Lexus LF-A: The Long and Winding Road

[Race Idiot]

I am not playing fanboy on this car, but it's finally something big again from Toyota, and they prove with the LF-A they still got it, they only need to try more then building a Thundra...But some sound like they're immediatly attacking and bashing this car...

Yes wow it's another expensive 911 competitor, what happened to the times when toyota used to be able to make fun cars for people who arent middle/upper management wankers. Oh wait they cancelled all the fun cheap cars.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Yes wow it's another expensive 911 competitor, what happened to the times when toyota used to be able to make fun cars for people who arent middle/upper management wankers. Oh wait they cancelled all the fun cheap cars.

Those times are gone, and I don't think Toyota is ever going back there...

Come on, how many "fun" models did they really have? The Supra, Celica, MR2, some of sportier versions, and that was probably it. The others were ugly cars. Reliable to an unknown level, I agree, but the '90s Toyotas were never a pretty sight, apart from the Supra, Celica and MR2

 

[Race Idiot]

Those times are gone, and I don't think Toyota is ever going back there...

Come on, how many "fun" models did they really have? The Supra, Celica, MR2, some of sportier versions, and that was probably it. The others were ugly cars. Reliable to an unknown level, I agree, but the '90s Toyotas were never a pretty sight, apart from the Supra, Celica and MR2

Wow thats great, plus the MKIV supra sold like crap anyway. They only sold the Celica and MR2 if you think about it but then they sold both for over 20 years (well more than 20 years the celica) and then just replaced them with nothing. 2 Fun models are better than 0 and 1 repeat of the MKIV supra.

Chevy makes the Solstice/Sky, Mazda Makes the RX-8/MX5, you'd think on toyotas previous model history they'd at least try to make something new and fun.

Oh wait no we've got the exciting Auris OMG SO EXCITING

 

[Kent]

I don't believe for a second it will be upwards of $210,000, $140,000 is even pushing it.

It's a quick time around the ring but it's a prototype and therefore not what the actually car will be. I'm still guessing it will be blisteringly quick though...even without the odd looking GT spoiler on the back.

Looks like that spoiler would fit perfectly in the odd surface at the base of the strakes. Maybe Porsche inspired automatic spoilers will be seen?

I'm a Toyota fan.

I doubt the 7'24 is really meaningful but I'm eagerly awaiting the full production release of this car. 👍

 

[McLaren]

Considering the LF-A will likely cost between 2-3 times more, be more powerful and (considering Toyota's initial goals for the project) be lighter than a GT-R, it is very probable it will be quicker. However, Ive been getting the impression that this car was supposed to be a high-performance GT and not an all-out supercar. Makes anything under 7'30 seem improbable for the production version, however thats just going on what we know so far. We are all quite a bit in the dark on this car, so all norschleife lap time predictions are broad speculation and not more.

The price is going to be a little over $100,000.

You must've missed my point

I never said the LF-A really is going to be as quick as this, but that doesn't mean we cannot believe it is able to beat other supercars out there 👍 It nearly sounds as though the new GT-R is the best sportscar ever to appear, this car has a wopping 100 horsepower more, and I dare to bet it's lighter as well, so why can't it be faster then a GT-R?

It may very well be faster than the GT-R (I hope so. ), but the GT-R also ended up lapping 7:50 when a magazine finally got a hold of it which is very well off what Nissan said it could do. I highly doubt this car will even do 7:30, but I do think it will do pretty d*mn well, and if it can accomplish anywhere near this time, I will eat my shoe and put a down payment on one even if it makes me go bankrupt.

But I think I'm going to end up being ok.


And to the picture Joey posted, I love it. I think it looks hot in that black with the spoiler and rims. I really hope it ends up looking very close to it.

 

[YSSMAN]

YES I HATE JAPAN I WISH THEY WERE ALL NUKED AND COULDNT EVER MAKE CARS THEN THEY WOULD STOP OPRESSING THE POOR AMERICAN AUTOMAKERS GOD BLESS THE CORVETTE AND GEORGE BUSH AND DONT FORGET 9/11

ALSO GOD I LOVE SUPERIOR GERMAN ENGINEERING UHNGGGGGGG UHHHHHHH OH OH OH UHNNNNNNNNNG

Eh? What now? What did I do...

- Japan builds great cars, and as many of you know, I'm a Honda fan despite my general preference towards American (GM) and German (VW, BMW) cars more often than not. Did I mention I like Mazda (non-rotor) cars too?

- Generic blasting and downplaying of me, or anyone else who said something slightly negative about the car really isn't necessary. Just because I don't care much for the car and what Toyota would presumably do with it doesn't make me an inbred, Bush-loving redneck who is overly concerned about the wellbeing of our local industry. Completely uncalled for, I know that you can make better arguments than that to prove a point...

As stated before, Toyota has a record of making good things go bad. That being said, they've managed to work a bit of a miracle on the IS-F, so the LF-A could very well be an outstanding vehicle by the end. As a matter of fact, based on more recent stories about the car, I'm far more certain that it will be a very nice car... Just not my cup of tea.

Stick it in the GT-R price and performance bracket and this thing would be awesome. Problem is, it will probably retail for well over $100K USD, may end up being a bit watered down, and may not come close to the performance that these prototypes are promising. That, in the end, would be a big problem in my book.

 

[Kent]

Just because I don't care much for the car and what Toyota would presumably do with it doesn't make me an inbred, Bush-loving redneck who is overly concerned about the wellbeing of our local industry. Completely uncalled for,

Just as his comments were uncalled for, so are yours. I'd like to see you try to be more considerate of your words.

 

[exigeracer]

But the track was wet in places.

And it had cut slicks.

 

[a6m5]

Toyota has a record of making good things go bad.

Just Toyota? Seriously? I'm thinking that I can probably make similar comment about every manufacturers from every continent, if I wanted to.

 

[MustangSVT]

I don't believe the 7:24 time for a second.

Aren't the Carrera GT and Zonda F lightweight? Both CGT and ZondaF put out around 600 horses, and they both weigh 3000 and 2800lbs respectively. I find it hard to rationally see that a 550HP Lexus (that probably weighs 3500lbs or more) somehow does a better time than a CGT or ZondaF. Maybe if it used full slick tyres or something like that.

 

[Bram Turismo]

The price is going to be a little over $100,000.

It may very well be faster than the GT-R (I hope so. ), but the GT-R also ended up lapping 7:50 when a magazine finally got a hold of it which is very well off what Nissan said it could do. I highly doubt this car will even do 7:30, but I do think it will do pretty d*mn well, and if it can accomplish anywhere near this time, I will eat my shoe and put a down payment on one even if it makes me go bankrupt.

But I think I'm going to end up being ok.


And to the picture Joey posted, I love it. I think it looks hot in that black with the spoiler and rims. I really hope it ends up looking very close to it.

I never knew what Nissan said it could do, but I haven't heard Toyota saying anything about times, only that it would be able to give the Ford GT a good run, and I'm not doubting it could...

Also, finally someone who says this car looks nice. I had to search trough pages to find a decent positive comment on Toyota, something which bothers me around here...Out of all manufacturers, it seems Toyota is the one to take the price for all the bashing...

As stated before, Toyota has a record of making good things go bad. That being said, they've managed to work a bit of a miracle on the IS-F, so the LF-A could very well be an outstanding vehicle by the end. As a matter of fact, based on more recent stories about the car, I'm far more certain that it will be a very nice car... Just not my cup of tea.

Huh?

Where did Toyota got that "record" from then? They haven't done anything in the last couple of years, only placing announcements on cars which did not come into production. I do not view this as "good things go bad", I'd rather call these things a little dissapointing, but nothing serious. If only Toyota could ever bring the Volta into production...I'm pretty sure there are other manufacturers out there that announced sportscars that never went into production...

Is being the number 1 car manufacturer the same as making good things go bad?

Stick it in the GT-R price and performance bracket and this thing would be awesome. Problem is, it will probably retail for well over $100K USD, may end up being a bit watered down, and may not come close to the performance that these prototypes are promising. That, in the end, would be a big problem in my book.

Performance bracket? I do believe the GT-R would get lost when placing the GT-R and the LF-A onto a track...So performance is not really something to say the GT-R is doing better in...

Also, a 100K USD? Isn't that around the same price as a 911? Or so I read in an article around a 911-GT-R comparison...Honestly, if I were to choose between the GT-R and the LF-A, I'd be more then happy to give in a 30-40K extra for the extra 100 horsepower, the better looks, the badass F1-like noise, and the V10 engine 👍

 

[Joey D]

Also, a 100K USD? Isn't that around the same price as a 911? Or so I read in an article around a 911-GT-R comparison...Honestly, if I were to choose between the GT-R and the LF-A, I'd be more then happy to give in a 30-40K extra for the extra 100 horsepower, the better looks, the badass F1-like noise, and the V10 engine 👍

Agreed, I would rather have this as well.

I think Americans will accept this car more then the GT-R since it will be sold as a Lexus, which is a pseudo-American brand to begin with. Also people can associate Lexus with luxury and class, where as with Nissan it just conjures up images of boy-racers flying through their sub-division late at night or the cheap eco-boxes they used to make.

 

[Dave A]

You're far to quick to dismiss the power of the GT-R's image Joey. The GT-R has an immense image world wide, Europe, Japan, the US. I'm not saying this will fail, but if I was told one would and I put a bet on it, I'd wager that on image alone the GT-R would be the success.

 

[Joey D]

You're far to quick to dismiss the power of the GT-R's image Joey. The GT-R has an immense image world wide, Europe, Japan, the US. I'm not saying this will fail, but if I was told one would and I put a bet on it, I'd wager that on image alone the GT-R would be the success.

I would be willing to wager there are more people in the US that have no idea what a GT-R/Skyline is then do. The only reason all of us Americans on the board no is because we've played the various video games and talked to members that do not live in the US.

I look at it this way, if I asked my dad, a middle aged male with some money to spend (most likely the average buyer for a car like the GT-R) if he would buy a $70,000 Nissan he would just laugh. Although if I asked him about a $100,000 Lexus he probably would think about it because like many Americans he associates Lexus with luxury, reliability, and class...where as the Nissan is not. Sell it under an Infiniti badge and there probably wouldn't be a huge issue.

I never said the GT-R would fail, I never said that it wouldn't sell, and I never talked about anywhere other then America. I'm just saying the fact that it is a Nissan will hurt it in the perception of Americans, whereas a Lexus wouldn't have this problem. It's the same way over in the UK as far as I can tell, GM could build the world's best car but if it had a Chevy badge on it I'm sure you guys wouldn't warm to it quite like us in America would.

Someone is going to say I hate the GT-R, which I'm fully expecting. I fully respect the performance of the car and the technology in it, but I can not warm to it.

 

[Bram Turismo]

I look at it this way, if I asked my dad, a middle aged male with some money to spend (most likely the average buyer for a car like the GT-R) if he would buy a $70,000 Nissan he would just laugh. Although if I asked him about a $100,000 Lexus he probably would think about it because like many Americans he associates Lexus with luxury, reliability, and class...where as the Nissan is not. Sell it under an Infiniti badge and there probably wouldn't be a huge issue.

The same can be said of my dad. If he were to choose between a BMW 330i and the Lexus IS350, he would ask me: "Why on earth would I want a BMW?" I guess it all depends on the image one has of a car, though that should not always make us buy that we really want. Let me put it like this: Imagine me, I said imagine me, in 10 years, with a wife and children, once again, I said imagine. It's most unlikely it'll come this far, but just for now...If I were to buy a car, and I've got just enough to buy an Audi A6, I'd be buying a Toyota Avensis straightaway and use the money I save from the Audi on stuff for the kids, or a nice trip, or even some adds for our house...Hell, what has this got to do with matter in the first place?!

I do not hate the GT-R either, but in my opninion the GT-R is sometimes far too overrated, people saying it beats the hell out of supercars on twisty tracks which is off course rubbish since it weighs as much as a tank compared to a supercar...(Speaking of the Skylines here...), makes me irritated.

 

[McLaren]

Agreed, I would rather have this as well.

I think Americans will accept this car more then the GT-R since it will be sold as a Lexus, which is a pseudo-American brand to begin with. Also people can associate Lexus with luxury and class, where as with Nissan it just conjures up images of boy-racers flying through their sub-division late at night or the cheap eco-boxes they used to make.

Which is why many folks are starting to wonder why didn't Nissan badge the GT-R as a $70K Infiniti for the US market.

 

[Bram Turismo]

On a sidenote, YSSMAN, I am of opinion that your thread title is a little misleading. Lexus never "claimed" it'd run a 7'24, a mule just ran that time

Thought I might point this out before people start blaming Toyota of this "claim" 👍

 

[Dave A]

Do you think most middle aged men associate Nissans with boy racers? Do most middle aged men even spend time contemplating what a boy racer is even. I know more people will not know what a GT-R is than will, but by contrast more people will know what a GT-R is than will know what an LF-A is. There's more reason to trust Nissans GT-R based on history than the LF-A. Also you seem to be over simplifying how people think. Most people like cars x and y from one manufacturer but not car z. People don't have to like the Micra to like the GT-R or to believe it is a phenominal machine. You're comment about Chevy isn't really valid though, you see Nissan sell decent cars, the 350Z, the Primera, they might not be the best but they are not bad cars. Chevy over here are nothing more than re-badged Daewoo's, they are not decent cars, we have zero reason to think of the Chevy badge as decent. Though to turn your argument on it's head, the C6 Corvette is a car we like, it's a decent price a solid performer and it's American. We don't flock to it for two key reasons, one there arn't any to flock to, they're so low volume here it's untrue. Secondly they're left hand drive, we are a right hand drive country. So no, we don't hate cars purely based on badge, some people might, but the press and most people I know have respect for the C6. The Z06, we didn't take to that because we didn't like it's ride quality, but that's not the badge, that's the suspension.

 

[Bram Turismo]

but by contrast more people will know what a GT-R is than will know what an LF-A is. There's more reason to trust Nissans GT-R based on history than the LF-A.

Purely based on the Skyline, suppose there never was a Skyline, exactly which reason would make you go over to Nissan instead of the faster LF-A?

Also, what history? Toyota never really gave themselves a shot to compare the Supra to the Skyline as the R34 was brandnew, the RX-7 was brandnew, the Lancer was brandnew, and the NSX was brandnew, though the NSX should be considered into a different category then the RX-7 and R34...

 

[m7ammed]

The only logic I can think of, if this car has only 550 bhp, it has to be really light weight and extensive use of Carbon fiber would be used , this would surely make the car cost alot maybe in the 200k $ region ?

I will wait until full specs of the car are released to make my judgment and read the reviews about how it drives. Even if its faster I would still rather have a Zonda or a Carerra GT (which is out of production now ) I would compare this to a new GT if Porsche ever make one

 

[Bram Turismo]

The only logic I can think of, if this car has only 550 bhp, it has to be really light weight and extensive use of Carbon fiber would be used , this would surely make the car cost alot maybe in the 200k $ region ?

Do you drive a Carrera GT as a daily car?! Seriously, only 550 bhp? That's just 50 bhp below a Carrera GT, pretty much nothing nearly...200K does sound a little bit high up there though, but I'll hold on to that as Lexus never released such a car as this before...

 

[Dave A]

Purely based on the Skyline, suppose there never was a Skyline, exactly which reason would make you go over to Nissan instead of the faster LF-A?

Based on the Skyline? The GT-R was a Skyline until recently, no Skyline no GT-R, the Skyline is the GT-R's history and has been well known outside of Japan for well over a decade.

Also, what history? Toyota never really gave themselves a shot to compare the Supra to the Skyline as the R34 was brandnew, the RX-7 was brandnew, the Lancer was brandnew, and the NSX was brandnew, though the NSX should be considered into a different category then the RX-7 and R34...

As in the LF-A, it has no history neither does Lexus as a brand when it comes to a car like this. The GT-R has bucketloads of history on the other hand.

All I'm saying is that the GT-R shouldn't have any problems with image, it's a Nissan GT-R and the people in the market for a car like it will know exactley what the car is and what it does. But the LF-A isn't a car I'd be as quick to say the same about purely because it's uncharted territory for Lexus. I hope it does well, it's a very interesting car.

 

[Bram Turismo]

All I'm saying is that the GT-R shouldn't have any problems with image, it's a Nissan GT-R and the people in the market for a car like it will know exactley what the car is and what it does. But the LF-A isn't a car I'd be as quick to say the same about purely because it's uncharted territory for Lexus. I hope it does well, it's a very interesting car.

I must then apologise for mistaking your point 👍 I do agree though, it's unknown territory for Lexus, but I'm as well hoping it'll do well 👍

 

[Tornado]

I remain silent about this until we know something other than an estimation about the horsepower. For all we know, this weighs 2000 pounds and has a F1 gearbox.

 

[Leonidae]

Is it just me or does that car look mid-engined to anyone else?:blink: It has sidescoops behind doors and outlets between rear lights and register plate holder.. Transversely mounted mid-engined layout or longitudinally mounted FR? only time will tell I guess.. and i want proper evidence of this overly luxurious toyotas lap before believing it. I'm willing to say that it will get a wee bit slower when the safety people have done their part..

 

[Greycap]

There is just no way that the car could do it that fast. Just about nobody believed the 7'38 from the GT-R and now this one is supposed to be 14 seconds faster. Hell no. That car is not capable of beating a Carrera GT, the driving dynamics aren't from the same planet. Either the time was indeed made by a mule that only has a silhouette body of the LF-A with race car technique underneath or someone's making a really ludicrous claim.

It looks good, it will be the fastest Toyota around, but it's no supercar killer. The GT-R that seems to be its most important rival has similar power (550+ bhp, that 485 bhp was from the hubs, you've seen the picture but many decided not to believe it), more weight, but makes up for it by more torque from the turbocharged engine and two more driving wheels. And still this is said to be that 14 seconds faster.

And no idea where the price tag of about $100.000 came from, I only found $170.000 which sounds a lot more convincing. F1 parts tend to cost a lot.

 

[m7ammed]

Do you drive a Carrera GT as a daily car?! Seriously, only 550 bhp? That's just 50 bhp below a Carrera GT, pretty much nothing nearly...200K does sound a little bit high up there though, but I'll hold on to that as Lexus never released such a car as this before...

550 bhp with a heavy car isn't going to get you anywhere near GT or Zonda performance, because if its a lexus then it would be stuffed with gadgets and entertainment...etc

the Carrera GT base price of $444,400 makes the dream of owning a piece of Le Mans inspired technology somewhat more attainable. The Carrera GT is also priced at $515,000 in Canadian dollars, and at 390,000 €.

Technology of note includes a pure carbon fiber monocoque and subframe, dry sump lubrication and inboard suspension. The carbon fiber monocoque and subframe were produced and assembled by ATR Composites Group of Italy. The Carrera GT radiator is about five times the size of a 911 turbo's. Unlike some of its rivals, the Carrera GT does not feature dynamic stability control, but it does have traction control. Porsche claims that over 75 technology patents have been filed from development of the Carrera GT.

using hightech materials is costly , and I don't see why Lexus wouldn't price it at 200k$ if it offers same performance of a Carrera GT it would still be half the price of the Porsche.

 

[Kent]

I think everyone here is making assumptions of some kind. Whether it be the weight, cost, or power, nothing on this car seems set in stone. No official releases with technical specifications, no production model, no way to do much more than run in circles.

"If" is an awefully important word in these car threads.
If this Lexus could do 7'24... If the price was... If the weight...

We need to be patient and only concern ourselves with what we hope. If you hope Toyota fails with this endeavor- that's your thing go for it

I'm just saying, let's not act like we really know much about this car. Heck, do we even know where the parts of the car come from, are they original or do they come from other cars (engine, chassis, brakes, etc)?

 

[Onikaze]

2000-2500 Pounds, Lexus ubertech in the suspension/manufacturing, 8 speed F1 tech based gearbox, 550 Hp V-10 as a stressed structural implement (keep weight down), and oh yes, some sort of barely legal tires... I could see it.

The closer you get to 3000 Pounds, the less likely I see it.

Remember though: This is a car built to celebrate F1 racing, light weight seems like it would be a major goal.

 

[forza2.0]

Where's forza2.0 ?

That exhaust note is wicked.

having seen the predicted specs of this car I would not really doubt a time of around 7 mins 30. Its light, its mid engined, it sounds to have a brill engine and im sure comes with some super grippy tires.