Lexus LF-A Supercar
In development for more than four years, put to the real test at the Nürburgring, and now driven for the first time at Goodwood, the brand-new Lexus LF-A promises to be Japan's ultimate and definitive supercar.
The Lexus LF-A is the boss's own pet project. It was president Akio Toyoda himself who got this car underway, describing it as a lighthouse concept designed to forge a long-overdue link between the company's (thus far unimpressive) Formula 1 efforts and future Lexus and Toyota sports cars. He also co-drove it at this year's ADAC Zurich 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
At this point, the Lexus team is still tight-lipped when it comes to official data and claims. Did they ever consider a turbocharged V-8, four-wheel drive, or a dual-clutch transmission? No, says Mikio Hazumi of Lexus, and that's the juiciest inside information we're going to get. Wind tunnel performance? No comment. Adaptive aerodynamics? Not on the race car. Adjustable dampers? Not required. Variable-rate steering? Said to be counterproductive. Front or rear axle lift? Positive downforce at all velocities, guaranteed. Carbon-ceramic brakes? Not needed.
What we know for a fact are the dimensions (length 178 inches, width 74 inches, height 47 inches, wheelbase 103 inches) and the type of vehicle construction (carbon-fiber-reinforced molded polymer). We also know that Toyota opted for a control-arm front suspension and a multilink rear axle made of aluminum, that the cast-iron brake discs are straddled by six-piston front calipers and four-pot rears, and that there is a Torsen-type limited-slip differential at the rear. With a front-mounted V-10 engine and two radiators at the back of the car, weight distribution is exactly 50/50. As our test session at the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit in southern England drew to a close and the first drinks started making the rounds, two more impressive numbers were revealed: a 0-to-62-mph acceleration time of less than four seconds and a top speed of 200 mph.
Lexus LF-A Supercar - New Lexus Supercar Test Run - Automobile Magazine
The Lexus LF-A is the boss's own pet project. It was president Akio Toyoda himself who got this car underway, describing it as a lighthouse concept designed to forge a long-overdue link between the company's (thus far unimpressive) Formula 1 efforts and future Lexus and Toyota sports cars. He also co-drove it at this year's ADAC Zurich 24-hour race at the Nürburgring.
At this point, the Lexus team is still tight-lipped when it comes to official data and claims. Did they ever consider a turbocharged V-8, four-wheel drive, or a dual-clutch transmission? No, says Mikio Hazumi of Lexus, and that's the juiciest inside information we're going to get. Wind tunnel performance? No comment. Adaptive aerodynamics? Not on the race car. Adjustable dampers? Not required. Variable-rate steering? Said to be counterproductive. Front or rear axle lift? Positive downforce at all velocities, guaranteed. Carbon-ceramic brakes? Not needed.
What we know for a fact are the dimensions (length 178 inches, width 74 inches, height 47 inches, wheelbase 103 inches) and the type of vehicle construction (carbon-fiber-reinforced molded polymer). We also know that Toyota opted for a control-arm front suspension and a multilink rear axle made of aluminum, that the cast-iron brake discs are straddled by six-piston front calipers and four-pot rears, and that there is a Torsen-type limited-slip differential at the rear. With a front-mounted V-10 engine and two radiators at the back of the car, weight distribution is exactly 50/50. As our test session at the legendary Goodwood Motor Circuit in southern England drew to a close and the first drinks started making the rounds, two more impressive numbers were revealed: a 0-to-62-mph acceleration time of less than four seconds and a top speed of 200 mph.
Lexus LF-A Supercar - New Lexus Supercar Test Run - Automobile Magazine
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08/17/2009 02:48 PM: Lexus LF-A Renamed: LF-L (LO-L) by Timothy TibbettsA few weeks ago we heard about a possible name change for the Lexus LF-A but it was more of a total name change to indicate the cars power output and “super sports” moniker (SS550). Holiday Auto go on...
07/11/2009 08:48 PM: Lexus LF-A - Road Test First Drive by Timothy Tibbetts
This is the Lexus LF-A, a supercar that was first created by Toyota as far back as 2003. From late 2007 LF-As began testing at the Nurburgring regularly and from 2008 prototypes were entered into the ...
