Thursday 13th October 2005

Lexus shows off new toys

Tokyo show to see new supercar and saloon concepts

---

Lexus LF-A concept

Lexus is to show off its bid for the supercar market, the LF-A concept, a two-seater supercar powered by what Lexus called "a high-output V10 engine" at the Tokyo Motor Show next week.

It will also launch a new flagship saloon concept. First sightings of the saloon will be at the show on 19 October, and it will be exhibited alongside the GS 450h, a hybrid power version of the newly-launched GS premium saloon range that is set for production in 2006.

Combining a 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine with a powerful electric motor, it delivers performance comparable to a conventional 4.5-litre power unit, while returning fuel economy comparable to a standard 2.0-litre saloon, according to Lexus. The combined power output of the GS 450h hybrid system will be around 340bhp.

[GTRene]

If thats the way to go for lexus...go for it, I like the LF-A concept.
it could be in the same class with the skyline gtr with that looks, for me it would be the best looking Lexus that I know of, well done Lexus, and now make that sporty looking car!
Also it looks like it has "gulwing" doors when you look at the round shape at the end, and also little backview camera's in the door mirrors?
René



>> Edited by GTRene on Thursday 13th October 10:40

[tuttle]

I like it,a good looking car that one could get passionate about.
I think we are going to be seeing a lot more electro/petrol hybrids in coming years in the run up to a serious approach to alternative fuels.It's good that a company like Lexus is getting in the game early.By the time hybrids become mainstream their R&D & experience will be streets ahead of the competition.

[D-Angle]

Judging by some recent spy shots, I'd say the LF-A is our first look at the new Supra:

[stig]

tuttle said:

I like it,a good looking car that one could get passionate about. I think we are going to be seeing a lot more electro/petrol hybrids in coming years in the run up to a serious approach to alternative fuels.It's good that a company like Lexus is getting in the game early.By the time hybrids become mainstream their R&D & experience will be streets ahead of the competition.

Toyota/Lexus hybrid technology is already 2-3 years ahead of the nearest competitor.

They now have 3 hybrid cars available in Europe (more in Japan including light commercial vehicles).

Think it's safe to say that there's more to come

[GTRene]

Also take a look at the nice rear...like that too

www.autoweek.nl/images/480/8694.jpg

René

[PetrolTed]

what's with those fans beneath the lights?

[r988]

PetrolTed said:

what's with those fans beneath the lights?

Jet engines

Probably some sort of cooling system I suppose, though its not a Rear mounted engine is it?

I like the look of the LF-A, it looks pretty much as you'd expect a supra replacement to look. It's good to see at least one manufacturer is heading in the right direction styling and technology wise. Toyota is way ahead of the game compared to anyone else, and they are making a stack of money out of it as well.

[Sonic Nonsense]

Nice looking car. Not sure it looks like a thuroughbred supercar tho. Mind you, neither did the SLR!


www.sonicnonsense.com

[tuttle]

Those covert 'supra' shots have been floating around for quite some time now.Iirc they are the next evolution of the supra-but from Lexus.

[corcoran]

GTRene said:

Also take a look at the nice rear...like that too www.autoweek.nl/images/480/8694.jpg René

the back kinda reminds me of those toy cars you used to get where you snapped them onto like a gun thing and shot them off? anyone else remember that?

[lap_time]

Yes!!! One of my all-time favourite cars resurrected! Unfortunately the Supra name is no more. Apparently it's successor is to be named the Toyota/Lexus 4500GT (4500 for engine capacity in cc's). Also, Toyota are apparently still tossing up between a V10 and a V8. At the moment, a V10 would be obvious, to create a link between Toyota's F1 cars and the road cars. However, as F1 is going to V8s soon, a modified version of their UZ series V8 would make more sense (a test engine has been codenamed 4UZ). But please, please get rid of that Max-Power spoiler on the back of the Nurburgring test mule!!!

>> Edited by lap_time on Thursday 13th October 11:36

[GTRene]

PetrolTed said:

what's with those fans beneath the lights?

Those are cooling fans,it gets cool air in by the scoops near the rear -side windows,(its proberbly a mid-mounted frontengine car the words say...) and also push the car a bit to the ground(airflow down)
the first concept had a V10 under the bonnet, but the latest words are that they replace it in favor of a V8...lighter...shorter...and new F1, but with around 500hp not much to complain


>> Edited by GTRene on Thursday 13th October 11:42

[fergy]

I want one.... simple as that...and being a lexus it will not break !

[wellsey]

hang on a minute, look at the rear of both the protoype spy shots and the LF-A concept, they are the same car. Just look at the exhaust's, both have 3 exits and the rear light are the same shape aswell.

[jas16]

I like the look of the car and i completely support what toyota is doing with new technology. But as yet it is too expensive for most people to consider it a viable option, that is compared to what someone thinks that they can get for the same amount of money. Good start, but still a long way to go.

[fwdracer]

Lexus = Toyota with Gold badges.

Just can't see past the stigma I'm afraid :rolleyes

Hats off to them on spearheading the hybrid technology - sort of foresight that just wouldn't exist in a UK organisation.

[newyellowbadge]

That is not a pretty car. It's a bog standard production car with a nice engine (hopefully a de-tunned F1 engine). The back of the car does look good but the whole look still seems too "desgin student" in my opinion.

They should borrow a few Italians !

[FestivAli]

How do you spell ugly? L-E-X-U-S.

Re: my comments from an earlier post - it looks like its trying to poo.

Ali.

[R988]

jas16 said:

I like the look of the car and i completely support what toyota is doing with new technology. But as yet it is too expensive for most people to consider it a viable option, that is compared to what someone thinks that they can get for the same amount of money. Good start, but still a long way to go.

The LF-A is not a hybrid, the new GS450h sedan is

[anonymous-user]

PetrolTed said:

what's with those fans beneath the lights?

Front engined, rear mounted radiators according to one of the previous threads about this on here I believe (when the spy shots from the 'ring were posted on a news article).