LFA [Official] Lexus LF-A Supercar (Production Version)
MotorTrend Best Driver's car competition:
Driver: Randy Pobst
Lexus LFA w/ 560 PS : 1:36.39
Ford Mustang Boss 302 Leguna Seca edition w/ 450 PS: 1:41.06 [Pirelli Corsa R Compound tires]
Porsche Cayman R PDK w/ 340 PS: 1:41.64
Lotus Evora Sport w/ 350 PS: 1:42.49 [Pirelli Corsa R Compound Tires]
BMW 1M w/ 332 PS: 1:43.31
Driver: Randy Pobst
Lexus LFA w/ 560 PS : 1:36.39
Ford Mustang Boss 302 Leguna Seca edition w/ 450 PS: 1:41.06 [Pirelli Corsa R Compound tires]
Porsche Cayman R PDK w/ 340 PS: 1:41.64
Lotus Evora Sport w/ 350 PS: 1:42.49 [Pirelli Corsa R Compound Tires]
BMW 1M w/ 332 PS: 1:43.31
Online version of the Autocar review:
"Lexus LF-A 4.8 Nurburgring package First Drive
Test date 30 August 2011
Price as tested £330,000
This limited-edition Lexus LFA will set you back an estimated £403,000. Ouch
What is it?
It is, of course, now de rigueur for almost every manufacturer to namecheck the Nürburgring when they’ve a new sports car to sell. But Lexus has more justification than most for doing so, because its LFA supercar has won its class in the Nürburgring 24 Hours three years running.
Which is all the excuse it needs to bequeath ‘Nürburgring Package’ upon 10 per cent of the 500 LFAs that it will build. Visually, said package includes a bigger front spoiler with added winglets, more effective side skirts and a fixed carbonfibre rear wing. Together, they help to produce a third more downforce than the standard car.
But with downforce comes drag, so the 4.8-litre V10 engine has been tickled up 11bhp to 562bhp to allow claimed performance to remain unchanged. Lowered suspension, track-day tyres, different wheels and a carbon and Alcantara interior complete the picture. All told, it adds £63,600 (nearly a 911) to the £339,500 list price of the standard car.
What’s it like?
No prizes for guessing where I drove it. A sighting lap in a standard LFA provided a useful reference point before climbing into the great orange beast and heading off around the Nordschleife to try my luck.
Much will come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the LFA’s fortunes of late.
It’s artillery shell quick in a straight line, makes Desert-Island-Disc-grade noise at 9000rpm and stops so fast it hurts. What the ’Ring package does most notably, apart from making the car an unspecified number of seconds quicker, is to make it easier to drive.
You notice the extra grip, but it’s mainly mechanical and down to the new suspension and tyres. The downforce is not the kind that lets you drive upside down; it just makes the car feel more settled on its springs, less tippy-toed into the ’Ring’s many fast, bumpy curves. The extra pace comes in part from the car but mainly from a driver made more confident to push it hard.
Should I buy one
Of course, the money is insane but, at this rate, only one or two will come to the UK. So if the price doesn’t matter and you want a car to make Veyrons look common, once you drive it, it’ll pretty much sell itself.
Andrew Frankel"
Lexus LFA Nurburgring package - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk
"Lexus LF-A 4.8 Nurburgring package First Drive
Test date 30 August 2011
Price as tested £330,000
This limited-edition Lexus LFA will set you back an estimated £403,000. Ouch
What is it?
It is, of course, now de rigueur for almost every manufacturer to namecheck the Nürburgring when they’ve a new sports car to sell. But Lexus has more justification than most for doing so, because its LFA supercar has won its class in the Nürburgring 24 Hours three years running.
Which is all the excuse it needs to bequeath ‘Nürburgring Package’ upon 10 per cent of the 500 LFAs that it will build. Visually, said package includes a bigger front spoiler with added winglets, more effective side skirts and a fixed carbonfibre rear wing. Together, they help to produce a third more downforce than the standard car.
But with downforce comes drag, so the 4.8-litre V10 engine has been tickled up 11bhp to 562bhp to allow claimed performance to remain unchanged. Lowered suspension, track-day tyres, different wheels and a carbon and Alcantara interior complete the picture. All told, it adds £63,600 (nearly a 911) to the £339,500 list price of the standard car.
What’s it like?
No prizes for guessing where I drove it. A sighting lap in a standard LFA provided a useful reference point before climbing into the great orange beast and heading off around the Nordschleife to try my luck.
Much will come as no surprise to anyone who has followed the LFA’s fortunes of late.
It’s artillery shell quick in a straight line, makes Desert-Island-Disc-grade noise at 9000rpm and stops so fast it hurts. What the ’Ring package does most notably, apart from making the car an unspecified number of seconds quicker, is to make it easier to drive.
You notice the extra grip, but it’s mainly mechanical and down to the new suspension and tyres. The downforce is not the kind that lets you drive upside down; it just makes the car feel more settled on its springs, less tippy-toed into the ’Ring’s many fast, bumpy curves. The extra pace comes in part from the car but mainly from a driver made more confident to push it hard.
Should I buy one
Of course, the money is insane but, at this rate, only one or two will come to the UK. So if the price doesn’t matter and you want a car to make Veyrons look common, once you drive it, it’ll pretty much sell itself.
Andrew Frankel"
Lexus LFA Nurburgring package - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk
- Messages
- 8,624
Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package edition sets new production car record of 7 min 14 seconds | SkiddMark
Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package edition sets new production car record of 7 min 14 seconds
We are hearing that the Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package Edition has improved upon the 7:22.85 lap time of the Nürburgring Nordschleife set back in June, recording a 7:14 in the hands of Gazoo Racing driver Akira Iida.
The time which was recorded yesterday afternoon, was set in good weather conditions and on a clear lap.
Iida also set the previous 7:22 lap, but Lexus chose not to promote the achievement which suggested they were expecting the LFA to improve still further. Their target was the 7:19 production car record set by the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 on the latest Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres.
Sounds like Lexus hit the bulls-eye..
Lexus is offering the Nürburgring package to a maximum 50 of the 500 customers that have ordered the LFA and its production will start in 2012. Power is boosted to 566 bhp to compensate for the increased drag of its aerodynamics package, despite this acceleration is maintained at 0-62 mph in just 3.7 seconds with a 203 mph maximum speed.
In terms of handling modifications, the LFA Nürburgring package includes a sports tuned suspension, a vehicle height reduction of 10mm, exclusive mesh-type wheels and dedicated, high-grip tyres.
Available only in Matte Black, Black, White or Orange, the Nürburgring package-equipped LFA’s exterior is complimented by a choice of three interior colour schemes –Black and Red, Black and Purple, and all Black. All feature a carbon fibre centre console and door trims, whilst the carbon fibre bucket seats are trimmed in Alcantara.
LFA customers specifying the Nürburgring package will be offered individual instruction on the Nordschleife by one of the Nürburgring chief instructors, and will also receive a one year pass for Nordschleife driving.
Expect to see an official video plus further details during the next few days.
Lexus LFA Nurburgring Package edition sets new production car record of 7 min 14 seconds
We are hearing that the Lexus LFA Nürburgring Package Edition has improved upon the 7:22.85 lap time of the Nürburgring Nordschleife set back in June, recording a 7:14 in the hands of Gazoo Racing driver Akira Iida.
The time which was recorded yesterday afternoon, was set in good weather conditions and on a clear lap.
Iida also set the previous 7:22 lap, but Lexus chose not to promote the achievement which suggested they were expecting the LFA to improve still further. Their target was the 7:19 production car record set by the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 on the latest Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tyres.
Sounds like Lexus hit the bulls-eye..
Lexus is offering the Nürburgring package to a maximum 50 of the 500 customers that have ordered the LFA and its production will start in 2012. Power is boosted to 566 bhp to compensate for the increased drag of its aerodynamics package, despite this acceleration is maintained at 0-62 mph in just 3.7 seconds with a 203 mph maximum speed.
In terms of handling modifications, the LFA Nürburgring package includes a sports tuned suspension, a vehicle height reduction of 10mm, exclusive mesh-type wheels and dedicated, high-grip tyres.
Available only in Matte Black, Black, White or Orange, the Nürburgring package-equipped LFA’s exterior is complimented by a choice of three interior colour schemes –Black and Red, Black and Purple, and all Black. All feature a carbon fibre centre console and door trims, whilst the carbon fibre bucket seats are trimmed in Alcantara.
LFA customers specifying the Nürburgring package will be offered individual instruction on the Nordschleife by one of the Nürburgring chief instructors, and will also receive a one year pass for Nordschleife driving.
Expect to see an official video plus further details during the next few days.
- Messages
- 8,624
Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition: review | carsguide.com.au
Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition.
There are just a handful of Lexus LFA supercars running around in Australia but already, the Japanese luxury car maker has launched a performance-enhanced model named after the legendary Nurburgring race track in Germany. It's called the LFA Nurburgring Edition and is a more track-focused version of the LFA -- if that's possible. Only 50 will be made.
TECHNOLOGY
Where the standard LFA runs a 412kW/480Nm, 4.8-litre V10 engine, the Nurburgring model is pumped up to 420kW with the same torque output. The compact, dry sump V10, hand-built in two days at motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha by one of four engine builders, features cylinder heads by Yamaha and a block from Toyota.
Yamaha has a long association with Toyota, Lexus' parent company. The LFA engine uses high quality forged pistons, valves and conrods and has direct fuel injection among a raft of high tech' features. It's fitted front/midships and is connected, transaxle style, to the rear-mounted six- speed automated manual transmission by a carbon fibre torque tube. This gives the rear drive LFA an ideal 48/52 balance front to rear. Engine redline is 9000rpm.
Both the standard and Nurburgring models are capable of despatching a 0-100kmh dash in around 3.7 seconds and top out at 325kmh. This is slap bang in supercar territory and up with the latest from Ferrari and Lamborghini.
DESIGN
The fully kitted standard model weighs in at 1580kg, the Nurburgring model is 100 kegs less. It has more down force courtesy of a large, fixed, rear carbon fibre wing, winglets on the front bumper, larger front spoiler, low 100mm ride height and carbon fibre interior trim.
The double wishbone front and multi link rear suspension has been slightly retuned with stiffer responses. Lexus didn't hold back on quality components for LFA equipping it with carbon ceramic front discs of 390mm diameter with six piston calipers. The rears are slightly smaller with four pistons. Forged alloy 20-inch wheels run Bridgestone high performance rubber and the KYB dampers feature remote reservoirs for superior and consistent performance. Buyers score race tuition and a year's pass to drive the Nordscheleife (Northern Loop) of the Nurburgring.
LFA is an incredible car from a technical standpoint because apart from the mind boggling engine with arguably the best exhaust note in existence, it is 65 per cent carbon fibre with the majority of the chassis and body in the stuff. The rest is aluminium. Lexus attaches the two materials to each other with aluminium brackets baked into the carbon fibre.
Special carbon fibre ovens and techniques to handle it were developed during the 10 year LFA program which started in 2001. Initially, the car was to be all aluminium but this was changed in 2005 to carbon fibre. Lexus makes 20 LFAs a month with total production amounting to only 500 units. It is a loss making enterprise for Lexus which obviously places greater value on the publicity and new perceptions LFA will generate.
DRIVING
Marking the arrival of the Nurburgring Edition was a special test week held at the Nurburgring to which we were invited and allowed five unfettered laps of the 21km Nordschleife. It was like a bucket-list tick off for anyone with benzene in their veins - a supercar drive at the world's most demanding race track with 140 plus corners and a fearsome reputation. With a degree of trepidation, we sprung out of pit lane in the orange projectile for a pilot lap behind a Nurburgring specialist leading in a Lexus ISF.
This 'sighting' lap took around 9 minutes and then it was over to us. The LFA is near perfect weapon for the Nordschleife because it has almost endless power and torque, controlled and responsive dynamics and brakes that never go away. We would be ripping up to a tight turn at warp speed and simply stab the brakes, flick the wheel a touch and the LFA was around and the right foot was (re) planted to the firewall.
It steers with such precision and has such prodigious grip that an accompanying Lexus ISF race car looked like a bucking dray. But that's not fair, the LFA is a tame race car built to impeccable standards while the ISF is a weighty, sports luxury sedan. It's intersting that none of the owners of the first run of LFAs has taken it on a race track. Shame, but word has it that some of the 10 Aussie LFA owners will break the cycle - here's to them.
PRICE
Standard car is $750,000, but add $80k for Nurburgring Edition.
Peter Barnwell road tests and reviews the Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition.
There are just a handful of Lexus LFA supercars running around in Australia but already, the Japanese luxury car maker has launched a performance-enhanced model named after the legendary Nurburgring race track in Germany. It's called the LFA Nurburgring Edition and is a more track-focused version of the LFA -- if that's possible. Only 50 will be made.
TECHNOLOGY
Where the standard LFA runs a 412kW/480Nm, 4.8-litre V10 engine, the Nurburgring model is pumped up to 420kW with the same torque output. The compact, dry sump V10, hand-built in two days at motorcycle manufacturer Yamaha by one of four engine builders, features cylinder heads by Yamaha and a block from Toyota.
Yamaha has a long association with Toyota, Lexus' parent company. The LFA engine uses high quality forged pistons, valves and conrods and has direct fuel injection among a raft of high tech' features. It's fitted front/midships and is connected, transaxle style, to the rear-mounted six- speed automated manual transmission by a carbon fibre torque tube. This gives the rear drive LFA an ideal 48/52 balance front to rear. Engine redline is 9000rpm.
Both the standard and Nurburgring models are capable of despatching a 0-100kmh dash in around 3.7 seconds and top out at 325kmh. This is slap bang in supercar territory and up with the latest from Ferrari and Lamborghini.
DESIGN
The fully kitted standard model weighs in at 1580kg, the Nurburgring model is 100 kegs less. It has more down force courtesy of a large, fixed, rear carbon fibre wing, winglets on the front bumper, larger front spoiler, low 100mm ride height and carbon fibre interior trim.
The double wishbone front and multi link rear suspension has been slightly retuned with stiffer responses. Lexus didn't hold back on quality components for LFA equipping it with carbon ceramic front discs of 390mm diameter with six piston calipers. The rears are slightly smaller with four pistons. Forged alloy 20-inch wheels run Bridgestone high performance rubber and the KYB dampers feature remote reservoirs for superior and consistent performance. Buyers score race tuition and a year's pass to drive the Nordscheleife (Northern Loop) of the Nurburgring.
LFA is an incredible car from a technical standpoint because apart from the mind boggling engine with arguably the best exhaust note in existence, it is 65 per cent carbon fibre with the majority of the chassis and body in the stuff. The rest is aluminium. Lexus attaches the two materials to each other with aluminium brackets baked into the carbon fibre.
Special carbon fibre ovens and techniques to handle it were developed during the 10 year LFA program which started in 2001. Initially, the car was to be all aluminium but this was changed in 2005 to carbon fibre. Lexus makes 20 LFAs a month with total production amounting to only 500 units. It is a loss making enterprise for Lexus which obviously places greater value on the publicity and new perceptions LFA will generate.
DRIVING
Marking the arrival of the Nurburgring Edition was a special test week held at the Nurburgring to which we were invited and allowed five unfettered laps of the 21km Nordschleife. It was like a bucket-list tick off for anyone with benzene in their veins - a supercar drive at the world's most demanding race track with 140 plus corners and a fearsome reputation. With a degree of trepidation, we sprung out of pit lane in the orange projectile for a pilot lap behind a Nurburgring specialist leading in a Lexus ISF.
This 'sighting' lap took around 9 minutes and then it was over to us. The LFA is near perfect weapon for the Nordschleife because it has almost endless power and torque, controlled and responsive dynamics and brakes that never go away. We would be ripping up to a tight turn at warp speed and simply stab the brakes, flick the wheel a touch and the LFA was around and the right foot was (re) planted to the firewall.
It steers with such precision and has such prodigious grip that an accompanying Lexus ISF race car looked like a bucking dray. But that's not fair, the LFA is a tame race car built to impeccable standards while the ISF is a weighty, sports luxury sedan. It's intersting that none of the owners of the first run of LFAs has taken it on a race track. Shame, but word has it that some of the 10 Aussie LFA owners will break the cycle - here's to them.
PRICE
Standard car is $750,000, but add $80k for Nurburgring Edition.
MotorTrend Best Driver's car competition:
Driver: Randy Pobst
Lexus LFA w/ 560 PS : 1:36.39
Porsche 997.2 GT3 RS w/ 450 PS: 1:36.77 [Michelin Cup R Compounds tires]
Ford Mustang Boss 302 Leguna Seca edition w/ 450 PS: 1:41.06 [Pirelli Corsa R Compound tires]
Porsche Cayman R PDK w/ 340 PS: 1:41.64
Lotus Evora Sport w/ 350 PS: 1:42.49 [Pirelli Corsa R Compound Tires]
BMW 1M w/ 332 PS: 1:43.31
Driver: Randy Pobst
Lexus LFA w/ 560 PS : 1:36.39
Porsche 997.2 GT3 RS w/ 450 PS: 1:36.77 [Michelin Cup R Compounds tires]
Ford Mustang Boss 302 Leguna Seca edition w/ 450 PS: 1:41.06 [Pirelli Corsa R Compound tires]
Porsche Cayman R PDK w/ 340 PS: 1:41.64
Lotus Evora Sport w/ 350 PS: 1:42.49 [Pirelli Corsa R Compound Tires]
BMW 1M w/ 332 PS: 1:43.31
- Messages
- 8,624
^That picture with the broken windows is hilarious. Maybe a playful ribbing for Lexus's broken champagne glass commercial. 
Some commentary by Chris Harris via Twitter.
"Aug 29
Trying to write a story in a hotel room at the 'Ring and every 5 mins an LFA yelps away from the roundabout underneath. Most distracting...
.....but, unquestionably, my favourite road car engine sound.
LFA is just stunning. Rear-mounted rads for front engined V10. Massive intakes
Naked LFA is packaging masterpiece.
Aug 30
LFA obsession just won't subside: immaculate water-bottle packaging! (Previously posted by Soup.)
Sep 1
One of the Gazoo drivers from N24 did the time. Think it was the Sport Auto 'short' lap. Best road car I've driven there.
Wing's a bit yobbish. I'd have standard car, upgrade engine and spare wheels/tyres for RE 070s. Now my WANT car."
Some commentary by Chris Harris via Twitter.
"Aug 29
Trying to write a story in a hotel room at the 'Ring and every 5 mins an LFA yelps away from the roundabout underneath. Most distracting...
.....but, unquestionably, my favourite road car engine sound.
LFA is just stunning. Rear-mounted rads for front engined V10. Massive intakes
Naked LFA is packaging masterpiece.
Aug 30
LFA obsession just won't subside: immaculate water-bottle packaging! (Previously posted by Soup.)
Sep 1
One of the Gazoo drivers from N24 did the time. Think it was the Sport Auto 'short' lap. Best road car I've driven there.
Wing's a bit yobbish. I'd have standard car, upgrade engine and spare wheels/tyres for RE 070s. Now my WANT car."
This was a supplemental column by Chris Harris from his LFA review in Evo last year, explaining why comparisons against cheaper cars are not only unnecessary, but why some are ridiculous (or should otherwise be taken with the same tongue-in-cheek manner in which they're given)
Similar threads
Lexus
Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation.
Founded in 1989, the Lexus brand is marketed in over 90 countries and territories worldwide
and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. Lexus is headquartered in Nagoya, Japan.
Its operational centers are in Brussels, Belgium, and Plano, Texas, United States.
Official website: Lexus
Official website: Lexus
