Lexus Europe: LFA sets a new record for production car around Nurburgring - 7:14
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HighestOfHigh
Cornering Kingpin
Uh Oh....
donkeykong
Track Technician
It won't be long before a 911 or a GTR reclaim a new record for best time?
Mafalda
Stuttgart Specialist
Thanks for report
after the laptimes (declared) from Corvette and Lexus, now it will be funny to see the replay from Nissan.
and anyway, my dear 330, as you can see as well, Lexus cares about numbers, cares a lot...
You can't conclude that simply because they've recorded a fast lap. We don't yet know the circumstances of this lap. News of the 'Ring edition broke a long time ago, and production is not far off. If they had cared about numbers, you'd think we'd be seeing a lot more times released. The differentiation here to make is that they did not seem to keep developing it specifically for fast 'Ring laps and only signed off when some yet-to-be-seen benchmark was met (as Nissan is known to have done).and anyway, my dear 330, as you can see as well, Lexus cares about numbers, cares a lot...
Do you even know what 'LFA' stands for? Once you do, learn something about what really helps cars at higher altitude tracks (of which the 'Ring is one), then you'd have an idea of how important lap times are to the LFA team. Lack of DCT, turbochargers, active aero bodywork, and serious track-focused R-compounds tells us Lexus were after something else.
It also uses plain jane track tuned suspension and a Torsen Limited Slip Differential. No intelligent electronic torque vectoring diff, magnetically charged shocks or anything.
The tires were also the OEM street high-grip Potenza RE70 for the Nurburgring package.
The test was conducted while Nurburgring edition owners were present and going through a training course. The only reason why Lexus got Akira Iida to do this lap was because the car is named and dedicated to this track and Lexus had been getting too many inquiries from all over the world including from owners to be of Nurburgring edition LFA to prove how quick the car was in real life. Lexus ignored it last year for the standard LFA, but decided to do things differently for the Nurburgring edition.
I am sure, Lexus must be surprised at what Akira Iida was able to do with it.
The tires were also the OEM street high-grip Potenza RE70 for the Nurburgring package.
The test was conducted while Nurburgring edition owners were present and going through a training course. The only reason why Lexus got Akira Iida to do this lap was because the car is named and dedicated to this track and Lexus had been getting too many inquiries from all over the world including from owners to be of Nurburgring edition LFA to prove how quick the car was in real life. Lexus ignored it last year for the standard LFA, but decided to do things differently for the Nurburgring edition.
I am sure, Lexus must be surprised at what Akira Iida was able to do with it.
And those tires are the slower of the two summer tires used by Nissan for the old GT-R. The new GT-R has even further refinements to both tires.
I had a hunch that was the case. A recent video on youtube shows the 'Ring Edition LFA at the track's parking lot with 4 other LFAs. Assuming two were corporate cars (the 'Ring Edition and what appears to be the UK blue car with white interior), that leaves 3 other LFAs. The odds of 3 cars being together and at the 'Ring reminds me that Lexus included 'Ring time in the price of the special edition car. Which certainly adds to the ownership experience and further clouds any attempts at comparisons on price. Even if the LFA were 10 seconds slower than a ZR1, I think very few could legitimately claim the ownership experience is comparable.
Mafalda
Stuttgart Specialist
They put the LF-A (for the 2nd time) @ Ring to show to the world how it's fast. that's all.
"no DCT, no turbo and no active-aero" are only choices, no one has threatened the Lexus "does not put the turbo on the LFA!"
Tyres are a choice too, and Bridgestone also seem to work well, as the LFA has good peaks of g-lateral.
however, the LFA Nurbur has, according with Lexus's claims, special tires, so please do not make excuses in advance
Mafalda
Stuttgart Specialist
I don't think the LFA was 10s slower than the ZR1 (MY08). Sacha Bert showed us that the LF-A was quite close to the claimed laptime. the same can not be said for the ZR1.
I think the LF-A N.E. can beat the ZR1 MY11 @ Ring
Very nice. It looks like the fastest cars that are very nicely built have mid-front engine (Dodge Viper SRT, Corvette ZR1, 599 GTO, GT-R, LF-A). Only cars with flat engine (911) can be faster. What if Porsche mounted a flat engine as mid-front configuration as in the 928? It would get under 7 min.
Those 'ring tires you are talking about are RE70 Potenza tires that are categorized "extreme street performance tires" (Unlike the Corsa or Cup tires, they are not ranked competition DOT track R compound tires). They are available for sale in my 330CI size.
Potenza RE70:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE070
Pirelli Corsa System:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=PZero+Corsa+System
It might be doing well with those RE70 Nurburgring edition tires, but on the dry pavement, grip level wise they are not classified anywhere close to R compound slick tires (Corsa or Cup tires).
Though, the Nurburgring edition RE70 are more aggressive and track oriented than the standard LFA S001 tires.
They are street tires intended for daily usage. Although, the Nurburgring edition one's are more suitably high-grip tires, but the standard LFA Potenza S001 tires could be called "modest" at best. Ferrari ended up dropping these tires as the OEM 458 tires and terminating their contract with Bridgestone in favor of the super sport tires.
While R compound tires only result in improvement of traction for performance, the major drawback of R compound tires is ofcourse they are too noisy, too harsh, too uncomfortable in daily usage and are prone to hydroplaning on standing water.
Potenza RE70:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE070
Pirelli Corsa System:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=PZero+Corsa+System
It might be doing well with those RE70 Nurburgring edition tires, but on the dry pavement, grip level wise they are not classified anywhere close to R compound slick tires (Corsa or Cup tires).
Though, the Nurburgring edition RE70 are more aggressive and track oriented than the standard LFA S001 tires.
They are street tires intended for daily usage. Although, the Nurburgring edition one's are more suitably high-grip tires, but the standard LFA Potenza S001 tires could be called "modest" at best. Ferrari ended up dropping these tires as the OEM 458 tires and terminating their contract with Bridgestone in favor of the super sport tires.
While R compound tires only result in improvement of traction for performance, the major drawback of R compound tires is ofcourse they are too noisy, too harsh, too uncomfortable in daily usage and are prone to hydroplaning on standing water.
Mafalda
Stuttgart Specialist
sorry but If the Lexus has really opted for modest tires for its fastest car ever (limited edition 500 units, not-derivated from other lexus), powerful (560ps, more 200mph) and expensive, then they are just stupid, and stupidity is not an excuse.
probably for the N.E. they did not want to use the R tires to make it more "use-friendly", and this is a good thing.
R-tyres have usually a little bit more traction and grip, but they can do more hotlaps (very good to find the limits).
but a full wet'd a problem as like as low temps, surely the Pilot SportCup are not legal under 7.C!!!
p.s.
Micheli Pilot SS are NOT R-tyres, if I remebrer as well...
It is because LFA is about balance between daily driving comfort and track capabilities. Not one or the other so yes, there is a compromise by not selecting the track DOT competition tires. I am sure, if it was all about putting down the best numbers then yes, track DOT competition tires are the way to go.
Though, the RE70 are the tires that should be both on the standard and 'ring edition since they are still high-grip tires, while the S001 are not.
Potenza RE70:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE070
Pirelli Corsa System:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=PZero+Corsa+System
Michelin Pilot SS are not R compound tires and are categorized "street extreme performance tires", but Michelin claims they are much more "grippier" than the previous generation cup tires.
Though, the RE70 are the tires that should be both on the standard and 'ring edition since they are still high-grip tires, while the S001 are not.
Potenza RE70:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Potenza+RE070
Pirelli Corsa System:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Pirelli&tireModel=PZero+Corsa+System
Michelin Pilot SS are not R compound tires and are categorized "street extreme performance tires", but Michelin claims they are much more "grippier" than the previous generation cup tires.
Mafalda
Stuttgart Specialist
even so, LFA seem has not problem about pure-grip
about michelin, it's just progress. Dunlop claims (about GTR's tyres) an improvment every year.
For once, I agree with you on everything. LFA does have very good lateral grip in the corners due to a stiff carbon fiber chassis resistant to torsional flex under very high speed g forces, downforce (556 pounds@ 200 mph) and a track tune suspension.
I am sure once we have a video, I can bet we will see Akira Iida hitting nearly 297 - 300 km/h on the final uphill climb (he hit 293 km/h on the GPS previously).
I am sure once we have a video, I can bet we will see Akira Iida hitting nearly 297 - 300 km/h on the final uphill climb (he hit 293 km/h on the GPS previously).
even so, LFA seem has not problem about pure-grip
about michelin, it's just progress. Dunlop claims (about GTR's tyres) an improvment every year.
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