Lexus sports car concept unveiled

500bhp from 5-litres gives 200mph, says Toyota off-shoot

By PH Staff / Tuesday, 11 January 2005 / Loading comments

Lexus unveiled a 500-plus horsepower, 200 mph LF-A sports car concept at the 2005 NAIAS in Detroit.

Lexus reckons that, "the two-seat concept blends the performance of an exotic sports car with the luxury refinements of a Lexus. Designed to express a bold new direction in styling for the Lexus brand, the LF-A concept is committed to achieving superiority in speed, quickness, agility and reliability."

According to Lexus, its 5-litre powerplant, with a combination of optimum gearing, weight and aerodynamics, will propel the machine to 200 mph.

Inside, the LF-A "is designed as a luxury high-speed capsule that blends extravagant comfort with precision operation." Five inches shorter than the Porsche 911, its wheelbase is nine inches longer and, at 48 inches, it's close to the height of the Ferrari F430. With a width of 73.2 inches, it splits the difference between the Mercedes-Benz SL55 and the Aston Martin DB9.

The LF-A was conceived to express the emergence of a new direction in styling for the Lexus brand, globally. "Over the last two years, a new styling philosophy that we call L-Finesse, has taken shape at Lexus Design," said Wahei Hirai, global head of design.

"What has emerged from this two-year journey is not just a new direction in philosophy. It is a new design language, based on the dynamism and inherent contrast between simplicity and elegance."

Lexus reckons that, "the LF-A is a fundamental shift in both style and design for Lexus. The positioning and sizing of major components have been redefined and condensed. By taking an entirely different approach to proportion and packaging, designers have achieved the ultimate weight balance, so vital to high-speed handling and stability.

"As a total package, the Lexus LF-A concept is a bold statement and a clear indication of the path that Lexus' global design will follow in the near future."