Despite Lamborghini announcing it was to pull out of the upcoming Tokyo motor show it seems there will still be one 600+bhp supercar there to raise visitor’s pulses.
Not wanting to let the home team down, Toyota look set to reveal the production version of the Lexus LF-A.
The covers were initially expected to be taken off at the Frankfurt motor show, but the V10-powered supercar now looks set to be unveiled at the show in October. The fate of the LF-A has been hanging in the balance for several months but the project now appears to have got the green light.
Fears that the project would be canned arose late last year as Toyota bosses questioned the importance of the Toyota Formula One team, casting doubts over the development of the V10 F1 engine that is likely to be used in a retuned state in the Lexus LF-A.
But Toyota’s renewed commitment to F1 looks to have given life to the supercar that the company hope will wrestle sales away from Porsche’s 911 range.
Toyota and Subaru are also rumoured to be preparing the eagerly anticipated Toyobaru concept for the show. Although the official word is that the jointly developed rear-wheel-drive project has been put on hold.
This week, several major manufacturers confirmed that they would not be present at the 2009 Tokyo show. Mercedes-Benz, Renault, Volkswagen, Lamborghini, Ford, Chrysler and GM will all not be in attendance, prompting the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association to shorten the show by four days.