R3 MILLION SUPER LEXUS LFA SHOWN IN TOKYO

Lexus has unveiled the brand spanking new LFA supercar at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. If you’ve never associated Lexus with a supercar now is the time to start. Having heard the engine rev on a spy video I can tell you that it sounds almost like a Formula One car. Toyota CEO and great grandson of company founder Akio Toyoda is a great racing fan. One of his aims is to put his company on the map as far as performance cars are concerned, and the LFA is the first step towards that. Next will be the two-door coupe which is being co-developed with Subaru.

Now back to the excitement at hand. The LFA has spurned the current trend of using small, turbo engines and instead takes a naturally aspirated 4.8-litre V10 into its bosom. The aluminium/ magnesium/ titanium block makes a hectic 412kW (560hp) at a harrowing 8700rpm and 480Nm of torque at 6800rpm. A true screamer indeed! It all goes to the rear wheels via a 6-speed sequential gearbox. As a result Lexus claims a 0 – 100km/h time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 325km/h.

Running wheels are 20-inch size and things like a rear diffuser, a flexible rear wing and a flat underbody should ensure great handling on any track. Lexus is planning a more hardcore track-focused version for 2011.

I doubt we’ll see this car here in South Africa because firstly it is very limited at 500 units worldwide. Secondly Lexus SA hasn’t even brought us the smaller IS-F (based on the IS V8) so this is very much out of reach. Thirdly have a look at the suggested price and tell me how many people will pay that for a Lexus. No offence but they don’t exactly have a racing/sporty reputation in this country. That is their own doing in any case; I asked the previous President of Lexus SA why he was pitching the current IS range at grannies and he said he didn’t want the brand to have a boy racer/ bling image like in the US. There you go.

Suggested Lexus LFA pricing (2010)

US$375 000 (€250 720 / R2.7 million)