. The interior design uses bespoke
The word ''bespoke'' () has evolved from a verb meaning 'to speak for something', to its contemporary usage as an adjective. Originally, the adjective ''bespoke'' described tailor-made suits and shoes. Later, it described anything commissioned t ...
materials and colours.[ The instrument display is a digital ]thin-film transistor
A thin-film transistor (TFT) is a special type of field-effect transistor (FET) where the transistor is thin relative to the plane of the device. TFTs are grown on a supporting (but non-conducting) substrate. A common substrate is glass, becaus ...
(TFT) speedometer
A speedometer or speed meter is a gauge that measures and displays the instantaneous speed of a vehicle. Now universally fitted to motor vehicles, they started to be available as options in the early 20th century, and as standard equipment f ...
with colour-changing background, size-changing numbers, and side-appearing submenus.[
In operation, the TFT display shows small digits in automatic mode; larger and bolder numbers in normal mode; inverted colours, moved redline, and stark numbers in sport mode, along with a programmable redline warning colour change.][ The tachometer display also features an electric movable metal ring with layer acrylic plastic to create a 3D effect. The LFA further features a new driver and passenger seat-belt airbag design][ increases similar to the S-Class ESF safety concept car.
The steering wheel features a right-mounted start button and alloy paddle-shifters.][ To start the car, the driver must insert the key beside the steering wheel then press the start button.] Two octave
In music, an octave ( la, octavus: eighth) or perfect octave (sometimes called the diapason) is the interval between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been refer ...
s of engine sound are channeled into the cabin via twin ducts which connect the firewall with the intake manifold, with the sound tuned in the manner of an Ovation guitar
The Ovation Guitar Company is a manufacturer of string instruments. Ovation primarily manufactures steel-string acoustic guitars (both 6 and 12-string versions) and nylon-string guitars, often with pickups for electric amplification. In 2015, ...
.[ A 12-speaker Mark Levinson sound system with compact lightweight components was also developed for the interior.] Custom-made Tumi
Tumi ( ''Quechua'' for 'Knife', ''variants'': 'Tome', 'Tume'), is a generic term encompassing the many kinds of sharp tools utilized in pre- and post-colonial eras of the Central Andes region, Tumis were employed for a diverse set of purposes s ...
suitcase
A suitcase is a form of luggage. It is a rectangular container with a handle typically used to carry one's clothes and other belongings while traveling. The first suitcases appeared in the late 19th century due to the increased popularity of ma ...
s are designed for the LFA interior, with a two-piece set made from carbon-fibre style materials and inscribed with the VIN; a smaller "concourse" case is for track days and short trips, while a larger "coastal" case is for longer trips.
Nürburgring package
On 15 March 2010, Lexus detailed the circuit-tuned variant of the LFA, plans for which were first disclosed at the LFA official press launch the previous October. The variant is officially known as the LFA Nürburgring Package in reference to the similar setup employed on the LFA race cars at the 24 Hours Nürburgring.[
The package features an extra from its V10 engine, bringing the total to . It also features a re-calibrated transmission with gear shifts made faster by 0.05 seconds, a front splitter, stiffer and more adjustable suspension, lightweight ]alloy wheel
In the automotive industry, alloy wheels are wheels that are made from an alloy of aluminium or magnesium. Alloys are mixtures of a metal and other elements. They generally provide greater strength over pure metals, which are usually much soft ...
s wrapped in high performance street tyres, aerodynamic canards at the sides of the front bumper, and a large fixed rear wing.
The LFA with the Nürburgring Package is a competition-focused variant and was available in four exterior colours, namely glossy black, matte black, race yellow, and whitest white.[ The production totals are to be included in the 500-unit total LFA planned build cycle,][ and although Lexus stated it would be limited to a 50-unit run,] a total of 64 were produced. Buyers received training sessions at the Nordschleife, accompanied by Nürburgring chief instructors, a one-night stay at the Lindner Congress and Motorsport Hotel Nürburgring, admission to the ring°werk leisure park, a Nürburgring branded jacket, and a one-year pass to the circuit.[
]
The Nürburgring Package LFA was tested at the Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
in June 2011. Driven by Akira Iida
is a Japanese racing driver currently competing in the Super GT series in GT300 class with , one of the teams under Toyota Motorsport's GAZOO racing arm. Iida won the 2002 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship GT500 class with Esso Toyot ...
, the LFA set a time of 7:22.85 (video confirmed), the 7th-fastest time ever for a road-legal production vehicle. Lexus confirmed that this lap video was recorded as a "warm-up" video for the "ADAC 24-hours" for exhibition purposes. The LFA hit [ on the last straight uphill climb, which is one of the highest speeds achieved by factory standard sports car on that segment of the track. Standard OEM ]Bridgestone
is a Japanese multinational tire manufacturer founded in 1931 by Shojiro Ishibashi (1889–1976) in the city of Kurume, Fukuoka, Japan. The name Bridgestone comes from a calque translation and transposition of , meaning 'stone bridge' in Japan ...
Potenza RE70 performance street tyres were used.
On 2 September 2011 reports came from Lexus via Twitter
Twitter is an online social media and social networking service owned and operated by American company Twitter, Inc., on which users post and interact with 280-character-long messages known as "tweets". Registered users can post, like, and ...
as well as Chris Harris of Evo Magazine
''Evo'' is a British automobile magazine dedicated to performance cars, from hot hatches to supercars.
History
In 1995, then Harpenden-based farmer and property developer Harry Metcalfe had become involved in car tests for magazine publisher ...
that the Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package completed a lap of the Nürburgring in 7:14.64 with a top speed of on the "Döttinger" uphill climb, making it the fastest road-legal production vehicle to lap the racetrack at the time. A few days later, the time was confirmed by Lexus as 7:14.64 and a video was provided. OEM Bridgestone Potenza RE070 street tyres had been used to set the record.
Specifications
Manufacturer
Official specifications and performance figures for the Lexus LFA are as follows:[
]
Performance
Tested performance specifications for the Lexus LFA from ''Car and Driver''†, ''Motor Trend''‡, ''Road & Track''†† and ''Insideline''††† are as follows:
Edmunds' ''Insideline'' managed to acquire an LFA from Lexus for one week and tested the LFA on the track including an impromptu grudge match on the drag strip. Both cars won 2 races each making it a draw.
''Insideline'' recorded a in 3.9 seconds without launch control system and achieved the 1/4-mile 11.6 seconds at . Lexus LFA circled the skidpad in 1.02 g and achieved one of the highest slalom speeds ever recorded at . ''Insideline'' also managed to do 3 dyno runs on a dynojet dyno on the Lexus LFA, which resulted in LFA generating a power output of to the wheels, which after factoring in RWD drivetrain loss turned out to be substantially higher than the at the crank factory specification.
''Car and Driver
''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was fou ...
'' track-tested the LFA in November 2010 while conducting a comparison test. The test was conducted in Wales
Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the Wales–England border, east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the ...
and returned a time of 3.6 seconds using the launch control system and a quarter-mile of 11.7 seconds at .[ '']Motor Trend
''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949.
Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 19 ...
'' recorded a stopping distance from in less than , and pulled 1.05 g on their skidpad. ''Road and Track'' tested the LFA at through the slalom and 1.04 g on the skidpad.
Lap times
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
''Motorsports France'' conducted a track test on the Lexus LFA and ran a hot lap around the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours
Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is a motor racing circuit located in central France, near the towns of Magny-Cours and Nevers, some from Paris and from Lyon.
It staged the Formula One French Grand Prix from 1991 (succeeding Circuit Paul Rica ...
resulting in a lap time of 1:20.6, which was the fastest ever recorded lap time on the race track despite the test having been conducted in 0 degree freezing temperatures. It was one of the very rare track tests where an actual LFA launch control system was used resulting in a very fast 0– acceleration time of only 21.2 seconds.
Contidrom
''Auto Zeitung
''Autozeitung'' or ''Auto Zeitung'' (German: "Automobile Newspaper") is a German-language biweekly automobile enthusiast magazine. It is headquartered in Cologne, Germany.
History and profile
''Autozeitung'' was established in 1969. The magazine ...
'' Germany in the August 2010 edition conducted a comparison with the Lexus LFA. Around Contidrom race track in Hannover
Hanover (; german: Hannover ; nds, Hannober) is the capital and largest city of the German States of Germany, state of Lower Saxony. Its 535,932 (2021) inhabitants make it the List of cities in Germany by population, 13th-largest city in Germa ...
, Germany, the LFA turned a faster lap time by 1.8 seconds of 1:35.66 minutes. Although, the start sector car hit , the LFA continuously hit higher speeds in the high speed sector, dynamic sector where agility and spontaneous reactions are measured eventually turning in faster lap. AutoZeitung raved about LFA's handling, chassis control and race car-like reflexes and response.
El Toro
In the LFA's ''Top Gear USA
''Top Gear'' is an American driving, motoring television series, based on the Top Gear (2002 TV series), BBC series of the same name. The show's presenters were professional racing driver Tanner Foust, actor and comedian Adam Ferrara, and autom ...
'' appearance in the third quarter of 2011 in the "Beating Tanner" episode, the American Stig also did a hot lap around the ''Top Gear USA'' testing track in 1:22.6, located at Marine Corps Air Station El Toro
Marine Corps Air Station El Toro was a United States Marine Corps Air Station located next to the community of El Toro, near Irvine, California.
Before it was decommissioned in 1999, it was the home of Marine Corps Aviation on the West Coast ...
, which is the third quickest lap time ever on the race track.
Nürburgring
Chief Engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi
is a Japanese automotive engineer who is responsible for the design and construction of the Lexus LFA supercar. Tanahashi joined Toyota Motor Corporation in 1978 as a chassis engineer, and has since worked in new vehicle design for over 30 yea ...
mentioned during the world's press at the Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
in Germany that the LFA has lapped the Nürburgring Nordschleife
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around the village a ...
in "better than 7 minutes 20 seconds", although no further specifics were given to the record lap.
''Sport Auto
''sport auto'' is a German automobile magazine, established in 1969, published monthly by Motor Presse Stuttgart, based in Stuttgart.
The magazine publishes its "Supertest" of cars, featuring the laptime at the Nordschleife. Until 2015 almost a ...
'' in the September 2010 edition conducted an LFA supertest with a red LFA that had been used in several other tests in Europe and Horst Von Saurma conducted a hot lap of the LFA around the Nürburgring Nordschleife. The LFA clocked the Nürburgring in 7:38. The LFA was wearing temporary Bridgestone S001 street tyres since the LFA spec tyres are still under development. Although the LFA lap time is slower than the chief engineer's "better than 7:20" claim, ''Sport Auto
''sport auto'' is a German automobile magazine, established in 1969, published monthly by Motor Presse Stuttgart, based in Stuttgart.
The magazine publishes its "Supertest" of cars, featuring the laptime at the Nordschleife. Until 2015 almost a ...
'' cited LFA ran exactly the same lap time with the same driver as other major competitors. All tests were conducted by the same driver, Horst von Saurma
Horst von Saurma-Jeltsch (born Horst Vieselmann, 28 August 1954 in Detmold) was the chief editor of the German automobile magazine ''Sport auto'' until February 2013. He also had a brief racing career but is best known for skillful driving at the ...
.
''Auto Bild
''Auto Bild'' is a leading German automobile magazine based in Hamburg, Germany.
History and profile
''Auto Bild'' was first published on the last week of February 1986. The magazine is published by Axel Springer AG on a weekly basis. The webs ...
'' Germany in the September edition of 2010 in part 1 of the comparison conducted a head-to-head Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
Supercomparo (longer 20.8 km version of the track). Lexus LFA turned in the fastest Nurburgring lap time (7:38,85), The Nurburgring 20.8 km test driver Sascha Bert stated "LFA was built for the Nurburgring race track."
National Geographic's show, ''Megafactories'', reported a 2011 test of the Lexus LFA Nürburgring package driven by Iida Akira that achieved a record time for production vehicles of 7 minutes 14 seconds.
''Top Gear'' test track
The LFA appeared on ''Top Gear
Top Gear may refer to:
* "Top gear", the highest gear available in a vehicle's manual transmission
Television
* ''Top Gear'' (1977 TV series), a British motoring magazine programme
* ''Top Gear'' (2002 TV series), a relaunched version of the or ...
'' in January 2010, where its power lap of 1.22.8[ was the quickest wet test lap ever recorded on the ''Top Gear'' test track located at ]Dunsfold Aerodrome
Dunsfold Aerodrome (former ICAO code EGTD) is an unlicensed airfield in Surrey, England, near the village of Cranleigh. It extends across land in the villages of Dunsfold and Alfold.
It was built by the Canadian Army and civilian contracto ...
in Surrey
Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...
, United Kingdom.
Westover
'' Battle of the Supercars'' did a head-to-head comparison with the Lexus LFA, with Tanner Foust driving the LFA at the runways of Westover Air Reserve Base
Westover Air Reserve Base is an Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) installation located in the Massachusetts communities of Chicopee and Ludlow, near the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. Established at the outset of World War II, today Westo ...
. LFA comprehensively was declared the winner by the presenter where LFA lapped the short 1-mile track with a lap time of 48.9 for the LFA, despite Tanner having difficulties launching the Lexus LFA in the 1-mile road course lap and also the standing mile drag race where LFA won despite a delayed launch (no launch control used for these runs). This test also saw LFA using launch control for the first time in the 0-100-0 mph test.
LFA failed to win the brake test. However, in the behind the scenes footage, it was shown the LFA's carbon brakes meant for hardcore track usage were not warmed up properly, which is essential for carbon brakes to perform at their best. In the successive run, LFA carbon brakes were consistently getting better braking shorter in every successive run. In every 0–161 km/h (0–100 mph) sprint shown in the behind the scenes footage, LFA out-launched and out-accelerated its rival vehicle. In the top speed, rolling start run on the 3.2 km (2 mi) runway, LFA hit a speed of 296.3 km/h (184.1 mph). Tanner Foust explained there was no way to retract the LFA wing spoiler (deploys automatically at 80 km/h (50 mph)) at high speeds increasing drag substantially, which had cost him 6–10 km/h (4–6 mph).
Reception
''Car and Driver
''Car and Driver'' (''CD'' or ''C/D'') is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. In 2006 its total circulation was 1.23 million. It is owned by Hearst Magazines, who purchased prior owner Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. in 2011. It was fou ...
'' concluded in its review of the LFA that the sports car is "hugely expensive, hugely competent". The magazine felt that car began to look like "something of a bargain" from the viewpoint that more expensive cars offered similar levels of technology and exclusivity.[ In May 2010, '']Motor Trend
''MotorTrend'' is an American automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, and designated the first Car of the Year, also in 1949.
Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, California, Los Angeles published ''MotorTrend'' until 19 ...
'' ran the LFA through several track tests and praised its driving dynamics and engine note.[ However, in their 2011 Best Driver's Car competition, the LFA finished ninth out of eleven cars, receiving criticism for a "nervous, twitchy chassis" that gave the judges "no confidence".] The car was also criticised for its transmission, ergonomics and ride quality. ''Top Gear
Top Gear may refer to:
* "Top gear", the highest gear available in a vehicle's manual transmission
Television
* ''Top Gear'' (1977 TV series), a British motoring magazine programme
* ''Top Gear'' (2002 TV series), a relaunched version of the or ...
'' criticised the LFA for being sold at a price much higher than comparable sports cars.[
'' Autocar'' complimented the LFA's engine and handling on smooth surfaces, but criticised the car's behaviour on normal roads, where they felt that "the difficulty the LFA has in coping with an uneven road" negatively impacts driving enjoyment. Pointing out that rivals such as the ]Ferrari 458 Italia
The Ferrari 458 Italia (Type F142) is a mid-engine sports car produced by Ferrari. The F458 is the successor of the F430, and was first officially unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. It was succeeded by the 488 GTB (Gran Turismo Berl ...
offer "more consistent all-conditions dynamics", the magazine gave the verdict that the LFA is "an occasional car, even by supercar standards".
GTspirit.com tested the LFA in Monaco
Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Lig ...
in May 2010 and gave it a positive review with quotes such as "The LFA is incredibly easy to drive. It communicates well, has a superb overall balance and the transparency of the options is an eye-opener. The choice between the racing setup and an all-day trip through a dense city is easily changed." and "the 'I want one' feeling grew considerably every single minute."
Many reviewers have placed Lexus LFA near the top of the cars they have ever driven. Chris Harris of '' Evo UK'' had called LFA as the "best car I have ever driven around Nurburgring. No other car inspires more confidence than the LFA". ''Autoweek
''Autoweek'' is a car culture publication based in Detroit, Michigan. It was first published in 1958 and in 1977 the publication was purchased by Crain Communications Inc, its current parent company. The magazine was published weekly and focused ...
'' Netherlands professional driver Sandor Van Ees stated "Lexus LFA - that sound, that experience. I place Lexus LFA in the top 5 best cars I have ever driven". Dutch European journalist Thomas Bangma said, "this car is an absolute gem ... It is absolutely the best car I have ever driven". ''Car Magazine
''Car'' is a British automotive enthusiast magazine published monthly by Bauer Consumer Media. International editions are published by Bauer Automotive in Republic of Korea (since March 2016), Brazil, China, Greece, India, Italy (through 201 ...
'' editor and professional test driver Ben Barry
Ben Barry (born February 9, 1983) is a Canadian entrepreneur, academic, author, and women's health advocate. He is currently the Dean of Fashion at the New School Ben is the founder and CEO of the Ben Barry Agency, a modelling agency and consul ...
called the LFA Nurburgring edition "the Bugatti Veyron of Japan".
Television programs
The LFA appeared on ''Top Gear
Top Gear may refer to:
* "Top gear", the highest gear available in a vehicle's manual transmission
Television
* ''Top Gear'' (1977 TV series), a British motoring magazine programme
* ''Top Gear'' (2002 TV series), a relaunched version of the or ...
'' in January 2010, where Richard Hammond drove and raved about the car. Later in the episode, the LFA set a record for the quickest wet test lap ever recorded on the ''Top Gear'' test track, However, it was noted that the LFA cost 3 or more times than its rivals but not faster than it; Jeremy Clarkson also noted that the 202 mph LFA costs 6 times more than the 193 mph Nissan GT-R
The Nissan GT-R (Japanese: 日産・GT-R, ''Nissan GT-R''), is a high-performance sports car and grand tourer produced by Nissan, unveiled in 2007. It is the successor to the Skyline GT-R, a high performance variant of the Nissan Skyline. Alth ...
, but is not 6 times faster. In response, '' Evo'' review of the LFA pointed out that the performance of "a Bugatti Veyron
The Bugatti Veyron EB 16.4 is a mid-engine sports car, designed and developed in Germany by the Volkswagen Group and Bugatti and manufactured in Molsheim, France, by French automobile manufacturer Bugatti. It was named after the racing driver P ...
is not 12 times more than the GT-R",[ with reviewer Chris Harris observing that no cars are 6 times more than a GT-R either.] Jeremy Clarkson drove the LFA for the first time on Top Gear, describing it as "bloody brilliant". Later, in Series 19, Ep.2, Clarkson states at the start that the LFA is the best car he has ever driven and, in the end, quoted, "If I could have any car ever made given to me I'd pick a dark blue Lexus LFA." In Series 22, Episode 6, he states that he had expected to get a feeling like the LFA from the RC F sports coupé, but did not on the further comparison, concluding that the LFA was likely so perfect, not even Lexus themselves know how to remake it.
The LFA appeared on ''Fifth Gear
''Fifth Gear'' is a British motoring television magazine series on Discovery+. It is a continuation of the ''Fifth Gear'' format originally broadcast on Channel 5 from 2002 to 2011, afterwards moving to Discovery Channel in 2012, and then in ...
'' with presenter Tiff Needell
Timothy "Tiff" Needell (born 29 October 1951 in Havant, Hampshire) is a British racing driver and television presenter. He is a presenter of '' Lovecars'', and formerly served as co-presenter of ''Top Gear'' and ''Fifth Gear''.
Biography
Need ...
driving the car around the race track performing hot laps, powerslides, and power oversteers. Needell described in detail the high-tech engineering used in the car, and highly praised the 4.8-litre V10's power and sound. Tiff declared, "people who purchased the LFA would be very happy when they get their cars". At the conclusion of the review, he stated "for a weekend race track car, LFA is worth every penny".
In 2012, Jay Leno
James Douglas Muir Leno (; born April 28, 1950) is an American television host, comedian, writer, and actor. After doing stand-up comedy for years, he became the host of NBC's ''The Tonight Show'' from 1992 to 2009. Beginning in September 2009 ...
featured the LFA on his internet car enthusiast program ''Jay Leno's Garage
''Jay Leno's Garage'' is an American web and television series about motor vehicles, primarily cars and motorbikes starring Jay Leno, the former host of ''The Tonight Show''. Originally a web series for NBC.com, a special aired on CNBC in August ...
'', where he looked at several advanced features of the car including the carbon-fibre construction, interior details, and the engine. Leno praised the LFA for its engineering, attention to detail, and quality of construction all around. Leno took the car for a test drive in the California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
mountains and had raving impressions of the LFA driving dynamics, handling, chassis rigidity, and engine sound. Leno stated that the LFA was "one of the greatest supercars ever built and certainly the best supercar ever to have come out Japan". Leno was very impressed with the LFA's city driving abilities and noted it was a "docile car around town". Leno summarized the LFA by saying, "certainly, there might be cars out there that could individually do things better than the LFA. Maybe a bit quicker or handling a bit better. But, no other car I know of does everything so extremely well".
Motorsport
2008
A Lexus LF-A prototype was entered on 10 May 2008 on the Nürburgring
The is a 150,000 person capacity motorsports complex located in the town of Nürburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It features a Formula One, Grand Prix race track built in 1984, and a long "North loop" track, built in the 1920s, around t ...
4-hour VLN endurance race. Despite being lapped 5 times and finishing 77th overall among over 200 teams, it surprisingly won the over 4,000 cc class SP8, as all other five class entrants, failed to finish. The best lap time of the Lexus, on the 24.4 km version used in VLN, was 9:06[ in 3rd of 23 laps, on par with old Porsche 996 GT3 Cup (class Cup3A), while the fastest SP8 cars managed 8:20s.
Lexus also took part in the 24 Hours Nürburgring] on 24/25 May 2008, with four Japanese drivers including Akira Iida
is a Japanese racing driver currently competing in the Super GT series in GT300 class with , one of the teams under Toyota Motorsport's GAZOO racing arm. Iida won the 2002 All Japan Grand Touring Car Championship GT500 class with Esso Toyot ...
leading the team. The LF-A was involved in a crash just prior to the race and was hurriedly repaired in two hours to make the race. As car #14, it qualified 27th among 223 cars, and finished 7th in the SP8 class of 11 entrants, and 121st overall, with a best lap average speed of , compared to of the fastest cars.
2009
On 4 April 2009, an LF-A and a Lexus IS F
The Lexus IS (XE20) is the second generation of the Lexus IS line of compact executive cars. Sold by Lexus since 2005, the line includes multiple V6 gasoline-powered models, in four-door sedan and two-door coupé convertible body styles. Addi ...
entered by Gazoo Racing (which had already raced smaller cars in 2007 and 2008) finished first and second in the SP8 class in the ADAC-Westfalenfahrt VLN 4h endurance race, as all three other class entrants, failed to complete the race. In winning its second VLN 4h event, the LF-A improved its fastest lap time, with one driver completing 8:41 laps both in practice and in the race.
The LF-A was subsequently entered into the 24 Hours Nürburgring race for the manufacturer stated purpose of obtaining feedback for fine-tuning production versions along with training of support technicians. Gazoo registered two LF-As and a single IS F in the SP8 class (4,000 cc to 6,200 cc), as the LF-A racecars were powered by a 4.8-litre (4,805 cc) V10 engine with a 9,000 rpm redline.
At the 2009 24 Hours of Nürburgring
The 2009 ADAC Zurich 24 Hours of Nürburgring is the 37th running of the 24 Hours of Nürburgring. It took place over May 23–24, 2009. Manthey Racing's #1 Porsche claimed honours in the SP7 class and was the overall victor, completing 155 la ...
endurance race held on 23/24 May, the No. 15 LF-A driven by Jochen Krumbach, Armin Hahne
Armin Hahne (born September 10, 1955 in Moers, West Germany) is a German racing driver, best known for his exploits in touring car racing. The highpoint of his career was winning both the 1982 and 1983 Spa 24 Hours driving BMW's. Another highli ...
, André Lotterer, and Hiromu Naruse
(1942 – 23 June 2010) was the Japanese chief test driver and chief test engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation and chief of the Gazoo Racing team. Naruse had been a test driver for the Toyota team for 47 years (1963–2010). He was also noted as ...
achieved sub-9 min laps and a best time of 8:50.458, which was the fastest time in the SP8 class, with a best lap speed of ;.[ The fastest times by the race leaders (SP9 class) were in the 8:40 range with a best lap speed of .][ About 90 minutes from race completion, the No. 15 LF-A experienced a separated driveshaft and a fire which poured white smoke from the vehicle's rear section. The No. 14 LF-A completed the race and was ranked 4th in its class and 87th overall,][ behind the 3rd ranked No. 16 IS F During the early portions of the race the No. 14 LF-A recorded its peak position of 14th overall. One of the drivers of the No. 14 car was Toyota's new CEO ]Akio Toyoda
is a Japanese business executive and the current president of Toyota Motor Corporation. He is the great-grandson of the Japanese industrialist, Sakichi Toyoda, and the grandson of both the founder of Toyota Motors, Kiichiro Toyoda, and the found ...
, who also met Aston Martin's President and fellow race entrant Ulrich Bez
Ulrich Helmut Bez (born 7. November 1943 in Bad Cannstatt, Germany) is a German businessman and was, until the end of 2013, CEO of Aston Martin motorcars when he stepped down to serve as non-executive chairman.
Life
Bez holds a doctorate in engin ...
at the race before deciding to build the Aston Martin Cygnet together.
2010
Lexus/Gazoo again entered two cars in the 2010 24 Hours of Nürburgring
The 2010 24 Hours of Nürburgring was an endurance sports car race held at the Nürburgring Nordschleife race track in Germany on May 13–16.
The event saw a return of most prominent entries, except the Ford GT, as team Raeder had discontinued t ...
, in the SP8 class over 4,000 cc. The "Balance of Performance" required a minimum weight of , a restrictor diameter of 34.2 mm, and a fuel tank size of 120 litres. The No. 50 car won its class, and finished 18th overall with 142 laps, 12 laps down. The No. 50 car, with 4 Japanese drivers, did a fastest lap of 8:55.934 (average of 170.470 km/h), which was over 20 seconds slower than the top 10 challengers, and slower than last year's performance.
Chief Test Driver/Engineer Hiromu Naruse
(1942 – 23 June 2010) was the Japanese chief test driver and chief test engineer of Toyota Motor Corporation and chief of the Gazoo Racing team. Naruse had been a test driver for the Toyota team for 47 years (1963–2010). He was also noted as ...
, who coached the 2010 LFA race team, died in a tragic accident on 23 June 2010 while testing the Nürburgring Edition of the Lexus LFA on the roads local to the Nordschleife in Germany. According to police reports, the traffic accident occurred when his LFA Nürburgring Edition test prototype veered into oncoming traffic, colliding head-on with a BMW 3 series
The BMW 3 Series is a line of compact executive cars manufactured by the German automaker BMW since May 1975. It is the successor to the 02 Series and has been produced in seven generations.
The first generation of the 3 Series was only avail ...
near the Nürburgring, at Boos. The BMW was also a test vehicle, and both occupants were injured, one severely; both were expected to survive. All three test drivers wore helmets, but Naruse was reportedly not wearing his seatbelt, and as his LFA test vehicle was a pre-production prototype, its safety features, including airbag
An airbag is a vehicle occupant-restraint system using a bag designed to inflate extremely quickly, then quickly deflate during a collision. It consists of the airbag cushion, a flexible fabric bag, an inflation module, and an impact sensor. Th ...
s, were not functional at the time.
Sculpture models
In April 2005, Lexus presented a sculptural model of the original LF-A concept at that year's Milan Design Week exhibition in Milan, Italy
Milan ( , , Lombard: ; it, Milano ) is a city in northern Italy, capital of Lombardy, and the second-most populous city proper in Italy after Rome. The city proper has a population of about 1.4 million, while its metropolitan city ...
. Part of the marque's introductory display of its L-finesse design theme, the full-size LF-A model was presented next to a production Lexus GS
The is an executive car sold by Lexus, the premium division of Toyota. The same car had been launched in 1991 as the Toyota Aristo in Japan. For non-Japanese markets, it was released as the Lexus GS in February 1993. It continued using the Toyo ...
model, in a design space produced by painter Hiroshi Senju
is a Japanese ''Nihonga'' painter known for his large scale waterfall paintings.
Biography
Hiroshi Senju was born in Tokyo. He has one brother, composer Akira Senju, and one sister, violinist Mariko Senjyu. He completed the BFA, Tokyo Univers ...
, designer Junya Ishigami, and architect Kazuyo Sejima. The sculpted LF-A model followed the first introduction of the LF-A concept at the North American International Auto Show in January of that year. In contrast with the production GS sedan it shared the display space with, the LF-A model did not have interior access.
In April 2009, Lexus presented an acrylic glass sculpture LFA model, called 'Crystallised Wind', at that year's Milan Design Week exhibition at the Museo Della Permanente art gallery in Milan. Commissioned in partnership with architect Sou Fujimoto, the full-sized LFA crystal sculpture had a transparent appearance, allowing viewers to see the engine, chassis, interior, and other internal components. Although closely resembling the 2007 coupe concept, design elements on the LFA Crystallised Wind model differed from previous iterations of the coupe, with five-spoke wheels, different headlamp shapes, and other separate details. The vehicle was presented along with a collection of accessories, gadgets, and styling products all produced from the same acrylic materials used in the Crystallised Wind model.
Awards
In October 2009, the debut of the Lexus LFA was named among ''Road & Track''s Best of the 2009 Tokyo Auto Show
The is a biennial auto show held in October–November at the Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo, Japan for cars, motorcycles and commercial vehicles. Hosted by the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA), it is a recognized international show ...
. For his role in leading its development project, ''Top Gear
Top Gear may refer to:
* "Top gear", the highest gear available in a vehicle's manual transmission
Television
* ''Top Gear'' (1977 TV series), a British motoring magazine programme
* ''Top Gear'' (2002 TV series), a relaunched version of the or ...
'' awarded Lexus LFA chief engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi as one of its Men of the Year for 2009. In April 2010, the LFA topped the ''Stiff Magazine'' list of the Top 5 V10 Road Cars. In its 2010 test of the LFA, ''Car'' gave the vehicle the magazine's maximum rating of five stars. The LFA was also named to the ''Top Gear'' 100 Sexiest Supercars of All Time list in 2010. ''Top Gear
Top Gear may refer to:
* "Top gear", the highest gear available in a vehicle's manual transmission
Television
* ''Top Gear'' (1977 TV series), a British motoring magazine programme
* ''Top Gear'' (2002 TV series), a relaunched version of the or ...
'' magazine in its September 2010 edition picked "5 greatest supercars of the year" and the LFA was honored as one of the greatest sports cars of the year. All 5 cars were featured in the magazine in a side-by-side comparison and LFA was picked as the "Stig's most favorite supercar".
''Evo UK'' in its January 2011 edition held a "best engine of the year" selection. Lexus LFA's 4.8 litre V10 was selected as the "best engine of the year". Some of the comments regarding the Lexus LFA's V10 were "A mix of road and racing engines: Lexus LFA's utterly intoxicating 4.8 liter V10.", "There is the noise it makes, for a start, a dense shriek like a V10 F1 car's", "Then there's the wall of torque from 5,000 rpm to 9,000 rpm and a strong thrust even before that", "Lighter than an average V6 and it even meets the Euro 5 emission standards", "It is hard to imagine that such an engine's career will be over when all the LFAs are built, given the love that has gone into it. We certainly hope not".
''Car Graphic'' magazine compiled a 'Best Cars of the Year 2011' in December 2011. It was based on all the cars that were tested during the year in their own respective months. The Lexus LFA won the 'Best Cars of the Year 2011' award. Lexus LFA was tested during the summer months in very wet conditions, but the track test even in the wet as well as daily city road driving warranted enough positive impressions for the magazine to award Lexus LFA the win. The Lexus LFA test numbers also reflect the implications of testing in the wet conditions. In February 2012, Singapore Car Mart awarded Lexus
is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota. The Lexus brand is marketed in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. It has ranked among the 10 largest Japanese ...
with "Best Car of the Year 2011" award for their LFA sports car.
The LF-A Roadster concept received an iF product design award from the International Forum Design
iF International Forum Design GmbH (iF) is a Hanover-based organization providing design-related services.
Foundation
International Forum Design was launched in 2001 as the operative business arm of design promotion company iF Industrie Forum Des ...
organization in 2008, and the first LF-A concept was a recipient of an IDEA award from the Industrial Designers Society of America
The Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) is a membership-based not-for-profit organization that promotes the practice and education of industrial design.
The organization was formally established in 1965 by the collaborative merger of ...
in the Design Explorations category of 2005's International Design Excellence Awards
The International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) is an award program previously co-sponsored by ''BusinessWeek'' magazine, and in 2010 ''Fast Company'' magazine and the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA). According to the IDSA, IDEA "i ...
. The LFA was also a finalist in the 2009 Car Design of the Year and the Festival Automobile International's "most beautiful supercar of the year" awards.
Sales
As of September 2020, 38 LFAs have been sold in Europe.
References
Quotes
Notes
External links
Lexus LFA international site
Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package Spyshots
Lexus LFA 2010 Test Drive Video & Pictures
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lexus Lfa
LFA
Cars introduced in 2010
Sports cars
Coupés
Roadsters
Hardtop convertibles
Rear-wheel-drive vehicles