Drop, charge, and lose the cordsLexus LF-A, V-10 powered Supra successor
(Credit:
Lexus/Toyota)
When the name "Toyota" is heard, these days most thoughts jump straight to Prius or Camry, but that hasn't always been the case. There once was a time when all-wheel drive Celicas, midengined MR2s, and twin-turbocharged Supras could be found at your local Toyota dealer and gracing adolescents' walls in poster form. Toyota used to be fun. Perhaps it still can be.
Witness the dramatic return of the Toyota Supra, only this time it's not a Supra. Heck, it's not even a Toyota. It is the Lexus LF-A.
While the LF-A may not share a name with its spiritual predecessor, it does share a vision. The slick profile and front-engined, rear-driven configuration definitely pay homage to the previous ultimate Toyota. However, instead of a twin-turbocharged V-6, the LF-A is packing a 4.8-liter V-10 twists its crank to the tune of 560 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque. Lightweight titanium valves and connecting rods along with forged aluminum pistons, help the LF-A's engine achieve its lofty 9,000rpm redline. Power is transmitted to a Torsen limited slip differential that splits torque between the back pair of 20-inch wheels.
Runs from 0-62 mph will happen in 3.7 seconds with a top speed of 201.94 mph. A 48/52 weight distribution and meaty tires at all four corners mean that this big boy should be able to dance like Warren Sapp.
It may not be called a Supra, but it certainly looks like one.
(Credit: Lexus/Toyota)
The LF-A's gauges cluster around a single large tachometer.
(Credit: Lexus/Toyota)The original Supra was no bantamweight and neither is the LF-A; it tips the scales at 3,263 pounds. All things considered, that's still pretty light for its size, thanks to gratuitous usage of carbon fiber in its body's construction. The power to weight ratio places the LF-A right on the tail of Audi R8 V10 and the Lamborghini Gallardo, and within shouting distance of the Ferrari 599. To say the least, watching the LF-A versus Nissan GT-R shootouts that are bound to pop up over the next year should be interesting.
Being Car Tech, we can't overlook what's happening inside the LF-A's cabin. Tucked deeply into the center console is a large LCD screen that we assume is connected to something similar to Lexus' current Enform interface. We also gather that it is not a touch screen because of the presence of Lexus' Remote Touch joystick with haptic feedback. While we're speculating, it would be nice if Lexus threw in some sort of customizable performance computer a la Nissan GT-R.
The instrument cluster is very cool looking, placing emphasis on the huge centrally-mounted tachometer with integrated digital speedometer. An LED shift light ring is hidden in the tach's bezel and illuminates red at redline and amber at a user adjustable shift point.
So let's run through the checklist. Exotic engine? Check. Greater than 200 mph top speed? Check. Impractical two-seat configuration? Check. Extremely limited production? Only 500 units being produced, so check. Exorbitant price tag? At a little under $400k, we can safely say double check.
What do you think readers? Do we have a bona fide supercar on our hands? Let us know in the comments.
$375,000 USD.
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/21/lexus-lfa-tokyo-2009/
It's probably the single most important factor in this conversation.
the fact that they would ask that much for a glorified Supra/Celeca is outrageous. you could have bought a Ferrari F430, new 458 Italia or Lambo for SIGNIFICANTLY LESS than that price. Not to mention a loaded out 911 Turbo.
and why would anyone compare this to a GT-R? The only thing that could happen is that a GT-R ($300,000 less expensive) would compete with or embarrass the LF-A. They'd better hope this car beats those Ferrari's, Lambo's and Porsche's in testing, or nobody will buy this car...limited production or not.
"A" for effort, Toyota, even though the look feels incomplete. But you get an "F" for pricing.
As far as the LF-A vs. GT-R comparo goes, there's simply nothing else coming out of Japan that you can fairly pit the Nissan GT-R against (which is why they're gunning so hard for the Germans). So despite the fact that the LF-A is significantly more expensive and the GT-R's AWD system doesn't exactly make it an apples-to-apples comparison, you can bet your butt that JDM fans and NISMO and TRD lovers will be chomping at the bit for the first LF-A vs GT-R shootout to hit the 'net. Now, I never said that it would be a fair fight... I just said that it'd be interesting.
Yes, the LF-A will be sold in stupidly low quantities, but when you compare the number of Supras sold to the number of Corollas or Camrys for the same model year, you'll begin to understand that almost ALL sports cars are sold in relatively low quantities.
With the vehicle's mission in mind (and not just a handful of specs), I stand by my assertion that the LF-A is the Supra's successor.
Lexus LFA - 3263lb, 552hp; 3263/552=5.9lb/hp
Ferrari 599GTB Fiorano - 3722lb, 612hp; 3722/612=6.1lb/hp
Audi R8 5.2 FSI Quattro - 3571lb, 518hp; 3571/518=6.90lb/hp
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 - 3458lb, 552hp; 3458/552= 6.26lb/hp
So Audi and Lambo is chasing LFA's tail on the ratio, and Ferrari is within shouting distance from LFA.
Also, LFA's tach and gauges are all digital -single TFT panel- no LED shift light ring behind the bezel. That should be more interesting technology piece than the center screen, and should have many ******** similiar to GT-R's center screen. And I don't know what to say about calling LFA a "Supra successor"...
Coming from the Toyota stable, for the money being asked I would expect some element of earth-saving hi-tech wizardry - isn't that the point of a 'halo' model?
For example:
In-wheel electric motors linked to a hybrid drivetrain
Unconventional seating arrangement
Bodywork sculpted from sustainably farmed dolphin skin
etc etc
Instead we have what is essentially just another well-engineered machine that doesn't move the game on whatsoever. Not exactly the Lexus ethos...
This nearly all CF chassis construction puts it in a construction class similar to the McLaren SLR, Koenigsegg CCX, Pagani Zonda, and all those cars start at $350K easily, if not more for the faster, more exotic versions. Wonder why most mid level lambos, aston martins and ferraris are cheaper? It's because they're still made out of metal (usually aluminum) unibody construction instead of the vastly more expensive CF.
Something to chew on. Toyota has made a car with quite a LOT of their F1 technology trickled down. Agreed this is not meant to be a Supra successor, a Supra is not even in the same league as this car. This is truly an exotic supercar built for a select few to whom money is no object and is meant to be a Halo showcase, even on a level beyond the GTR, which is meant to compete w more real world cars.
And as for the price...Just because the Lf-a and the Supra aren't priced similarly doesn't mean they are unrelated. The G37 (which is labeled as Skyline is Japan) starts at half the price of a GT-R. And its fair to say that a $37,000 car and a $75,000 car aren't exactly in the same class. Otherwise you'd see as many vipers as mustangs riding around on the streets.
A stock GT-R clearly blows any stock G35 coupe out of the water when it comes to performance, just as an LF-a would to a stock Supra, so are you really going to make that argument? Most successors or next gen cars produce more power than their predecessors. The E30 M3 road car had 195 hp while the current M3 road car has about 420. So is this M3 not related to the older one? Give me a break.
The LF-A obviously isnt geared toward the bank teller $10/hr from cashing your minimum wage checks. It isn't meant to be a top selling car (no supercars are). Toyota doesnt care about the pricetag, what it cares about is making a beast of a car. Nobody complained when the Viper ACR beat the Bugatti Veyron on the Ring (about 7 times the cost of the viper) so why are you complaining now about a car that costs 2x that of a ferrari.
Its not a town car meant to sell mass figures, so get off of the price tag, it is irrelevant.
-
by jglass4788
October 30, 2009 2:59 AM PDT
- He wasn't referring to the 4th gen. Supra as a straight 6. He was referring to it as a twin turbo car (common misconception from the normal public...but from a Cnet editor!??!?). It is actually in fact a bi-turbo car, in stock form.
-
Like this
Reply to this comment
-
(17 Comments)