Autoblog

Lexus working on even hotter LFA II?

Noah Joseph — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:01:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Lexus, Rumormill

Lexus LFA Nürburgring package - Click above for high-res image gallery

Even amidst the disastrous situation on their island nation, the Japanese are showing no signs of slowing down. At least, not when it comes to its supercars. Honda was recently reported to be forging ahead with on-again, off-again plans to resurrect its NSX supercar, Nissan is hard at work on the new GT-R and now Toyota is said to be working on a new version of the Lexus LFA.

While the handle being used in the interim might suggest a completely new successor, rumor has it that an LFA II is being developed as a variant of the existing model. Following in the footsteps of the above-pictured Nürburgring package, Japan's Best Car says that the so-called LFA II is expected to push the performance envelope even further. Just what that will entail - or for that matter, if it will come to fruition at all - remains to be seen, but if there's any truth to the reports, we certainly applaud the company's spirit.

Lexus working on even hotter LFA II? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Lexus LFA delivered to UK

Chris Shunk — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Lexus, UK

Lexus LFA at the Goodwood Motor Circuit - Click above to watch the video after the jump

When it comes to the Lexus LFA, there's plenty to be excited about. There is the 552 horsepower V10 with a 9,500 rpm redline, the carbon fiber monocoque, the fantastic performance stats... we could go on, but we'd rather let the Brits take over.

Hit the jump to witness the first Lexus LFA delivered to our island ally. The greatest-ever Lexus made an appearance at the Supercar Sunday Breakfast Club at the Goodwood Motor Circuit, and it promptly led to a bit of drooling and gushing. The hot-to-trot LFA seduced the crowds with it's luxury and gadgetry, but it won our hearts when we heard the Formula One-like engine as it roared to life.

Hit the jump to watch the video for yourself, but if you're a Ferrari fanboy, please don't ex-communicate the guy who said he'd trade in his Maranello masterpiece for an LFA. He may have simply gotten caught up in the moment...

Continue reading First Lexus LFA delivered to UK

First Lexus LFA delivered to UK originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 May 2011 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Lexus LFA launch control makes start lines disappear quickly

Jeff Glucker — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lexus

Lexus LFA displays serious control on launch - Click above to watch video after the jump

Today, it's almost impossible to buy a new supercar without launch control; the 2011 Lexus LFA is no exception. It might not be the fastest, with a zero-to-60 time of "only" 3.7 seconds, yet the LFA remains an impressive rubber-footed beast.

The LFA's V10 wails towards its 9,500 rpm fuel cutoff like an oni haunting whoever slides behind the wheel. The video posted after the jump focuses on the tachometer as a Lexus LFA bolts from a starting line with the launch control lending its assistance. The driver pushes the car all the way up to 260 km/h (around 163 mph) before letting up on the throttle. Click past the jump to launch into the clip.

[Source: Lexus Enthusiast]

Continue reading Video: Lexus LFA launch control makes start lines disappear quickly

Video: Lexus LFA launch control makes start lines disappear quickly originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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How Lexus ships the LFA - no peanuts required [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Lexus, Luxury

Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery

On January 21, Toyota played Show-n-Tell with the first Lexus LFAs to arrive in the U.S., inviting a representative from Club Lexus to witness the stylized drama of uncrating the $400,000 supercar. While we can't be certain, perhaps it was the King-Lear-esque howls and gnashing of teeth from the non-invited (our own form of stylized drama) that convinced Toyota to do it again. So we headed to the Fujitrans warehouse in Carson, California to watch the LFA star in its own kabuki performance. Minus the make-up.

Continue reading...

Gallery: Lexus LFA Uncrating

Continue reading How Lexus ships the LFA - no peanuts required [w/video]

How Lexus ships the LFA - no peanuts required [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Not Fair: Paris Hilton receives Lexus LFA for 30th birthday

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Lexus, Celebrities

2011 Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery

Jealousy is an unbecoming trait... but sometimes it's hard to ignore. You're going to have to work extra hard to bury those feelings after we tell you what Paris Hilton has apparently received for her 30th birthday.

A 2011 Lexus LFA.

Okay, just tilt your head back and breathe. Hilton's LFA still wears its factory yellow paint, though we wouldn't be surprised to see (and hear) it roaming the streets of LA in a shade of pink very soon. According to the Daily Mail, Hilton's 29-year-old boyfriend, entrepreneur Cy Waits, picked up the V10-powered Lexus two-door and surprised the heiress ahead of her birthday celebration.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA

Photos copyright (C)2011 Damon Lavrinc/AOL

[Source: Daily Mail]

Not Fair: Paris Hilton receives Lexus LFA for 30th birthday originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus LFA launch control details revealed

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Lexus

2011 Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery

As any drag racer will tell you, achieving the perfect launch is something of an art form. Or maybe it's closer to a religion to the people constantly struggling to find exactly the right RPM, clutch technique and number of prayers to the God of the Quarter Mile.

Naturally, having a computer take all the guesswork out of the process (cheating? Not if everyone else is doing it... and they are) makes everything more than a little bit easier. The Lexus LFA is the latest supercar to get the technology here in the States. But how does it work?

Glad you asked. Lexus' carbon fiber wonder-mobile is finally hitting the streets, and its handy-dandy owner's manual outlines the launch controll process rather nicely. Nicely, but not exactly easily... as you might expect from a factory-installed technology that is known to be rather stressful on drivetrain components. See what we mean after the break.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA

Photos copyright (C)2009 Damon Lavrinc / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Lexus Enthusiast]

Continue reading Lexus LFA launch control details revealed

Lexus LFA launch control details revealed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Motor Trend pits Lexus LFA against Nissan GT-R in epic drag race

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Mon, 10 May 2010 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lexus, Nissan

Lexus LFA versus Nissan GT-R - Click above to watch the video after the break

Japan is back in the supercar race in a major way following the introduction last year of the Nissan GT-R and the addition of the Lexus LFA for the 2011 model year. The question now is this: If the $85,000 GT-R is Godzilla, then what in the world (Or perhaps it's otherworldly? Read our review and decide for yourself.) is the nearly $400,000 (or more) Lexus?

Clearly, with a price gap that large, the two automakers don't necessarily count the opposing product as direct competition for its own... but that doesn't mean we aren't keenly interested in seeing how the two Japanese performance behemoths stack up when the light turns green. Got your interest piqued?

Fortunately for us, Motor Trend managed to procure a brand-new Lexus LFA for testing just long enough to line it up against the magazine's own long-term Nissan GT-R for an impromptu drag race. What happened? Well, the Lexus unleashed all 552 of its horsepower (at 8,700 RPM) and 354 pound-feet of torque (at 6,800 RPM) to its rear wheels and the Nissan used its all-wheel drive system to its advantage.

And? Click past the break to find out how the rest of the story unfolds. Oh, and as cool as this grudge match may be, we still want to see what happens between the two warriors after a few laps on a proper race track. Thanks to all who sent this in!

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Motor Trend pits Lexus LFA against Nissan GT-R in epic drag race

Video: Motor Trend pits Lexus LFA against Nissan GT-R in epic drag race originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 May 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: EVO takes Lexus LFA on public roads, gets jiggy with it

Steven J. Ewing — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lexus

EVO tackles the Lexus LFA on public roads - Click above to watch video after the jump

Sure, we've already had the chance to flog the new Lexus LFA on the track, but we haven't had the opportunity to spend time with Lexus's new supercar on public roads. The folks at EVO have that covered, though, and as we would imagine, the LFA is quite a different machine when it isn't being driven at ten-tenths.

So, what does EVO think of the Lexus LFA in an everyday driving environment? Hit the jump to watch the video and find out.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA

[Source: EVO]

Continue reading Video: EVO takes Lexus LFA on public roads, gets jiggy with it

Video: EVO takes Lexus LFA on public roads, gets jiggy with it originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Enzo Redux: Lexus LFA buyers will be hand-picked by Lexus

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Lexus, Luxury

Lexus LF-A - Click above for high-res image gallery

When will the stateside ignominy end when it comes to the Lexus LFA? Japanese buyers have already spoken for that country's entire allotment. Even though Continental European buyers must travel to England to procure the car, the details are all in place. Notice that in the previous two sentences we used the word "buyers." Cutthroat American capitalists will only be able to lease the creased-like-origami coupe that costs $375,000 straight up, and they'll need to be hand-picked by Lexus for the honor.

According to the Wall Street Journal, "People selected to purchase the car will be based on factors such as the other cars they own, where they live, and how often and where they drive." This is Lexus' halo car, and they want that halo to shine so bright you're blinded by the light. Said the manager of Lexus college, "We want it to be seen on the right roads, in front of the right restaurants and not just being enjoyed by one individual in their private garage."

When Ferrari launched the Enzo, it chose who could buy the car. But that was Ferrari, and these were buyers, and they knew that if they wanted a crack at the Enzo's successor they'd better not throw their Enzo on eBay Motors that night. On the one hand we feel the aforementioned ignominy at the way Americans are being treated in the LF-A procurement process, but that's outdone by our interest in and respect for the experiment: Lexus says this car is a special instrument created for driving and are looking for those who will treat it as such. We can't wait to see how it turns out.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA

[Source: Wall Street Journal]

Enzo Redux: Lexus LFA buyers will be hand-picked by Lexus originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Jan 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: All 165 Lexus LFA supercars earmarked for Japan already spoken for

Noah Joseph — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:27:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Coupe, Performance, Japan, Lexus

Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery

We knew the new Lexus LFA was fast, but we didn't know just how fast until reports came in of the rapid rate at which wealthy Japanese customers are snapping it up. In the three months since the final car was unveiled, all 165 examples of the Toyota division's supercar have reportedly been spoken for.

Whereas in North America, the allotment of LFAs will be leased in order to counter speculation, in Japan (as in Europe), buyers will be able to buy their super-Lexi outright, at a price of 37,500,000 yen (~$410k USD) apiece. If the remaining 335 examples destined for markets abroad go as quickly as Japan's allotment, we could be looking at one of the fastest cars ever made - in one sense or another.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA

[Source: Response via Le Blog Auto]

Report: All 165 Lexus LFA supercars earmarked for Japan already spoken for originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Top Gear takes on the Lexus LFA

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:58:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lexus, Luxury

Click above to view the video after the jump

If you haven't downloaded last night's Top Gear through some nefarious means, you missed one of the few palatable car reviews the trio has done this season. In addition to taking the BMW X6 globe-trotting and putting the all-new, 325-hp Vauxhall Insignia VXR though its paces, Hammond track tested the Lexus LFA in a segment that brought out our inner nine-year-old.

Get past the flashy graphics and obligatory power slides, and the TG grew came away with a similar stance on Lexus' first foray in the world of supercars as us - impressed and perplexed. With more power and just as much tech as a Nissan GT-R and 0-60 time and a raison d'être on par with the Ferrari 599 GTB, it's the price (and a lack of heritage) that leaves Clarkson and Hammond reeling. Make the jump for both the review and the damp Power Lap, and as always, you can get the full episode in high-def glory over at FinalGear.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading Video: Top Gear takes on the Lexus LFA

Video: Top Gear takes on the Lexus LFA originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus LFA to be sold in Europe through one dealership

Noah Joseph — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:32:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, Europe, Lexus, UK

Lexus LFA at Lexus Park Lane - Click above for high-res image gallery

We're not the vindictive types here at Autoblog, but we can appreciate some measure of poetic justice. After all, how many lustworthy European supercars were made available over the decades to any European buyer with enough cash on hand, but those same cars were scarcely available on this side of the Pond? The Old Continent practically had the market cornered. But what goes around comes around, and in this case rather quickly, as Lexus has announced that its new groundbreaking LFA will be available in Europe, but only from one dealership. And that one location isn't even on the continent. It's in England.

London's Lexus Park Lane has been appointed as the sole sales location for the LFA in all of Europe. So any buyer from Monte Carlo to Oslo looking to get his or her hands on one is going to have to head here. A demonstration car has already arrived at the Park Lane showroom, and the dealership has appointed a dedicated "personal liaison manager" to handle all LFA sales.

The one part where potential European customers have us beat is that, unlike North American clients who'll have to lease their LFA, across the Atlantic customers can actually buy their example outright. Prospective customers can begin registering their interest now, orders will begin in the spring and deliveries will commence in 2011 and continue through 2013 until all 500 examples have been sold. Follow the jump for the full press release and check out the images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Lexus LFA at Lexus Park Lane

[Source: Lexus]

Continue reading Lexus LFA to be sold in Europe through one dealership

Lexus LFA to be sold in Europe through one dealership originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 09:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Justin Bell shows off Lexus LFA in Jay Leno's Garage

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:56:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lexus

2011 Lexus LFA at California Speedway - Click above to view the video after the jump

The lease-only 2011 Lexus LFA supercar has been getting a lot of exposure lately. We had a chance to drive it a few weeks ago and just showed you some pics of the matte black car when it showed up at Cars & Coffee in Irvine this Saturday, but now we have something even better. LeMans-winner and Jay Leno Show racing coach, Justin Bell, heads out onto Fontana's California Speedway with this very same LFA, getting some instruction himself from fellow racer Scott Pruett before taking the better seat for a lap.

The segment was shot for the latest episode of Jay Leno's Garage, the Jay Leno webshow that highlights a different car every week, sometimes with Jay driving and sometimes with Justin doing the heavy lifting. Follow the jump to see the video for yourself and be sure to check out Jay's Garage regularly if you don't already. Listening to this thing rip up to 9,000 RPM is worth the nine-minute investment of your time, trust us. Thanks for the tip Gabriel!

[Source: Jay Leno's Garage]

Continue reading VIDEO: Justin Bell shows off Lexus LFA in Jay Leno's Garage

VIDEO: Justin Bell shows off Lexus LFA in Jay Leno's Garage originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Cars & Coffee: Lexus LFA shows up ahead of LA Auto Show

Frank Filipponio — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:03:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Lexus

2011 Lexus LFA at Cars & Coffee - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Lexus LFA supercar might not be in dealerships for another year or more, but the two prototypes are getting quite a workout. After driving the car in Miami, we heard the white one was shipped off to Europe while the black one took up residence in its new home: a trailer. The car has made a few appearances around the country, most recently at SEMA and a private showing in the Los Angeles area. Next stop on the LFA tour appears to be the LA Auto Show, but apparently it couldn't stand to be cooped up too long.

Along with a handful of other Lexus show cars, it showed up at our favorite Saturday morning car meet. The handler fired it up several times so the crowd could marvel at that V10 shriek. Reactions were mixed, mainly where price was concerned. We heard more than one person say that if it had a Supra badge and sub-$100K pricetag, it would be a killer. At four times that price, the Lexus badge just doesn't seem to win as many people over. One thing almost everyone loved was that changeable display with the sliding center gauge.

Gallery: 2011 Lexus LFA at Cars & Coffee

Cars & Coffee: Lexus LFA shows up ahead of LA Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA is wicked and this way comes

Damon Lavrinc — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Lexus, Toyota, First Drives

2011 Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's taken nearly four days to wrap my head around the 2011 Lexus LFA, and if I'm honest, I'm still not halfway there. The combination of a decade-long gestation, a half dozen prototypes comprised of two different materials, a high displacement V10 that cuts fuel at 9,500 RPM and a $375,000 price tag has left me incapacitated and trembling in a caffeine and nicotine-fueled fetal position for the better part of a week. I can't make heads nor tails of Lexus' first foray into supercardom, simply because nothing exists in the four-wheeled world to put it into perspective. Judging by your comments, I'm not alone.

There's more to this story than driving impressions and photos.

It's a front-engine GT, but its MSRP means it doesn't compete with the Ferrari 599. It's a technological tour de force nearly on par with the Bugatti Veyron, but its 202 MPH top speed doesn't come close to the V-max of Ferdinand Piech's quad-turbo masterpiece. It's lithe and nimble, but lacks the directness and tactility of the Lotus Elise. Its 3.7-second zero-to-60 time falls short of the GT-R, and it can't come close to the Nissan's point-to-point brutality. There's simply no frame of reference to apply, which begs the question: Why? Why has Lexus invested hundreds of million of dollars, ran a dozen races and developed nearly every single component in-house to build a scant 500 LFAs and offer them to the world's elite?

It's a mystery wrapped in an enigma coated in carbon fiber. And there's obviously more to this story than simply driving impressions and photos. So after last week's barrage of LFA news, it's time to take a step back... then get stuck right back in.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA is wicked and this way comes

First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA is wicked and this way comes originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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VIDEO: Lexus LFA hotlap at Homestead-Miami Speedway

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:55:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Lexus, Luxury

Click above to view the videos after the jump

Hiromu Naruse is Toyota Motor Company's "master test driver." He's the man responsible for honing our favorite ToMoCo sports cars - from the MR2 to the Supra - and he's one of four drivers that ran the 24 Hours of Nürburgring (along with several other races) in two Lexus LFA prototypes, joining Toyota's president, Akio Toyoda in the #14 car. Yesterday, he became our personal chauffer around the Homestead-Miami Speedway.

The only problem: the batteries died on our GoPro camera. Thankfully, 0-60's helmsman Brian Scotto had his own minicam and handed it over when it was our turn to get a few hot laps from the master. After the jump you'll find two videos: one mounted on the inside of the windshield (the suction cup isn't rated over 150 MPH, and we hit 157 MPH on the oval) and another shot by Scotto's iPhone as Naruse-san delicately snaked the Lexus LFA around the Speedway. 3... 2... 1... jump.

Continue reading VIDEO: Lexus LFA hotlap at Homestead-Miami Speedway

VIDEO: Lexus LFA hotlap at Homestead-Miami Speedway originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus may offer decontented, track-focused LFA

Damon Lavrinc — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Lexus

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.

Lexus may offer decontented, track-focused LFA originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Lexus LFA may cost $375k, but the paper one is free

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Japan, Lexus, Toys/Games

Many people are into model cars. And... origami. Tangrams, too - which are sort of a two-dimensional, reusable form of origami. What are we on about here, why are we discussing folding paper and models? Funny you should ask. See, the all new Lexus LFA went ahead and got revealed the other day and initial reaction (at least around the Autoblog virtual office) has been pretty negative - negative towards a certain dude name Damon Lavrinc who gets to jet off to Miami and drive the latest Japanese ubercar and it's 560-hp, 4.8-liter V10 that has to propel just 3,263 pounds. Jerk.

But fear not, because even if we don't get to drive the mightiest ever Lexus (and Lord knows at $375,000 we'll never be able to afford one), we can still have one, in a sense. As it turns out, an incredibly loose sense. But yes, if you click this here link, you will find a website that lets you print out a LFA pattern, and with a coupe quick folds you too can have your very own (paper) Lexus LFA. The question then becomes, how good is your printer? OK, we've got to go now, our planet needs us. Thanks to Will for the tip!

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: 2011 Lexus LFA

[Source: Lexus LFA Wiki]

The Lexus LFA may cost $375k, but the paper one is free originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009: Cool As Ice: Japanese architect builds full-size transparent Lexus LFA

Drew Phillips — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Tokyo Motor Show, Lexus, Design/Style

Transparent Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery

Next to the Lexus LFA display at this week's Tokyo Motor Show is a separate room displaying brand-themed art. At first, we didn't bother going in, but we went back here on day two, and we're sure glad we did.

Inside, we found this amazing full-size transparent sculpture of Lexus' new $375,000 LFA supercar that was constructed by Scu Fujimoto, a noted Japanese architect. The sculpture was first displayed at the Milan Design Week earlier this year and is simply stunning to look at. What's most impressive is that details like the seats, instrument panel, engine, suspension, and transaxle can all be seen.

According to Lexus, the sculpture is constructed from transparent acrylic boards that have been sanded and polished. You can learn more about this unique piece of automotive art at Lexus' L-Finesse web site, but make sure to check out its stunning icy hotness in our high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Transparent Lexus LFA

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: 2011 Lexus LFA

Tokyo 2009: Cool As Ice: Japanese architect builds full-size transparent Lexus LFA originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009: Lexus reveals $375,000 LFA supercar...finally [w/VIDEO]

Drew Phillips — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:12:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Tokyo Motor Show, Lexus

2011 Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery

It seems like the Lexus LFA has been around forever. In reality, the first concept version was unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in 2005, but that's a long time in the automotive world. Additional concepts followed in 2007 and 2008, and the on-off rumors of a production version haven't help. Nevertheless, the production version of the LFA is finally here at the Tokyo Motor Show, and it is glorious. All of which makes it harder to stomach that the car shown here isn't expected to reach customer garages until early 2011.

The specifications of the new rear-drive Lexus supercar are impressive enough: a 4.8-liter V10 with 560 ps (552 bhp), 354 lb-ft torque, a zingy 9,000 rpm redline, six-speed sequential gearbox, 0-62 mph in 3.7 seconds, and a top speed of 202 mph. It looks amazing too, both in pictures and in person.

Of course, we can't help but make comparisons to the current reigning Japanese supercar, the Nissan GT-R. At just 3,263 pounds, the LFA easily has a better power-to-weight ratio, but that hasn't seemed to stop the all-wheel drive juggernaut before. Then there is the small matter of cost to consider. Unlike the GT-R, which is considered a performance bargain, the LFA will be exclusive - and costly. Only 500 units will be produced at a cost of...drum roll please....$375,000. Despite the colossal price tag, we hear that Lexus expects to take a loss on each one.

Will the LFA be worth the high cost? We should be able to tell you soon, as our man Damon Lavrinc will be getting some time behind the wheel of a prototype later this week. Until then, you can check out some amazing video of the LFA after the jump and live photos in the high-res galleries below.

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: 2011 Lexus LFA

Gallery: Lexus LFA

Continue reading Tokyo 2009: Lexus reveals $375,000 LFA supercar...finally [w/VIDEO]

Tokyo 2009: Lexus reveals $375,000 LFA supercar...finally [w/VIDEO] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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