Lexus LFA - better than a Ferrari GTO
Discussion
It is surprising that the Lexus LFA does not seem to be on the radar of car enthusiasts.
I think it is worth another look.
Consider this: EVO remains a highly regarded journal and while it is not perfect and it can take itself too seriously, it is fair to say that EVO is staffed by people who are, well, "like minded" when it comes to cars.
And EVO gets to drive all the cars most of us only dream of.
In this months edition , they compare the Lexus LFA to the Ferrari GTO and conclude : "Lexus beats Ferrari".
Even allowing for hyperbole and the natural desire of a journalist to look for a good headline, this is still very interesting stuff.
The Lexus LFA is a car no-one seems to talk about yet, here it is, standing proud among the hyper cars, right where it should be.
I am pleased about this. The car is a technical tour de force, an amazing piece of technology developed by engineers who really care. It is single minded, with a degree of dedication to getting things right that reminds me of McLaren and the F1.
The LFA deserves a lot more recognition than it is getting.
I count myself as an admirer.
I think it is worth another look.
Consider this: EVO remains a highly regarded journal and while it is not perfect and it can take itself too seriously, it is fair to say that EVO is staffed by people who are, well, "like minded" when it comes to cars.
And EVO gets to drive all the cars most of us only dream of.
In this months edition , they compare the Lexus LFA to the Ferrari GTO and conclude : "Lexus beats Ferrari".
Even allowing for hyperbole and the natural desire of a journalist to look for a good headline, this is still very interesting stuff.
The Lexus LFA is a car no-one seems to talk about yet, here it is, standing proud among the hyper cars, right where it should be.
I am pleased about this. The car is a technical tour de force, an amazing piece of technology developed by engineers who really care. It is single minded, with a degree of dedication to getting things right that reminds me of McLaren and the F1.
The LFA deserves a lot more recognition than it is getting.
I count myself as an admirer.
CaptainSensib1e said:
I agree its a great car but its so stupidaly expensive (not that I could afford one if it was half the price) I feel quite apathetic towards it.
It is hyper-car expensive. More than an Aventedor and about the same price as a Ferrari 599 GTO. It is a shame that the lack of a brand like Ferrari seems to stand in the way of the car being taken seriously. It is good that EVO has rectified this. Better than a 599 GTO eh, who would have though it?!!The car is wonderful.
I think the styling is deliberately restrained so that when a Lexus 911 rival is launched in a couple of years it'll look A LOT like this, and benefit hugely from the LFA as a halo.
The LFA is a part of a much bigger strategy. It wasn't allowed to be simply as exciting as possible. Its purpose is to stretch Lexus' brand-breadth while staying in-touch with 'normality', and so create headroom for a credible £70k Lexus sportscar.
Which I'm sure will be very special indeed. Like an R8 without the t
t-factor.
I think the styling is deliberately restrained so that when a Lexus 911 rival is launched in a couple of years it'll look A LOT like this, and benefit hugely from the LFA as a halo.
The LFA is a part of a much bigger strategy. It wasn't allowed to be simply as exciting as possible. Its purpose is to stretch Lexus' brand-breadth while staying in-touch with 'normality', and so create headroom for a credible £70k Lexus sportscar.
Which I'm sure will be very special indeed. Like an R8 without the t
t-factor.
http://www.autoblog.com/2011/02/18/lexus-lfa-ship-...
Read this a while back and just remembered it now, that it might interest some folks!
Read this a while back and just remembered it now, that it might interest some folks!
Perhaps this is a case of the GTO not living up to its illustrious badge, rather than the Lexus being a world beater ? (& before anyone comments, no I have never driven/been a passenger in either & unless my numbers come up this week/I spontaneously develop the ability to kick a bag of air in a straight line, Im not likely to either).
CaptainSensib1e said:
I agree its a great car but its so stupidaly expensive (not that I could afford one if it was half the price) I feel quite apathetic towards it.
Is it really that stupidly expensive though? The GTO that evo tested it against was the thick end of £340k compared to £352k for the LFA. When you look at how bespoke the LFA is compared to the GTO (which is just a tarted up version of a standard production car), I would say that the LFA looks like a comparative bargain. With emphasis on the word 'comparative'.Completely agree. I really like the LFA. I was never as bothered as some by the price tag, because, I feel cars like this should be expensive and exclusive enough to ensure legendary status (something like the Countach, 288 and 959 were).
I think it looks great; looks technical, exudes precision. The more interpretations of the supercar/hypercar should be the better!
A great hypercar.The noise, oh that noise!
I think it looks great; looks technical, exudes precision. The more interpretations of the supercar/hypercar should be the better!
A great hypercar.The noise, oh that noise!
It still looks cheap IMO, something about the Jap designs that dont seem to carry the Hypercar/Supercar look of their counterparts, they look like suped up versions of something more ordinary. Reminds me of the newer Intergra when Mugen get hold of it and put massive bits all over it that dont really seem to fit.
Too much of it looks like add ons, and as a result a lot of people wouldnt pay the massive asking price, regardless of whether it is considered "better" than a GTO by some (how do they clarify it as being better? Faster? more agile? better looking?)
It looks nice enough as a Japanese sports car, but not when you see it next to it's Italian competitors, and that's before you bring the badge into it.
Im not a fan, I appreciate the technology and attention to detail, but I would never desire one as a car, it's more like a modified white good. Now if it could wash your clothes and make toast...
Too much of it looks like add ons, and as a result a lot of people wouldnt pay the massive asking price, regardless of whether it is considered "better" than a GTO by some (how do they clarify it as being better? Faster? more agile? better looking?)
It looks nice enough as a Japanese sports car, but not when you see it next to it's Italian competitors, and that's before you bring the badge into it.
Im not a fan, I appreciate the technology and attention to detail, but I would never desire one as a car, it's more like a modified white good. Now if it could wash your clothes and make toast...
Edited by Tokoloshe on Friday 19th August 15:51
lauda said:
CaptainSensib1e said:
I agree its a great car but its so stupidaly expensive (not that I could afford one if it was half the price) I feel quite apathetic towards it.
Is it really that stupidly expensive though? The GTO that evo tested it against was the thick end of £340k compared to £352k for the LFA. When you look at how bespoke the LFA is compared to the GTO (which is just a tarted up version of a standard production car), I would say that the LFA looks like a comparative bargain. With emphasis on the word 'comparative'.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff