Lexus LF-A snapped post-crash, more details revealed
by Damon Lavrinc on May 27th 2008 at 3:56PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lexus LF-A.
Toyota's campaign of the Lexus LF-A racing prototype at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring wasn't lacking for drama, with a serious crash that took place during the night-time qualifying session followed by some technical issues on race day. Details haven't been released as to what caused the crash, but the damage to the driver's side rear quarter panel was enough to cause the vehicle to limp back to the pits, where KGP spies snapped off 15 shots of the LF-A before it headed back to Toyota's 'Ring workshop.
The V10 nestled deep into the engine bay proves that Lexus is going for a front-midship layout for its first supercar, and judging by the extensive use of carbon fiber in the cracked body panels and underbody diffuser, keeping the LF-A as light as possible is a top priority. Despite the race-ready interior, KGP's shots show an office very similar to that found in the LF-A concepts we've seen at shows, with a massive central tunnel to house both the transmission and a substantial amount of the engine.
The following day, the LF-A got out to the starting grid, but after an hour of racing, smoke began pouring from the rear of the racer, diagnosed later as an oil leak. The pit crew worked feverishly over the ensuing two hours to get the LF-A back out onto the track to finish a total of 106 laps, with a fastest lap of 9:19.757 on lap 85, and placing 120th overall.
[Source: KGP Photography]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
ken_aisin 4:04PM (5/27/2008)
Nominated for: Second Most Hideous Design of 2008.... (The most hideous award goes to the BMW M1 Concept).
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zamafir 4:08PM (5/27/2008)
Seconded, now how long until we hear about toyota reliability? 2? 3 posts?
At least it didn't burn down ala the R8 V10 bi turbo :D
ken_aisin 4:21PM (5/27/2008)
Reliability is probably the only good thing about Toyota vehicles.
I always view Toyota cars as appliances like a dishwasher. You don't get emotionally attached to them like you would with a Ferrari or Porsche. You don't buy Toyota cars for their looks. You buy them simply because they get the job done, and because they last many years before they break down.
tekdemon 5:06PM (5/27/2008)
What does crashing have to do with reliability. Race cars crash, and the problems the next day were probably because of the crash.
Anyways, I'm sure Lexus will keep working at it until it's worth the $200K.
ENGINErd 5:28PM (5/27/2008)
@ tekdemon I think they were referring to the oil leak.
Also, the lap time is inconsequential since this car is obviously a race prepped car (cage, tires, shocks, Brakes, etc...) and not a production piece. And does the carbon bodied race car really show any proof that the road version will be carbon bodied?
Za 4:11AM (5/28/2008)
Ken Aisin, now that Hyundais are more reliable than Toyotas, I don't even think you can successfully make that argument any more. Toyota is pretty much midpack now in reliability, with ridiculous numbers of recalls, oil sludging, etc. The aura of contemporary Toyota reliability in North America is a lingering illusion. Lexus is still ridiculously good, though.
EJ25RUN 4:09PM (5/27/2008)
before anyone starts laughing at that lap time, realize that the Nurburgring 24 is run over both the northloop and grand prix circuit for a total of 15.7 miles worth of track.
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BigMcLargeHuge 4:26PM (5/27/2008)
Just by glancing at the average lap times each car was putting up, the LF-A looks like it might have made it into around 10th place had it not had engine troubles.
But 24-hour races are won and lost in the pits first, on the track second. And in that respect, Lexus lost.
http://adac.24h-rennen.de/en/live/database.html
zamafir 4:39PM (5/27/2008)
thanks for the link, jesus those siroccos are fast
mikomi 6:02PM (5/27/2008)
If you look at the average lap times for the LFA, those are some good numbers.
I agree, it certainly could have placed in the top 10 if it were not for the issues they had.
But crash bang boom, and the entire day is over in an instant.
why not the LS2LS7? 9:52PM (5/27/2008)
IF
That's a really big word.
ken_aisin 4:08PM (5/27/2008)
By the way, $200K for this piece of sh!t? Please don't even bother exporting it. To me, L-finesse means Lacks-finesse.
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Temple 7:34PM (5/27/2008)
Like you could afford it either way. . .
ken_aisin 8:24PM (5/27/2008)
If I get completely exempted by the IRS for 2 years, I would definitely have more than $200K to splash on toys.
But with $200K to splash on toys, I would rather get myself a Nissan GT-R and a Cruisers Yachts 300 CXI.
I actually wonder who's retarded enough to spend $200K on such a hideous looking car.
Mobius_1 5:16AM (5/29/2008)
I somehow hope that Murphy's Law redeems itself on you
ken_aisin 3:17PM (5/29/2008)
Murphy's Law doesn't apply to me at all. Good things always happen to me, and they always happen in the best possible ways.
Shawn 4:18PM (5/27/2008)
...somewhere a GTR is laughing
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Glenn 5:19PM (5/27/2008)
obviously not at the nur though. The gtr forgot to show up.
EJ25RUN 4:32PM (5/27/2008)
Well that GTR should be ashamed because it wasn't out there. A lap time at the ring is good for bragging rights. But actual competition in events like this is where a car gets its medals. 911 anyone?
To add, Nissan should have developed a version of the GTR to compete with other cars like this. No point in being able to talk about what you have, it time to put up or shut up for the GTR.
And don't anyone tell me about GT500, those are closer to prototypes than production cars.
Jordan 5:02PM (5/27/2008)
Along with a CTS-v, didn't the CTS-v do Nurburging in 8 minutes?