Click above for a high-res gallery of the race-prepped Lexus LF-A
With the recent spate of spy shots and the announcement that Lexus would be would be campaigning the LF-A at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring race, it was just a matter of time before we were afforded the opportunity to see the Lexus supercar in action. The short video after the jump gives us a couple fly-bys of the LF-A blowing down a straight expanse of tarmac and ends with the camo'd mule pulling into the pits with a few squeaks from the race-ready brakes. The sound of the 500-hp, 5.0-liter V10 shouldn't be missed, so hit the jump for the video.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
samgross144 @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:05PM
That is pure, unadulterated power. I wish it would sound like that in production.....but it won't. How sad.
Franz @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:18PM
True. Nothing quite like the sound of a high strung quad cam V10.
hashiryu @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:19PM
The production car mules sound pretty much identical, why wouldn't it?
Sam Gross @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:03PM
Because this isn't a production mule. It's a racing version being prepped for this years' 24 hours of Le Mans. It's got a different exhaust, wing, transmission, brakes, and a roll-cage. Plus, if you watch the very end of the video, you can hear the brakes squealing like crazy. that's a big tip-off that it's not a street car.
hashiryu @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:12PM
Again I stress, the production car mule sounds IDENTICAL!
hashiryu @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:12PM
Except for the squealing brakes ... lol
Sam Gross @ Apr 22nd 2008 10:36PM
Yet, again, I stress that this is not a production mule.It IS a racer based on the production mule. The actual car will not have that massive wing, nor the brakes, nor the exhaust, etc. It's not the same as a mule.
naggs @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:31PM
yeah, there was a video a few months back that had sound of the production mule lappin the n ring. sounded a lot like this one.
after all, the whole purpose of this exercise is to make sure the production car is as high performance as possible, it makes sense to keep the racing version as close as possible to that car.
Richard @ Apr 22nd 2008 11:00PM
Can we put this to rest? Here is the pre-24-endurance-racing version w/ retractable wing... it sounds just as good or better than the new race version video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ShrOWznZbns&feature=related
3seriesisking @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:05PM
I'm beginning to like this thing..
John R @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:16PM
Me too. This thing sounds like a banshee. I just wish Toyota would have come up with a new coupe to run with the Z first. How many of us can afford a $170k automobile?
iCameiSawiConquered @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:07PM
The car looks absolutely beautiful....except for those tacky tri-exhaust pipes or whatever you want to call that. That really spoils the rear...
hashiryu @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:20PM
Looks are subjective, I happen to think it is somewhat unique and very good looking.
It has a purpose though. Due to the firing order of a V10, different sections open at different levels of throttle/engine revolutions.
JD @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:33PM
What? A V10 needs 3 exhausts, huh? I think not. Care to clarify that a bit, hashiryu?
And to answer your other question, it won't sound like that in street form because this one is a race car.
That said, the three exhaust tip thing is strange, and I think ugly. Of course, the quad tips on the IS-F aren't any better, so pick your poison, I suppose.
zamafir @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:03PM
@JD. Ever seen an F40 GT?
JD @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:21PM
zamafir- an F40 has 3 exhaust tips, regardless of whether it's a street version or the GT version. And it's also a Turbocharged V8. It looks fine on the F40 because they're just exhaust pipes- they weren't trying to make it a style element. Maybe I miss your point?
hashiryu @ Apr 22nd 2008 5:30PM
@JD
I said they were purposeful, not necessary
MikeW @ Apr 22nd 2008 8:52PM
Wasn't the issue of the triple exhaust pipes settled?
This is supposed to be a 'Lexus', so even firing V10, all the exhaust comes out the common pipe.
and the variable backpressure exhaust (the other two, one for each bank) opens up if you are greater than 1/2 maximum engine speed (4500) and greater than 1/2 throttle.
Zane @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:09PM
Sounds as if there's a race exhaust in there. Kreissieg powered perhaps?
White Goodman @ Apr 22nd 2008 4:24PM
Wow.... is that really a Lexus?!?! I feel kinda weird lusting after a Lexus.