Thursday 29th November 2012

650hp Lexus breaks cover

Merc has AMG, Toyota/Lexus has TMG. Here's its mad twin-turbo take on the V8 LS limo

---

It's clearly the annual ‘announce an enormous saloon with a huge V8, forced induction, and slightly bonkers amounts of power’ week. If it wasn’t enough that Jaguar officially revealed the XFR-S last night in Los Angeles, TMG – Toyota’s German motorsport arm – has just released the first official full pictures of its fantastically ridiculous Lexus LS hyper-saloon concept, the Sport 650.

Staid limo now hits 62mph in 3.9secs

We reported last week that the car was imminent, but even so, we weren’t quite prepared for the insanity that was heading our way. The Sport 650 will be powered by a 5.0-litre V8 with two turbos, which will produce 650hp and 565lb ft. That’ll be matched to an eight-speed gearbox with three automatic modes and one manual.

It'll hit 62mph in 3.9 seconds, and top whack is expected to be 200mph, or as near as makes no difference. There’ll be a TorSen limited-slip diff, Sachs dampers and Brembo carbon ceramic brakes. The BBS wheels will be 20in in diameter, and the rears will be 12in wide. Gosh.

It’s not subtle, then, and neither are its looks. Vents, scoops, and carbon fibre addenda all turn the handsome-but-unassuming LS into a boy racer’s dream. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, we’re undecided, but at least the Sport 650 is going its own way, rather than trying to take a leaf out of the ‘teutonically understated’ book.

There’s still no news on whether this will be purely a prototype, or whether the limited production run that TMG is proposing will be given the go-ahead. If it does it'll be based on the newly revealed facelifted version rather than the current model this is built around, but either way it'll create one of the most ludicrous saloon cars ever made, and provide a real rival to the Brabus-tuned S-Class Biturbos.

Now, has anyone else got any hyper-saloons they’d like to announce, or are we done for the week?

[PascalBuyens]

Mental... and I like it

[AndrewSV]

i've always liked the LS, a capable luxury car, just a bit dull. but this...is just awesome!!!

[TVR Sagaris]

Looks like a cheap '90s DIY attempt. Those exhaust tailpipes are horrible.

[Krikkit]

Pretty horrible looks, but props to Toyota for making the thing! Love those carbon air ducts from the radiator.

[em177]

With a big wing that would look like an Aussie V8 racer.....

I approve.

[GranCab]

More subtle and quicker than the Jag ...

[Garlick]

No.

The AMG S-Class gives you the power of an AMG in a slightly more aggressive business suit. It's non-shouty power for those that want comfort but aren't ready to give up the excitement of driving.

This looks like an ex-Max Power cover car that is far too shouty for most people in this market. It is (IMO) way to over the top, too dated and too 'LOOK AT ME' for the fast limo market. Too 'tuner' not enough class.

I'm a little very disappointed...but that's just me

[chrisispringles]

If I didn't know otherwise, I'd have just assumed that was one of those horrific Gemballa or similar tuned cars. It's dreadful and those exhausts are the icing on the cake. Fugly.

[matpilch]

everything about it is vulgar. can't resist liking it, would look good next to the black series c63

[George29]

that's hideous. Those exhaust pipes

[Dagnut]

TVR Sagaris said:

Looks like a cheap '90s DIY attempt. Those exhaust tailpipes are horrible.

Plus they are probably fake

[beeblebrox]

It looks like a tarted up Mondeo.

[Monty Zoomer]

Why do they need Germans to design it???

Aren't there enough boring, dull, grey, German cars in the world already???

What next, fairy lights and brum-brum noises through the speakers???

[Justayellowbadge]

Garlick said:

No.

The AMG S-Class gives you the power of an AMG in a slightly more aggressive business suit. It's non-shouty power for those that want comfort but aren't ready to give up the excitement of driving.

This looks like an ex-Max Power cover car that is far too shouty for most people in this market. It is (IMO) way to over the top, too dated and too 'LOOK AT ME' for the fast limo market. Too 'tuner' not enough class.

I'm a little very disappointed...but that's just me

I wonder if this is a 'look at what we can do' exercise, to put it out there that such things can be done, but what you can walk in and buy will/could be a little more restrained?

They do need to change some perceptions for people to think of a Lexus in the AMG/Brabus/Alpina category.

[[AJ]]

I'm sorry, but that looks utter tripe. I don't think Khan could have done a worse job of that, and that's saying something.

[dublet]

LS on steroids. I would expect this to have wild mood swings, mad bouts of mania, violence, aggression, psychosis and ultimately resulting in suicide by going arse end first into the nearest tree.

I approve.

[richb77]

This should belong in the "badly modified cars" thread.

For a factory attempt its bloody horrendous!

And I LIKE the hot Cadillac CTS.

Who the hell is the target audience? If you have the money you by a mental AMG...This....Looks like you scraped enough credit to by a blinged up ricer (And DO NOT get me wrong as I am all for competition between the brands).

It just looks like the owner will be given a free Burberry cap (on backwards) and shell suit when purchased.

[shalmaneser]

richb77 said:

This should belong in the "badly modified cars" thread.

For a factory attempt its bloody horrendous!

And I LIKE the hot Cadillac CTS.

Who the hell is the target audience? If you have the money you by a mental AMG...This....Looks like you scraped enough credit to by a blinged up ricer (And DO NOT get me wrong as I am all for competition between the brands).

It just looks like the owner will be given a free Burberry cap (on backwards) and shell suit when purchased.

Audience is rich arabs/chinese/russians I imagine.

I quite like it. It's unapologetic, isn't it? No messing about, it's got more power than many supercars, and looks like it.

[Garlick]

Maybe I'm just getting old and maybe (as JAYB suggests) this Lexus is an attempt to show what they can do, but I just prefer fast limos with a pinch of discretion

This looks great IMO, just enough to let you know it's got some punch

[omgus]

matpilch said:

everything about it is vulgar. can't resist liking it, would look good next to the black series c63

^^this.


Although i have to say i would probably prefer those figures in a standard looking car.