RE: Spotted: Lexus LFA
Discussion
Doesn't matter how fast or clever it is - that sinus exhaust note is horrendous - was it based on the late Kenneth Williams ?
I know that some of you love it - but not for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvXO1hUQtbk
I know that some of you love it - but not for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvXO1hUQtbk
A highly misunderstood car which was partly Toyota\Lexus's fault as it spent far too long in gestation\development. Also not helped by the fact that people assumed this was going to be the next Supra at £60k-£80k and were quite shocked to find it wasn't and cost nearly £400k.
What also went against it was the fact that when it was released it really wasn't a headline grabber in terms of on paper stats. It wasn't more powerful or quicker than any of the competition, in fact the most shocking statistic was again the price. All this conspired to make people very confused about why Toyota made this car in the first place. The fact that it doesn't look very outlandish in pictures was the last nail.
However if you dig deeper, look past the on paper stats, "the wrong badge" and the fact that it doesn't have wings\scaffolding hanging off it, I really think it's one of the most exciting cars to be released in a long time. The engineering and attention to detail would put Ferrari and Lamborghini to shame, only Pagani comes close. The engine is a true classic, not the most powerful but it definitely has enough and what it lacks in hp, it more than makes up for in it's throttle response and aural delight. It almost seems like the anti-thesis to normal hyper-car convention as it sticks two fingers up at the number chasing but inevitably dull Veyron.
I truly think they have been underrated and in time, like the Carrera GT, people will understand that a supercar isn't just about the numbers and just how much they got right on this car at which point they'll sharply start to appreciate in value. I'd take one of these over a Veyron any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
What also went against it was the fact that when it was released it really wasn't a headline grabber in terms of on paper stats. It wasn't more powerful or quicker than any of the competition, in fact the most shocking statistic was again the price. All this conspired to make people very confused about why Toyota made this car in the first place. The fact that it doesn't look very outlandish in pictures was the last nail.
However if you dig deeper, look past the on paper stats, "the wrong badge" and the fact that it doesn't have wings\scaffolding hanging off it, I really think it's one of the most exciting cars to be released in a long time. The engineering and attention to detail would put Ferrari and Lamborghini to shame, only Pagani comes close. The engine is a true classic, not the most powerful but it definitely has enough and what it lacks in hp, it more than makes up for in it's throttle response and aural delight. It almost seems like the anti-thesis to normal hyper-car convention as it sticks two fingers up at the number chasing but inevitably dull Veyron.
I truly think they have been underrated and in time, like the Carrera GT, people will understand that a supercar isn't just about the numbers and just how much they got right on this car at which point they'll sharply start to appreciate in value. I'd take one of these over a Veyron any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
woof said:
Doesn't matter how fast or clever it is - that sinus exhaust note is horrendous - was it based on the late Kenneth Williams ?
I know that some of you love it - but not for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvXO1hUQtbk
I haven't read a single report saying the car sounded terrible. That clip you put up has terrible quality audio though. There are plenty of clips that show the engine sounding great. Even on Top Gear.I know that some of you love it - but not for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvXO1hUQtbk
http://youtu.be/Q0rmFyFCIBg?t=3m23s
Just watched the Nurburgring lap at 7.14, sounded like on road tyres.
For perspective in the 1983 1000Kms - the last time proper sports prototypes ran on the circuit, Stefan Bellof posted fastest lap in a Porsche 962, with full aero, slicks and ground effect. His time? 6.25
By any measure this is ab awesome car
For perspective in the 1983 1000Kms - the last time proper sports prototypes ran on the circuit, Stefan Bellof posted fastest lap in a Porsche 962, with full aero, slicks and ground effect. His time? 6.25
By any measure this is ab awesome car
toppstuff said:
An epic car. In so many ways it is as impressive as a McLaren F1. It is of course a totally different car, but the ethos and the independent thinking behind it, the sheer attention to detail and bloody-minded pursuit of bespokeness about it, means that it has more in common with that car than many realise.
And not by accident. The development of this car started at the same time Toyota entered F1, with the intention that it would be launched to co-incide with Toyota winning the Constructors Championship. After a couple of years of trawling around the middle/back of the grid (not to mention the embarrassment when it came out that their F1 project was using stolen Ferrari designs) this over-ambitious schedule was eventually whittled down to being released to co-incide with their first GP victory, then the F1 program was canned and the car became a Lexus (not to mention an enormous white elephant)......The engine specs give the game away as the design is supposed to ape the regulations that were in force in F1 at the time (V10 - same reason BMW put a V10 in the M5 when they were hoping to buy out Williams....)
Edited by r11co on Tuesday 18th December 11:41
r11co said:
toppstuff said:
An epic car. In so many ways it is as impressive as a McLaren F1. It is of course a totally different car, but the ethos and the independent thinking behind it, the sheer attention to detail and bloody-minded pursuit of bespokeness about it, means that it has more in common with that car than many realise.
And not by accident. The development of this car started at the same time Toyota entered F1, with the intention that it would be launched to co-incide with Toyota winning the Constructors Championship. After a couple of years of trawling around the middle/back of the grid (not to mention the embarrassment when it came out that their F1 project was using stolen Ferrari designs) this over-ambitious schedule was eventually whittled down to being released to co-incide with their first GP victory, then the F1 program was canned and the car became a Lexus (not to mention an enormous white elephant)......The engine specs give the game away as the design is supposed to ape the regulations that were in force in F1 at the time (V10 - same reason BMW put a V10 in the M5 when they were hoping to buy out Williams....)
Edited by r11co on Tuesday 18th December 11:41
Excellent post..... I learned something today :P
I also find it interesting they sold 500 at a time when people have been postulating that McLaren would struggle to sell the P1. Yeah, right. If the quality is right people will buy. Beautiful car, even if it didn't have the Nurburgring performance serious car people would buy it for the detail, which is fetishistic in a good way.
Horrid looking thing. For that money, bearing in mind i'd never be able to use its performance, I would want something that looks significantly better. I've no doubt it is technological marvel, so I'm sure people will be on here shortly arguiing it should be made lighter and have less driver aids....
Hellbound said:
woof said:
Doesn't matter how fast or clever it is - that sinus exhaust note is horrendous - was it based on the late Kenneth Williams ?
I know that some of you love it - but not for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvXO1hUQtbk
I haven't read a single report saying the car sounded terrible. That clip you put up has terrible quality audio though. There are plenty of clips that show the engine sounding great. Even on Top Gear.I know that some of you love it - but not for me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvXO1hUQtbk
http://youtu.be/Q0rmFyFCIBg?t=3m23s
Different strokes, different folks
sad to say I'm on of those that really don't 'get' the LFA. As competition to the R8, gallardo and others of similar price and performance then I can see how it would make a good left field choice despite being a rice rocket, but at that price?
I just can't fathom it.
As a fan of superb engineering, would anyone care to say in what way the LFA is a masterpiece?
I just can't fathom it.
As a fan of superb engineering, would anyone care to say in what way the LFA is a masterpiece?
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