Lexus LF-A spy pics

By Matt Brogan | September 23rd, 2009

Spy photographers appear to have captured a near-ready production model of the Lexus LF-A during track testing in Europe. The car was caught almost completely undisguised on the ‘Ring.

These pictures show a model even more road ready than the last time it was spied in June. It now appears to have finalised bodywork, including front and rear bumpers, a lip spoiler, and possibly a rear diffuser. About the only thing covered up is the lighting. Previous spy shots suggest the light clusters to be LED strips at the back, and triangular shaped in front.

The car is rumored to feature a 4.8-litre V10 engine that produces upwards of 447kW. Weight will probably be kept low, with use of carbon fibre throughout the interior and parts of the exterior. The car appears to be using alloy wheels with five double-spokes.

First shown as a concept car at the NAIAS in 2005, the LF-A was also seen as a convertible in January 2008. Word on the street is that the production coupe will be on display at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Although previously, pundits have said the car will be released as a 2011 model. However, with the Nissan GT-R gaining such tremendous popularity, but Honda pulling the plug on the NSX, Toyota could capture both imagination and market share with a 2010 release for the Lexus LF-A.

Rob B

That. Looks. Horn.

(Heh .. anti-spam word was Toyota)
Jimmy James

Glorified Celica.

Lukaas

Glorified Celica?

More like an MR2 SW20 GT on Super ‘roids.

The LF-A looks incredibly Beasty!, I wonder if it’ll ever be available in Matte Black as shown hehe, always liked Matte paint on sports cars.

The mesh grille on the front bumper looks a bit tacky, Im hoping they have a less tacky version, probably horizontal vents.

The rear “mesh” hole type vents is also abit questionable…. hmmm. But it looks “ok”.

The SIDE profile is nice… but its very Lamborghini-like that its “bulky” as opposed to the new Itali 458 which is very svelte and finisses like.

Call it what ever… but this is Lexus’s Supercar so its going to be mentioned with the Exotics… and apparently they are targetting to BEAT the GTR in terms of performance…

I’m waiting for Toyota to finally announce their new sports flagship…. Supra-replacement. But I heard its delayed due to market downfall…. the Toybaru is still alive, but again delayed…. this LF-A, the Toybaru and potential next Supra…. it seems Toyota is slowly regaining their performance hunger…. the new president is obviously a HUGE performance car fan so its no surprise…

Lukaas

Oops..
Forgot this car is actually FR-mid engine mounted… not Mid-rear..

So Vanquish is closer….

but still believe that it has Lamborghini-type bulkiness…

Wheelnut®™

This thing isn’t even in the same class as an Aston Martin..

Given how long we have read articles about the LF-As future release as well as how often these “spy pics” have been released…. I am starting to think that the LF-A could end up the same as the Next Generation Supra –

Which has been on ice for the last decade and will most likely remain on ice as the Nissan GT-R has set such a high benchmark [in terms of performance etc] and is the car that the Supra [and the LF-A] will be compared to.. and Toyota are scared that they will come up short.

S

Toyota’s New President has confirmed that this vehicle is coming to the market. Lexus Australia has already confirmed that they are trying to bring a few of them here. What makes you think they won’t produce it after so much testing and time invested in the vehicle??? I don’t think it will come up short, it has a full carbon fibre chassis that will be one of the stiffest in production car history.
Wheelnut®™

Why? because Toyota did the same amount of research and development etc with what was meant to be the next Generation Supra – which is currently “on-ice”..The Supra has been “on-ice” ever since reports of the GT-R were released.. then when Nissan proved how good it was on the track Toyota went quiet on the idea

Therefore; even though [at this stage] Toyota have said that they will release the LF-A.. if a rival car company comes out with a new model between now and then; with similar features; which beats the LF-A [and costs less] I expect Toyota will put it on ice as well!
Lukaas

Wheelnut

If you actually GOOGLE this car, you’d see there is a White painted version… driven by journalists, who believe its pretty much “close” to production.

The feedback was.. it IS in Exotic car territory in terms of performance.

My favourite exotic the 599 GTB, apparently is a benchmark for this car’s performance also. As well as the Aston.

Funny though, I read somewhere, Lexus will price this near 500K…… and make it real exclusive… with that price you have no choice haha.

But a 250~300K price tag would be reasonable… not that it’d make a difference on whether I can afford it haha.

Wheelnut®™

The Toyota version of the car – which is designed by Toyota but being built by Subaru; is going to be a Japanese Market only car – whereas the Subaru version will be exported to the USA UK Europe and hopefully Oz [maybe as the new SV-X?]

toxic_horse

lol, if you can get a celica with a “4.8-litre V10 engine that produces upwards of 447kW” please point me in the right direction.

Robin Graves

Bound to be a great car, but those grilles on the rear look terrible. Hopefully they get some treatment before release. They look like cooling vents on the back of a TV or something.

Shak

I second that motion. If they can change those tacky mesh look things then this will be in GTR territory.
S

Those vents are actually required as the radiators are mounted at the back, giving the car near 50-50 weight distribution. Can’t wait for this to be released.

Dude

Will this thing ever make it to production?

Delusional

well the fact that you are seeing spy shots of it being tested, the likelihood of it heading into production is very high unless some unforeseen circumstances pop up.

Wheelnut®™

They did a similar “on-off-on” thing with the next generation Supra remember; and we are still waiting for it to be released.. so nothing is certain just yet.

The Realist

Wheelnut I’m sure Lexus will sell more than 427 – sorry 200 – of these.

Wheelnut®™

I wouldn’t be so sure about that when you consider that if/when it finally reaches Australia the price will most likely be on the far-side of $200k if not $300k which will put it up against the likes of Porsche and AMG Merc-Benz Coupes.. cars which the HSV W-427 was never compared to mainly because it was always going to be a Limited Edition Collectors Item.
SteveH

Wheelnut, I think the W427 is more of a special edition and not because you had to be a bit ‘special’ to buy one. They only made as many of them as they could sell, not the originally designated 427 or 200 or whatever it was.

On the Lexus, i wish they would just release this. I don’t think that the Lexus will look as good as any of the Italian supercars as the Japanese tend to design with function ahead of form whereas the Italians tend to be a bit the opposite.
Wheelnut®™

Steve H – HSV originally intended to build/sell 427 W427s and ended up selling approx 240 of them

However; when they built the VL Walkinshaw SS Group A they originally intended to build/sell 500 of them yet they ended up building 750 of them…. therefore they made as many VLs as they could sell didn’t they?

The fact is that unlike the Holden VL Vacationer for example which was a “Special Editions” with a mix of optional extras [at no extra].. the W-427s are individually numbered with a number unique features

Which means its easier to keep track of how many exist as overtime they will be written off.. I mean can you tell me how many VL Vactioners were made – and how many still exist?
The Realist

“I wouldn’t be so sure about that when you consider that if/when it finally reaches Australia the price will most likely be on the far-side of $200k if not $300k which will put it up against the likes of Porsche and AMG Merc-Benz Coupes..”

Regardless of views towards the “Lexus” brand, a great car will sell – Nissan GTR is a prime example.

“cars which the HSV W-427 was never compared to mainly because it was always going to be a Limited Edition Collectors Item.”

Wrong – if you read the majority of press releases and reviews the W200 was clearly aimed at the German super saloon brigade. Obviously the tactic did not work because HSV were seeking buyers and BMW, MB and even Lexus have waiting lists for the M3, C63 and IS F. The M5 is still selling, and the RS6 too.
Tomas79

Too true Realist, more like W137, because according to all online sources only 137 were built!!

Wheelnut®™ says: “HSV originally intended to build/sell 427 W427s and ended up selling approx 240 of them”

240 is a big approximation wheelnut, given the real number is only 137!!

IronOreBananabender

They killed the MR2. They killed the Supra. They killed the Celica. Now they want to sell an overpriced Lexus badged thing. Maybe they can salvage some respect for the Toyota name if they drop the carbon fiber crap and cram an updated 2JZ into this, and call it a Supra. Hell make a 4 cylinder turbo (diesel even) version and at least there would be a respectable spectrum of sporty cars at the dealerships again.
nobody

First Lexus I’m ever excited about. Glad they’re putting this into production, hopefully it will live up to expectations!

Flying High

ditto.

Trump

They had to put a Lexus badge on it because its going to be in the $300k + range and nobody would pay that for a Toyota badged car.

It might come close to the GTR in performance with all that power and all the light weight components, but Nissan have already read the last rights to the NSX and if the final testing results of the LF-A proves to be no match for the GTR, it’ll be one more scalp to Godzilla.

figjam

“trump” its a pity the nissan is so dam ugly! the lexus looks mint!

Tomas79

Looks decent!!
Adorn4stars

The evolution of this car through the years from concept to what is shown above has been a huge disappointment in my opinion in terms of exterior styling. It\’s becoming to be a bit derivative and boring, compromising classy lines and shapes in favour of a GT car like look and aerodynamics. The concept was bold and risky – in a good way, and the product shouldn\’t have ever reached this level to look so homogenised.

Hopefully I\’m wrong in assuming the final production model would look anything close to this and would retain some level of supercar class that was present in earlier concepts. It has the potential to look as classy as a DBS.

http://www.zuko.com/generation/Automotive_Images/Style_Concept/LexusLF-a-concept.jpg
Anthonii

That looks mint!
NIK516

well i think it looks fantastic reminds me off the old supra, rx7 , mr2, r32 days, dont know if thats a bad thing but i like it.
Alex

It looks heavy and cumbersome, but I don’t doubt it’s ability for a second. Auto Car have driven a prototype and said that this is a car that is as good as the Ferrari 599. Now that’s saying something.
http://www.mr2.ie Quandry

MR2 drivers would welcome something that has an engine in the BACK!!!

I do not see the market for this type of car??

Lukaas

The market is obviously someone who is “sick” of Ferraris, Lambos, Astons… and would like to spend their extra half a million on “something new”. Oh how tough of a decision is that for those people.