Thursday 14th April 2016

Lexus LFA: Spotted

Not a Nurburgring Edition despite the orange inside, but pretty special nonetheless!

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The Lexus LFA is a car that there's been plenty of discussion about on PistonHeads over the past half a dozen years or so. We know about its prolonged gestation, about its mesmerising engine, about the stunning Nordschleife lap and so much more. You may even know some of its vital stats by rote (guilty as charged).

Loud exhaust, loud seats

But here's the thing: the Lexus LFA never gets any less extraordinary with familiarity or the passing years. If anything it's become an even greater thing of wonder as supercars move to turbochargers and hybridisation, plus the failure of Lexus to capture much of the LFA in its subsequent fast cars.

For a car that appeared so futuristic and bold back at launch, it's amazing how traditional many of the LFA's attributes are now. Sure, the single-clutch automated 'box was old tech even then, but just look at those power and torque figures. Peak power at 8,700rpm? Incredible. Peak torque of 354lb ft is produced at revs that some cars don't even reach nowadays (6,800rpm), and that figure is just 4 lb ft more than a Mercedes-AMG A45. Surely this stupendous engine will become more in demand as the amount of atmospheric powerplants dwindles?

And it's a Lexus! To have a product this exotic and this thrilling from such a staid manufacturer still seems like madness, despite the recent introduction of the RC F and GS F. Back then it would have been even more ludicrous, especially in the depths of a recession. With a price tag of £343,000...

Worth your £380,000?

Is the badge perhaps holding values back? That statement should be taken with a fair pinch of salt - this car is £380,000 - but many would have expected it to rise further. Harris wrote about a car that was 380,000 euros at the end of 2012, which is pretty much where they went immediately after sale. Is there scope for Lexus's supercar to hit the big bucks? Or will many struggle to look past 'Lexus supercar'?

A quick look through the PH classifieds at this price point throws up various V12 Ferraris and Lamborghinis, a McLaren Mercedes SLR and, somewhat unbelievably, a 997 4.0 RS also. All those cars are fabulous in their own right, but they were continuations of a formula and cars that have been replaced, directly or otherwise. Any future Lexus supercar won't bear any relation to the LFA because it was a unique departure for both the brand and the market. Given money was lost on each one, it seems unlikely Lexus will remove itself so far from the norm in making a fast car again. For the fact the engineers won out in this case and created a unique masterpiece, the LFA is an icon and looks to be worth every pound here.

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LEXUS LFA
Engine: 4,805cc, V10
Transmission: Six-speed automated manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 552@8,700rpm
Torque (lb ft): 354@7,800rpm
MPG: 18
CO2: 308g/km
First registered: 2011
Recorded mileage: 4,500
Price new: £343,000
Yours for: £380,000

See the original advert here

[Atmospheric]

When the Japanese make an extreme car, they tend to be properly engineered to the point of brilliance. I'd love a go in one.

[LotusOmega375D]

Saw this one dropping off someone at Stavanger airport during the Oil & Gas trade show in 2012. Sounded incredible.

Oil was $120 per barrel back then then compared to $44 per barrel now, so I wonder if the presumably oil baron owner has still got it?

[SirSquidalot]

When my numbers come up

[rhinochopig]

Stunning engineering, but they just don't look like a 3rd of a million dollars worth of car. It looks like it was designed by a committee.

[generationx]

I work in the same building as the official European LFA service centre so have seen several. One story that stands out:

A Swiss customer arrived with one of the Nurburgring edition cars which had been side-swiped by a truck in some roadworks, causing a considerable amount of bodywork damage.
We asked if he had transport while this car was in for repair. The response:
"Oh yes, I´ll use my other one"...

So. Much. Want.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

I admired the tech but was completely meh'd about the looks of the thing (inside and out), and that's a prerequisite of a Supercar isn't it? It must make you go week at the knees.

Then I saw one in the flesh so to speak (at the PH performance car show as it happens) and it blew everything around it into the weeds. It just exudes something that's hard to put into words, it really does look it's price when it's sat in front of you.


Lovely things.

[kambites]

Probably a strong candidate for the best sports car engine ever produced.

The rest of the car is pretty impressive, too, although the gearbox seems oddly low-tech compared to the rest of the engineering.

[Vocht]

So much love for this car. I genuinely believe that in years to come, with the way engines are going nowadays, that this will become a £1,000,000+ car and finally get the credit it deserves.

Enjoyed this video of the LFA with the most miles in the world. That sound!

[Bladedancer]

Only snobs will be bothered by the badge and there's no point in listening to snobs.

[Zammy]

I have seen one in the flesh and got to sit in it, it was the blue one that was touring the Lexus dealers a few years back. In the flesh the car just looks stunning! If I could afford it I would pay that money for it.

[Civpilot]

Having had the amazing experience of being driver around dunsfold by a Top driver in Lexus's own blue LFA I can say two things for sure:-

1) The car is so much better than the statistics and stories will have you believe. So much. The noise is beyond anything. Just sublime

2) if I had the money this post would have simply read 'thank you for the heads up, I pick it up at the weekend'

[red997]

Had the pleasure of lining up against one several times down the Dunsfold runway ;
they sound absolutely fabulous - think F1 as it used to be.
No slouch either !

[SuperVM]

Heard one going around at Dad's Day Out or Family Fun Day, whatever it is called, and it sounded absolutely amazing. I played quite a bit of whichever Gran Turismo came out after the LFA was introduced and it was my favourite road going car, so I absolutely love them. It would definitely be on my list if I had a substantial lottery win.

[vz-r_dave]

LaurasOtherHalf said:

I admired the tech but was completely meh'd about the looks of the thing (inside and out), and that's a prerequisite of a Supercar isn't it? It must make you go week at the knees.

Then I saw one in the flesh so to speak (at the PH performance car show as it happens) and it blew everything around it into the weeds. It just exudes something that's hard to put into words, it really does look it's price when it's sat in front of you.


Lovely things.

That is the thing, there is something so special about it. I am always surprised when people slate the looks without first seeing one in the flesh to judge. In 20 years think about the statement this car will make. I think the gearbox will give it an edge, just like a heavy clutch in an old Lambo or Ferrari does today

[Artey]

Vocht said:

Enjoyed this video of the LFA with the most miles in the world. That sound!

Oh no, saloin. Next time it would be nice to have some sort of a heads up.

[Speed_Demon]

I feared that these would be brushed over as it's "Just a Lexus" but am happy to see that prices are going up as people clearly have cottoned on to the fact they are great cars. Wish some other manufacturers would take a similar ethos. Would personally take this over cheaper, quicker rivals.

[ukaskew]

I imagine values will only go one way, and quickly.

Considering there are 500 of the things they don't seem to come up for sale that frequently.

[rtz62]

£450k for a 997 GT3 RS?
I thought our Governments avowed intent was to stop people taking drugs?
Totally bonkers.
Bonkers enough to make the Toyota, sorry, lexus, look good value at £380k I suppose.
I admire the almost microscopic degree of design detail they have put into the lexus, and can't help think that the Porsche will always be more analogue in a digital world, but I just can't see either of these gracing my garage, not just because of the price, but I'm afraid my sense of value tells me they are just not worth that much. To me, anyway. Anyone else??

[Tuvra]

rhinochopig said:

Stunning engineering, but they just don't look like a 3rd of a million dollars worth of car. It looks like it was designed by a committee.

This.

Non petrolheads would probably be just as impressed with something like an £80k Gallardo/430

[C7 JFW]

Supposedly the best handling, most enjoyable car in the world to drive currently.

Astons come a close second.

Fascinating piece of kit, niche but will appreciate a lot in the coming years.