Lexus may offer decontented, track-focused LFA
We're still trying to wrap our heads around yesterday's drive of the Lexus LFA, but before we give up the goods on Toyota's first V10-powered hypercar (check back on Monday), we cornered Paul Williamsen, the National Manager of Lexus College, about ToMoCo's plans to offer a harder, track-focused LFA.
In the last few years of development, Lexus considered building several more LFAs to be used in a one-make spec series to pit wealthy privateers against each other, further accentuating the LFA's extensive motorsport involvement. That plan fell by the wayside when Toyota decided to limit production to just 500 units.
However, Lexus is actively considering offering owners the option to purchase a decontented LFA, stripped of its luxurious, tech-laden interior and fitted with more track oriented features to be used as a weekend racer. A final decision hasn't been made yet, but Williamsen was clear that these hardened LFAs would have to be created out of the current allocation, as Lexus is intent on keeping production to a "hard" 500 units. Considering that nearly all the components fitted to the LFA were derived from prototypes that ran at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring and other events (the suspension remains adjustable for corner balancing and nearly all the components on the race cars were serialed production pieces), it wouldn't take much to turn the LFA into a tried-and-true racer with a few thoughtful, minimal mods.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Jo Schmoe 1:19PM (10/23/2009)
@audifreak - Again, you bringing up your job as a pathetic salesman does nothing for your argument, especially with your obvious and overly zealous preference towards VW's.
Why do you think of the 500 LFA produced, 200 will be going to Japan? It's called, brand loyalty. Sure, Lexus sells more cars in the US, but that has more to do with the marketing success of Lexus than brand loyalty. My point is, there will be some, maybe not a lot, of rich people out there who (a) want something rare and different, ie. LFA, or (2) have a preference towards an Asian manufacturer, ie. Japanese CEO's.
More importantly, neither you or I have to worry about if they will sell any LFA's. Chances are that they will and even if they don't, they probably could care less because that was not the main goal of the LFA, unlike other super/hypercars. To reiterate, the LFA's purpose was to improve the image of Lexus and Toyota.
Fatima 12:35PM (10/23/2009)
LFA is way overpriced. It should be in the $110,000-$150,000 range. For $370,000 I'd much rather have a Ferrari or Lambo than a Lexus.
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Jo Schmoe 12:48PM (10/23/2009)
Welcome to old news (oxymoron). You sort of missed this boat a few days ago. Now quit complaining because you cannot afford a souped up Civic anyways.
Ben 1:45PM (10/23/2009)
You should *totally* go buy a Ferrari or Lambo instead. Then, post a pic here. We'll wait.
marzbite 3:42PM (10/24/2009)
the comments in this post are irrelevant, it is very obvious this car is expensive and most people willing to spend 300k on a car would rather have something with more class/background (lambo. ferrari, etc), I think this car is great and I prefer toyota building this car and selling it for 1 million bux than toyota not building it at all, most people that comment in this blog drive average cars ( i myself have a cheap ass R32 mkV) and I would never be able to afford anything pass the 40k price, so kudos to toyota for have the balls to building it.
Farris 12:38PM (10/23/2009)
If they offer a lightweight track prepped version, would it be more expensive or less? It seems like it should be less due to not having all the techno wizardry in there, but a lot of manufacturer's lightweight track cars are more expensive than the street prepped ones.
With people focusing so hard on the price of the LFA, Toyota has to be really careful with what they do with it price-wise, IMHO.
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lionel.vargas 12:42PM (10/23/2009)
Why should they? The people this car is marketed for are not the ones here on AB arguing about the price.
Sollord 12:44PM (10/23/2009)
You must be new here I take it. An automaker charging less for a stripped interior... What will they think of next
zamafir 12:50PM (10/23/2009)
@lionel.vargas - please, please clue us all in, WHO is this car marketed at. Seriously. Who. I've yet to hear from toyota who they intend to sell these too, I'd love to know. I'm totally sincere, not facetious, what is the target audience, what is the intended makeup of a sincere prospective customer for this car.
Redline 1:03PM (10/23/2009)
@ Sollord, so by your logic the 430 Scuderia should be cheaper than the normal 430? Same for the Gallardo Superleggera? Want more examples?
zamafir 1:39PM (10/23/2009)
@Redline - OOOH OOH ZONDA R! ZONDA R!
Yeah, let's keep kicking him while he's down.
2004m3driver 1:46PM (10/23/2009)
@ Zamafir
Its marketed to the people who want things that are different. Eccentric rich people. We all know there are a ton of those around.
I would buy one of these if I was a car collector.
anonymous j 2:12PM (10/23/2009)
zamafir
this car is marketed towards people who can afford it. plain and simple. otherwise not you and yes not me either.
zamafir 4:21PM (10/23/2009)
I know, replies like that are easy and quite on point. but seriously. Who. When the Phantom came out, BMW had a clear Idea who would purchase it, and even outlined that specific buyer several times. When the R8 came out, VAG had a clear idea who would purchase it, and even outlined that specific sort of buyer several times. The list goes on. With the release each car not destined for the middle class a bit of verbiage emerges defining who the carmaker is intending to purchase their car. So far 'quirky rich people' doesn't sound that compelling.
The UAE comment sounds about the most realistic so far.
jonathan.chung1 4:42PM (10/23/2009)
@ Redline.
I have to reconcile this.
Sollord's comment was satirizing the original question. "What will they think of next..." does not say what many seem to have perceived it to. He does not mean it to proclaim that "He who asked the question must be new because, obviously, a stripped car would be cheaper."
Rather, Sollord seems to be poking fun at the ridiculousness of even the very notion of saying they'd charge less for a bare car. That only a clod would doubt for a second the tendency of manufacturers to charge more for a hollowed-out car.
Jim 12:40PM (10/23/2009)
It will sell because it's $400,000 and there will be only 500 made, so rich idiots will buy them so they can impress other rich idiots.
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TonyInMI 1:18PM (10/23/2009)
That says it all.
My_SS_RX8 1:25PM (10/23/2009)
i think jimmy is sort of poor.....and anyone who afford more than he can, is a rich idiot.
jimmy isn't a believer in that people are entitled to spend their own money as they wish.....without being subjected to jimmies judgement that they must be an idiot, because jimmy says so!!!
Shamdiddly 1:36PM (10/23/2009)
I'm not poor and won't come close to owning one of these cars. Jim has some of the customer base pegged; they will buy it just to own a bit of exclusivity.
Anyone wanna bet on how long it takes one of these to show up in the U.A.E. chrome/gold/platinum/unobtainium plated?
MixiM 1:37PM (10/23/2009)
The things we have heard to now have pointed to that this is one of the best driver cars ever... so maybe someone cashing out for this car is someone that knows what he wants and doesn't care for the brand. I mean, why is this car less OK to buy than a koenigsegg or the veyron?