Lexus LF-A: The Long and Winding Road

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

It uses a V8 from a NASCAR. As for the second part of your quote... I don't know, probably performance limitations?

Well that makes more sense, still same liter size so at least I had that right. Anyways I don't see what the limitations could be, the engine is going to be angled anyways to make sure the oil isn't collecting to one side. I would think the dry sump set up would help (then again I don't know a ton about drifting) which both engines have. The only downside to the v10 would be the cost of replacing it I imagine is more than the 100-120k the Nascar engine costs.

 

[Cale]

Well that makes more sense, still same liter size so at least I had that right. Anyways I don't see what the limitations could be the engines going to be angled anyways to make sure the oil isn't collecting to one side. I would think the dry sump set up would help (then again I don't know a ton about drifting) which both engines have. The only downside to the v10 would be the cost of replacing it I imagine is more than the 100-120k the Nascar engine costs.

Sprint Cup engines are 5.8L

 

[Bo]

It's pretty much one of the go-to engines for competitive drifting. Easy to understand, everyone has spares etc.

And I'm pretty sure Saito's LB Lambo is about as expensive... as too is his new GT2 Ferrari.

 

[Zenith]

Well that makes more sense, still same liter size so at least I had that right. Anyways I don't see what the limitations could be the engines going to be angled anyways to make sure the oil isn't collecting to one side. I would think the dry sump set up would help (then again I don't know a ton about drifting) which both engines have. The only downside to the v10 would be the cost of replacing it I imagine is more than the 100-120k the Nascar engine costs.

The only way to get the LFA V10 to the levels drifters need is with forced induction, I don't think that the drift team wants to be the first to mess with that when they've got a season to run and a brand new car to learn.

Also cost.

 

[Keef]

Sprint Cup engines are 5.8L

And you can't argue with nearl 900 horses at 9000 rpm. What LFA V10? Plus, they're using a Toyota engine so they at least kept it in the family.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

delete double post

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

The only way to get the LFA V10 to the levels drifters need is with forced induction, I don't think that the drift team wants to be the first to mess with that when they've got a season to run and a brand new car to learn.

Also cost.

So basically what I said in the last line. The cost seems too much to mess with, I don't see why forced induction would be need though. The power made and the mid range torque seems to be enough to do what is needed. Especially considering that cars with less were doing just fine a decade to a decade and a half ago before everyone started switching to V8s of various makes.

Sprint Cup engines are 5.8L

Thanks Cale I forgot 👍

 

[Zenith]

So basically what I said in the last line. The cost seems too much to mess with, I don't see why forced induction would be need though. The power made and the mid range torque seems to be enough to do what is needed. Especially considering that cars with less were doing just fine a decade to a decade and a half ago before everyone started switching to V8s of various makes.

Drift suspension setup a decade ago was completely different than it is now. A complete 180. Nowadays the cars are setup for max rear grip. This allows them to reach a greater angle at higher speed without losing the slide. In order to break the grip and hold a slide the driver needs a hefty hydraulic E brake and a bunch of power. The LFA makes 500hp out of what seems to be a highly strung motor. I don't see anything but forced induction getting the engine to the 700hp+ number that seems to be the minimum in top class drifting these days.

 

[Bo]

I don't see anything but forced induction getting the engine to the 700hp+ number that seems to be the minimum in top class drifting these days.

It's rare to see a competitive car with under 900 currently. There are reportedly privateers able to push well over 1000.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Drift suspension setup a decade ago was completely different than it is now. A complete 180. Nowadays the cars are setup for max rear grip. This allows them to reach a greater angle at higher speed without losing the slide. In order to break the grip and hold a slide the driver needs a hefty hydraulic E brake and a bunch of power. The LFA makes 500hp out of what seems to be a highly strung motor. I don't see anything but forced induction getting the engine to the 700hp+ number that seems to be the minimum in top class drifting these days.

Well then yeah it would need to be reworked, but as we've said it is limited production engine and probably far more expensive to replace and work on than what they put in. I was just curious as to why anyone would run a 400k+ USD car for competition and then dump more money into it to make it a race car that is probably going to get trashed. Seems like a waste when there are those building perfectly good GT86's into drift machines. Then again it is unique.

It's rare to see a competitive car with under 900 currently. There are reportedly privateers able to push well over 1000.

Seems quite crazy. I thought cars like the RB RX-7 from Australia were pretty much where the limit was. I guess another factor I didn't look at was weight, if you have a lighter car you can risk only running 600-700 range. Thanks guys, good to learn something new.

 

[AudiMan2011]

An LFA successor is on the back burner for the moment.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/n...cessor-put-hold-favour-affordable-performance

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

One of the more comprehensive technical overviews of the LFA I've seen.



It's a shame that headline performance figures are what gets all the attention in the end. If you put enough aero, power, and tire on a C4 Corvette you could probably run in the 6 minute range on the Nurburgring. On the other hand the Lexus LF-A is probably in the top 5 most masterfully engineered cars of all time, if not the best outright. Maybe the original Mclaren F1 - but they outsourced the engine and there were a lot of parts bin pieces. Maybe the Bugatti Veyron - but it used a somewhat pedestrian (though monstrous) engine. Maybe the Carrera GT - but there's some parts sharing with lower-end models. Maybe the Ferrari F50 - but the attention to detail doesn't come close. Maybe a Pagani Zonda F - but again, it uses an outsourced engine. I find it hard to think of a car that combines so much engineering, so much attention to detail, and just so much...cohesiveness. It's simultaneously as well resolved and slick and consumer-level quality as an iphone yet as technically/mechanically complex as a Falcon rocket - just look at the underbody! It's hard to even think of non-automotive examples that approach this.

 

[McLaren]

One of the more comprehensive technical overviews of the LFA I've seen.



It's a shame that headline performance figures are what gets all the attention in the end. If you put enough aero, power, and tire on a C4 Corvette you could probably run in the 6 minute range on the Nurburgring. On the other hand the Lexus LF-A is probably in the top 5 most masterfully engineered cars of all time, if not the best outright. Maybe the original Mclaren F1 - but they outsourced the engine and there were a lot of parts bin pieces. Maybe the Bugatti Veyron - but it used a somewhat pedestrian (though monstrous) engine. Maybe the Carrera GT - but there's some parts sharing with lower-end models. Maybe the Ferrari F50 - but the attention to detail doesn't come close. Maybe a Pagani Zonda F - but again, it uses an outsourced engine. I find it hard to think of a car that combines so much engineering, so much attention to detail, and just so much...cohesiveness. It's simultaneously as well resolved and slick and consumer-level quality as an iphone yet as technically/mechanically complex as a Falcon rocket - just look at the underbody! It's hard to even think of non-automotive examples that approach this.

So much so they pushed the development stages along even further when they decided to go with carbon fibre & built that infamous loom built.

From the couple folks I've talked to close to the brand, Toyota/Lexus will never reveal the true cost of what the LFA required to enter production. But, it's great to see in the last couple years, their values are on the upside. I think they'll be real collector pieces as less and less end up on the market.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

So much so they pushed the development stages along even further when they decided to go with carbon fibre & built that infamous loom built.

From the couple folks I've talked to close to the brand, Toyota/Lexus will never reveal the true cost of what the LFA required to enter production. But, it's great to see in the last couple years, their values are on the upside. I think they'll be real collector pieces as less and less end up on the market.

You hearing this @Danoff ? Maybe the cost of entry is too high, but I think these cars are headed to $1M +

 

[McLaren]

You hearing this @Danoff ? Maybe the cost of entry is too high, but I think these cars are headed to $1M +

Nur.s are touching that. Factor in about $900,000 for one at auction, probably $950,000 at retail (last Nur. I saw on the market was $950K back in Feb. for sale in Beverly Hills; came out of a bespoke collection in Chile).

If the regular car is more than enough, $500,000 on the market, $440-450,000 on the auction circuit should get you one Danoff. Drive it for a few years, can probably easily get your money back. Convince the wife it'll pay for the kids' college.