Lexus LF-A: The Long and Winding Road

[YSSMAN]

It was a photochop, but yeah, understandable...

It would in fact be one of the final signs of the apocalypse to see a Buick take on the LF-A anyway. One can dream!

 

[Eric.]

Yeah, I don't really see a Buick supercar being very realistic. Maybe something with a helluva motor for the stoplight races, but I don't think they could make something relatively light to compete as a sportscar. They like their sound deadening.

 

[Jim Prower]

Yeah, Cadillac needs a Supercar, First.

(Cien, anytime, now, Boys. Call it XLC.)

 

[Eric.]

Yeah, Cadillac needs a Supercar, First.

(Cien, anytime, now, Boys. Call it XLC.)

I think Cien would be a much better name. Supercars are a lot better off with real names, I think.

 

[YSSMAN]

Depends, really. Cadillac wants one and apparently the new C7 chassis will be flexible enough to have the next-gen XLR to be something truly special.

The problem is, what exactly are they going to do?

Do they go with an ultra-luxury fold top (see Mercedes SL55/SL63)? Something more like the Audi R8? Fight this here LF-A?

...My guess is that they start where the Z06 left off in terms of performance, using a supercharged 4.8L DOHC V8 making over 500 BHP with direct injection. The magnaride suspension, I assume, is standard across the board...

But, will it be front or mid-engined?

I'll still put my money on the front end...

 

[Jay]

Why can't they just make a long super luxury bus like the good 'ol days, thats what I would like to see. I personally don't have much interest in performance Cadillacs.

 

[Jim Prower]

Because they aren't at that level, yet. They need something better than the DTS chassis to compete against the S-Class, and they're working on it.

The luxury target has changed to the sportier European definition. I doubt we'll see numb, floaty boats for a long, long time.

and, of course, If Lexus is chasing that target, with the LF-A, the IS-F, etc. then Cadillac by all means should with cars of their own.

 

[harrytuttle]

Everything I've read has said that Chaparral did it first in 1966.

Then you haven't read enough:

The use and knowledge of downforce has come a long way in half a century. The first known attempt to run an aerofoil on a racing car is generally believed to have been made by a Swiss engineer, Michale May, on a Porsche Spyder as long ago as 1956. The car had an aerofoil mounted above the cockpit, acting through the center of gravity of the car, which tilted from -3° (at which angle the wing was nose up) to +17° (when the wing was distinctly nose-down). The scrutineers at both the Nurburgring and Monza, where he was hoping to compete, wouldn't permit its use, and it seemed that he never actually raced with it.

Chaparral is just the first to get away with it.

 

[Pupik]

Side-view mirrors: F1 technology. Invented by Grand Prix racers during the early formations of the sport who wanted to see approaching cars to adjust their driving style.

Ray Harroun's "Marmon Wasp" was the first car with mirrors. Not a Grand Prix car, but close. The first Indy 500, however.

CVT transmissions: F1 Technology. Developed by...(I'm not too sure on this one) Williams F1? ...It was banned before it could ever race; it later trickled down to roadcars.

Wrong: CVTs started out with the DAF-brand in the late 1950s...

...for road cars...

...as well as F3 cars. (They specialized in trucks, by the way.)

F1 wouldn't try CVTs until 1993, and only in testing (they never actually raced).

Interestingly, it's Toyota who seem to have embraced the CVT most.

But only with hybrids.

 

[YSSMAN]

Actually, I think its NISSAN who has the most CVT models than any other brand. I believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, the CVT is standard fare in every model with the exception of the 350Z and GT-R, and of course, the obvious exceptions of the trucks...

 

[Jim Prower]

Gotta remember that a lot of these people speak from a (blinders-on) European point of view...could be different over there.

 

[niky]

Nissan had CVTs earlier, yeah, but the cheapest modern car I can think of that's been widely available with CVT is the Honda Fit (since 2001, is it?)

It's not Eurocentric blinkers... it's just that you guys didn't get the CVT model because of durability/power issues.

 

[Casio]

Nissan had CVTs earlier, yeah, but the cheapest modern car I can think of that's been widely available with CVT is the Honda Fit (since 2001, is it?)

You could get CVT on Honda Civics here in 1995.

 

[YSSMAN]

Oooh, I like this...

See the full story here

 

[Jim Prower]

Well, there you have it...the SC's days are numbered.

 

[Div is back]

Looks like a S2000 on HGH.

 

[McLaren]

Well, there you have it...the SC's days are numbered.

How is a $70,000 car threatened by what is easily going to be a near $200K car?

 

[Joey D]

It looks goofy as hell but I want one.

 

[Tornado]

How is a $70,000 car threatened by what is easily going to be a near $200K car?

He is technically accurate. The SC has been on sale for quite a few years now, and was comically uncompetitive immediately after launch. I wouldn't be surprised if they launched a replacement in the next couple of years.

 

[YSSMAN]

Looks like a S2000 on HGH.

Now that you mention it, yeah, it does... I still like it though!

 

[Azuremen]

He is technically accurate. The SC has been on sale for quite a few years now, and was comically uncompetitive immediately after launch. I wouldn't be surprised if they launched a replacement in the next couple of years.

I still doubt they will kill their luxury hard top convertible to replace it with a car that could cost 3 times as much.

There is a much larger market for a 70,000 dollar Lexus than a 200,000 dollar Lexus.

That aside, I'll take one in black please.

 

[Tornado]

I still doubt they will kill their luxury hard top convertible to replace it with a car that could cost 3 times as much.

So do I. I was referring to replacing the SC with another SC.

 

[Azuremen]

I just thought you were echoing Jim's statement.

Oh well.

 

[Tornado]

Nah. I was just being a cheeky jerk.

 

[YSSMAN]

Whats new, right?

===

Speaking of the SC... I would hope that they've got a replacement coming sometime soon. That design was long in the tooth three years ago...

 

[a6m5]

SC went from one of the sexiest looking car(in my book), to a car when I encounter, I look the other way.

The roadster LF-A looks great btw. 👍

Edit: Actually, it looks better than the original coupe. And I'm a huge fan of the coupe!

 

[Tornado]

Speaking of the SC... I would hope that they've got a replacement coming sometime soon. That design was long in the tooth three years ago...

And wholly outdone when it was new.

 

[Bram Turismo]

Never thought I'd this on Toyota, even though the big fanboy I am, but they really did a sweet job on the LF-A! 👍


Any news on the Coupe though?

 

[McLaren]

SC went from one of the sexiest looking car(in my book), to a car when I encounter, I look the other way.

The roadster LF-A looks great btw. 👍

Edit: Actually, it looks better than the original coupe. And I'm a huge fan of the coupe!

Why does that remind me of a Ferrari 599 GTB in Barchetta form? Seriously, it looks really good.

 

[YSSMAN]

I see what you're talking about there. It looks like they crossed the Superamerica with the R8 and the S2000 and came up with this...

Despite my "hatred" of Toyota, I really like it. Really, honestly. Its amazing!