Tuesday 18th December 2012

Spotted: Lexus LFA

As Lexus builds its final LFA Harris seeks out an example of this much under-rated supercar

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The last Lexus LFA rolled off the line the other day.

Yours for 380,000 euros, for now

It was one of the most misunderstood fast cars of modern times, ridiculed by many and adored by a few. I should qualify that as a lucky few, because the one thing that everyone who thinks the LFA is a stunning machine has in common is that they have driven it.

On paper, it looks like the Nissan GT-R makes a mockery of the Lexus. Then you see the latter in the flesh and experience the quality and the engine and, well, you are in its spell forever.

A full carbon tub, a normally aspirated V10 that beats a Carrera GT’s for sheer exhilaration (largely because it sits ahead of the driver, so he gets more noise) and a set of dynamics which came to a head in the Nurburgring Edition, which is still the best standard street car I’ve driven around the Nordschleife.

Values can only go one way, reckons Harris

And all of it was wrapped in just the kind of obsessive engineering which we’ve come to expect from great Japanese companies. The LFA is a product which could easily have been adjusted to meet prevailing demands, but Lexus remained doggedly loyal to the original design brief.

This alone will ensure it becomes a much sought-after classic.

In fact I can’t find one for sale in the UK, and only three in Germany. This is the cheapest.

And here’s a Nurbugring lap, just to underline the point.

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LEXUS LFA
Engine: 4,805cc V10
Transmission: 6-speed automated manual
Power (hp): 560@8,700rpm
Torque (lb ft): 354@6,800rpm
MPG: 18 (NEDC combined)
CO2: 308
First registered: New
Recorded mileage: 1km!
Price new: £343.000
Yours for: 380,000 euros

See the original advert here.

 

[Switch]

That... Noise...

[Krikkit]

What a magnificent machine. Love it.

[0llie]

This or a 599 GTO?

For me, it would have to be this, it really is something special.

[toppstuff]

I simply adore this car.

And anyone comparing it to a GTR simply don't understand it. They don't understand it at all.

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.

[Amirhussain]

Switch said:

That... Noise...

+1 Sounds wicked http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzZdfSRgN_k

[Mastodon2]

Easily one of the best supercars ever made imo. To say that it's no faster than a GT-R (it's actually slower above about 140mph I think) really is missing the point, not that I'm accusing anyone here of that of course. As an example of engineering brilliance, the LFA is just astouding.

[After_Shock]

Im lucky enough to have sat in one with the engine running and gave it a quick but slight blip on the throttle, the feeling was just excellence all around, and the noise, well that will live with me forever.

Im also not lucky enough to have been in a moving one

[stew-S160]

LOVE. I have a lot of LOVE for this car.

[Stig]

As I said from the start, it's an epic, epic car and one I've had the fortune of being involved with since its launch.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

mingin' in photographs, absolutely stunning in the metal

[luke111s]

The sound is perfect

[Krikkit]

Mastodon2 said:

Easily one of the best supercars ever made imo. To say that it's no faster than a GT-R (it's actually slower above about 140mph I think) really is missing the point, not that I'm accusing anyone here of that of course. As an example of engineering brilliance, the LFA is just astouding.

I think the GT-R is faster absolutely everywhere really. But going fast isn't everything!

[gofasterrosssco]

Amazing car.. Not a car that should be defined by "numbers" (the GT-R very much is), which is slightly ironic given how critical numbers (i.e. engineering precision) would have been in the creation of this machine..

[anonymous-user]

Probably one of the best sounding cars ever built. Just a shame that the performance doesn't live up to the competition.

[toppstuff]

0llie said:

This or a 599 GTO?

For me, it would have to be this, it really is something special.

Yep. Agree.

[garypotter]

Great for Lexus for building this car sounds awesome but the looks??
If I was spending that sort of money I would want it to look alot more lairy that it does.

[anonymous-user]

Stig said:

As I said from the start, it's an epic, epic car and one I've had the fortune of being involved with since its launch.

Agreed, it's an awesome car. But, unfortuately the Aventador has come along at 140k less and the perfomance of that is incredible.

[Bohemianesque]

Numbers aren't everything. This for me, has that 'special' quality.....very much like the specialness of the F1.

[b14]

These will appreciate greatly in future. Must find €380k.

[em177]

Makes me really want Lexus to try a mid size Cayman rival circa £40-50k.

Essentially a posh GT86 'R'