Lexus LF-A dons new livery ahead of Nürburgring 24-hour race
Click above for a hi-res gallery of the Lexus LF-A Nürburgring 24 racer
This time last year, the Lexus LF-A that competed in the ADAC Nürburgring 24 wore a decidedly un-glamorous "test-mule matte black" finish. This year, Toyota's entering two of its ten-cylinder supercars in the race, and as we inch closer to the Lexus LF-A's eventual production debut, it would seem that the automaker is looking to give the race-trimmed version a more formalized livery -- white up front, with a brush-stroke transition to satin black in the rear. Probably a good idea, seeing as Toyota's new head honcho, Akio Toyoda, is on one of the driver teams. Can't have the big boss rolling like every other test engineer who laps the 'Ring with this monster.
The production headlamp shape is cleverly hidden, though if you look closely, you can see the familial, knife-shaped panels that outline the spots where the production lenses will reside. And while there's a lower intake above the racer's front splitter, there's no grillework to speak of on the actual nose itself -- just a mail-slot-sized opening above the bumper.
It'll be interesting to see how hard Toyota pushes the LF-As this weekend. Given that the new corporate chieftan is one of the wheelmen, and that Toyota's obviously going for a much more "official" presence at this year's race, one wonders whether they're actually going to try and win it outright. A lot can happen during these 24-hour events, so there are no guarantees, but we have a feeling the web stream's going to be a worthwhile watch. And lord knows the fans in attendance are in for an aural delight as the Lexus supercoupes storm down the track.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Lucas 5:02PM (5/20/2009)
Congrats on bringing your brand of excitement to an unobtainable super-car, Toyota .
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JDM Life 6:37PM (5/20/2009)
Patience young grasshopper.
The best things take time.
Adis 7:54PM (5/20/2009)
Out come all the Lexus haters... get over it.... you people say the same thing... on any Toyota/Lexus blog entry.
I think this car is amazing and NOT boring. Its you Lexus/Toyota haters who have nothing else to say, but just boring.... again, GET OVER IT.
hoosker_doo 5:06PM (5/20/2009)
I don't know why but this car looks boring. Granted I've only seen the spy pictures of it on the Nürburgring and the pics from this post, but still something about it seems boring. The shape? I can't put my finger on it. Guess I just need to see it w/o war-paint.
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Aki 5:12PM (5/20/2009)
I photochopped it to get rid of the headlight cover, and yeah, it does look rather dull up front. There's just nothing about the car that pops imo. The front of the GT-R is kinda ugly, but at least it's unique. This looks like a modernized Supra, which isn't enough imo if you're shooting for a supercar/exotic.
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dwightB 7:49PM (5/20/2009)
Are you talking about THIS race version, which looks similar to the very first concept from 2005
http://seriouswheels.com/pics-2005/2005-Lexus-LF-A-Concept-F-Studio-1024x768.jpg
Or the TWO other street versions of the front end that came two...
http://seriouswheels.com/pics-2007/2007-Lexus-LF-A-Sports-Car-Concept-Front-1024x768.jpg
and three years later...
http://seriouswheels.com/pics-2008/klm/2008-Lexus-LF-A-Roadster-Concept-Front-1280x960.jpg
...that are anything but "normal"?
Aki 7:54PM (5/20/2009)
The only thing radical about the bottom two is that tear-looking thing for the headlight--and if you notice the production version doesn't have that at all. Otherwise yes, they're not terribly exciting designs. The top one looks very generic.
ExqueezeMe! 5:13PM (5/20/2009)
Toyota = Painfully Average
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Terry 5:16PM (5/20/2009)
Toyoda, executive of a large car company AND race car driver? This guy is living my dream.......
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zamafir 5:25PM (5/20/2009)
Yup, great for him, bad for lexus. Well if they actually wanted to place something significant. Which they don't. Which further begs the question of why you'd bring a non production car to a race with no hopes of producing it and now no hopes of winning. At least Porsche gave us the Carrera GT when they canceled their LeMans ambitions. Whatever, he'll enjoy it im sure.
hashiryu 5:55PM (5/20/2009)
1- They are entering 2 cars
2- Who knows how well he drives?
zamafir 6:33PM (5/20/2009)
1. So if they entered 1 last year and placed dozens of positions below golfs and diesel 1 series BMWs then your logic is what, maybe 50th this year behind just 4 golfs?
2. I don't need to know how well he drives, i know he's not a professional multi (current) title holding driver, anyone who follows ANY sort of motor sports should be able to deduce he won't be providing TK levels of performance.
Do you watch any of the European races? at all? Or are you just saying what you're saying because you're a Toyota fan? If it is the former feel free to expound if it's the latter no need.
Metar 6:49PM (5/20/2009)
IIRC, they ran into some troubles at the last race and spent hours in the pits repairing... Don't remember why, though.
zamafir 8:15PM (5/20/2009)
... they crashed. before the race started. driver wasn't experienced with night driving. lots of repairs needed. car placed 120th overall. though i'm sure, this time, without a professional factory race driver, toyota's chances will be much better.
.>
right.
TobyJC 10:23PM (5/20/2009)
@zamafir
You said it yourself, the car was damaged even before the race started. Makes it hard to do well in a race eh?
Not only will they have cars that aren't damaged, they have 2 entries AND an improved vehicle from last year.
you're telling me they won't do better this year?
hashiryu 12:22AM (5/21/2009)
Zamfir, it is an endurance race. Each team of drivers have 3 drivers. The Nur 24 is not that big of a race that you will hear drivers like Mika Hakkinen and other former greats come out to play.
I do watch euro racing..... Don't watch anything from America or Japan (though I vaguely follow Super GT and GrandAm).
zamafir 1:24AM (5/21/2009)
"You said it yourself, the car was damaged even before the race started. Makes it hard to do well in a race eh?"
Yes it does, it also speaks to the qualifications of the teams drivers.
nuggetsmcduggets 5:21PM (5/20/2009)
Only Lexus could manage to make a full-fledged racing machine look so bland. Whoever designs these uninspired glops of mediocrity needs to be let go immediately.
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JDM Life 6:39PM (5/20/2009)
Are you serious? This thing is fully covered and this body is not the final thing.
Have you not seen pics of the LF-A? Sex on wheel.
nuggetsmcduggets 7:26PM (5/20/2009)
Sex on wheel? Maybe, but if anything it's the kind of sex unhappily married couples have after 44 years of soul-crushing, time-flies-when-your-stuck-in-a-routine matrimony. I have seen it in the flesh, sans livery, and its somehow even more depressing. So no, I completely disagree with you.