Lexus LFA: Spotted

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

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.

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