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VIDEO: Lexus LFA Burning Some Rubber on the Track

It might not be the prettiest or most sought after supercar in the world, but the new Lexus LFA does have a certain appeal to it. Even more so when we have the opportunity to watch it on the track. In this video we see American car racing champion Scott Pruett drifting and doing donuts in the LFA at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma California. Click through the jump for the clip.

After providing us with an initial batch of three photos of its LFA Nürburgring Edition, Lexus today unleashed more than a dozen new pictures of the more track-orientated version of its supercar. Built to celebrate the LFA's hat-trick of class wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours race, the limited edition will be shown in public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1.

Normally, the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition wouldn't be something that you'd read about or see on galileo maeshary, but being that Lexus is involved in the 2011 issue, we....couldn't leave you in the dark about the LFA's presence in the photo shoot with Dutch supermodel Rianne Ten Haken.

Now, if you're still with us and haven't used the zoom function for a closer inspection of Miss Ten Haken, in the hands of Rhys Millen, the Japanese firm's 552-HP, V10 supercar ran -in Lexus' own words- "multiple high-speed donuts around the model to create the imagery for the sizzling four-page spread." Now spread your wings over the jump to watch the video clip.

Owning a supercar like the Lexus LFA is not always a walk in the park. With 552HP on tap, it has enough oomph to get you in serious trouble and, given the $375,000 price tag and limited run of just 500 units, it would be a shame to wrap this beast around a tree. So, it’s definitely good news that Lexus will offer a driver development program for LFA owners that will run from March 8 to 15, at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

Nearly 3 months after the start of production of the standard LFA, Lexus will debut the more track-focused Nürburgring Edition at the Geneva Motor Show in March. While we've known about the bespoke version of the LFA since May, 2010, according to the Japanese automaker, this is the first time that the supercar will be shown in public.

Available as a special package on the options list, Lexus will build a maximum of 50 Nürburgring Editions out of a total of 500 LFAs. The limited production model gets additional aerodynamic features and technical revisions to improve handling and downforce, increases the V10 engine output by 10bhp to 562bhp and speeds up gear shifts in the six-speed sequential transmission.

In another sign that luxury automakers in the U.S. are raising the stakes -or so to speak- with their latest commercials, following Audi's recent A8 ad, Lexus has released a new TV spot as part of an advertising campaign to demonstrate how far the company goes to achieve perfection.

This particular broadcast ad is titled “Chain” and it shows a crane slowly lifting the front end of a LS, which is attached to four more Lexus models (RX, GS, ES and IS) using nothing more than cables and stretch bars. At the end of the spot, a $375,000 LFA comes into the shot and parks directly below the chain of vehicles weighing a total 21,000 pounds.

The key point here is that the commercial is real and that no special effects were used for its creation as Lexus proves in the 'Behind the Scenes" video.

In 1971, one of the greatest one-on-one boxing matches took place in New York's Madison Square Garden: the bout between Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier. So big was this event, advertisers dubbed it, 'The Fight of the Century'. Now, two different contenders take to the ring (uh...tarmac). The reigning champion: the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE. The challenger: the Lexus LFA. Video after the jump.

Clearly, it's good to be the boss. How so? Lotus CEO Danny Bahar recently made a trip to Japan to thank Toyota for their companies' long - and soon to be longer - partnership. For those new to the game, Lotus has been sourcing its power plants from Toyota for a while and currently all Loti use one form of Toyota mill or another.

Traveling in the Lexus LFA will soon get a lot better for some of the vehicle's owners, thanks to a new dedicated line of travel cases designed to fit perfectly in the boot area of the $375,000 Japanese supercar. Created in partnership with Tumi, New Jersey-based manufacturer of travel bags and suitcases, the two-piece luggage set will accompany the LFA in select markets, including the US and Europe.

There's only so much that can be said about a drag race between a Nissan GT-R and the Lexus LFA. It's a traditional competition pitting Japan's two Euro-fighting high-tech supercars against each other in an attempt to figure out which one is faster in the quarter mile.

No matter who's faster, the better buy should be clear. At a $300,000+ price gap, it won't be hard to figure it out; on the other hand, exclusivity has no price.

Thankfully, Motor Trend showed us how the duel would play out. While informative, it ain't Top Gear with the Jezza. To watch it through Motor Trend's eyes, check it out after the break.

If owning one of the 500 examples of the LFA supercar that Lexus plans to build doesn't claim victory to your ego, then you'll be happy to know that the Japanese automaker has just released U.S. pricing for the Nürburgring Package that will be strictly limited to only 50 units worldwide.

Those that choose to tick the option will be charged an extra $70,000, while Matte black will carry an additional cost of $20,000. The standard LFA carries a MSRP of $375,000, meaning that with the Nürburgring Package, increases the total price to a $450,000.

Lexus feels the need to release a sub-model of its LFA. As if the car needs any more attention drummed up; enough people are drooling over this piece of engineering arrogance as it is.

Officially referenced as the SPECIAL EDITION in the press release , it'll be available in Black, Matte Black, "Whitest White", or Orange.

The LFA SE will come with canards and a fixed wing in CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced polymer); you know, to make it more unique than the other $375,000 Lexus down the street. Also, they'll apparently help at the track aerodynamically.

A year after one of its LF-A prototype supercars got burnt up (literally...) in the 24 hours of Nürburgring, Lexus is heading back to the famous endurance race, this time with the standard production version of its V10-powered supercar that will be seen for the first time in full-blooded competition.

The LFA features a 553HP mid-mounted 4.8-liter V10 engine which propels the Japanese automaker's flagships model to 100km/h (62mph) in just 3.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 325km/h (202mph).

The two racing LFAs that will take part in the event from 13 to 16 May will once again be prepared by Gazoo Racing.

To no one's surprise, in the three months that have passed since the official introduction of the LFA at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009, the number of formal expressions of interest in purchasing the $375,000 V10 supercar is already far greater than the limited production run of only 500 examples, Toyota's subsidiary announced today.

Lexus said that it will continue to accept "formal expressions of interest" up to mid-March. At that point though, the 500 LFAs will be allocated across the 56 countries where they are on sale, with confirmed orders with deposits to be invited from the end of May.

Devshi Varshani, the Personal Liaison Manager who looks after all LFA sales, said: "The level of interest we have witnessed reinforces just what an exceptional car the LFA is. Even though few people have even seen the car in the metal, let alone experienced its breathtaking performance, it has quickly achieved the status of a truly rare and highly sought-after machine."

The Japanese automaker's first-ever supercar is powered by a mid-front mounted 4.8-litre V10 engine that churns out 552bhp for a zero to 62mph (100km/h) sprint time of just 3.7 seconds and a maximum velocity of 325 km/h or 202 mph.

Lexus GS-F said to be Still Under Development, Could get LFA's V10 Engine

Given that the latest Lexus GS has been in the market for a while, most of us have abandoned the idea of an F-badged variant of the current model that would compete head on with the Audi RS6, BMW M5, Cadillac CTS-V and Merc's E63 AMG. But even though common sense says that, if Lexus wants to go ahead with the GS-F, chances are the automaker will wait for the next generation GS, Japan's Best Car magazine claims it knows otherwise.

In fact, the magazine says Lexus is working on the current GS and that the super-sedan will most likely be powered by a slightly modified version of the LFA's 4.8-liter V10 powerplant that produces 553HP at 8,700 rpm and 480Nm or 354 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm in the two-door supercar.

Only time will tell if the story about the GS-F is true, but we wouldn't hold our breath if we were you..

Via: Best Car

VIDEO: Lexus LFA V10 Supercar Caught in Motion in California

Here's your chance to get a taste of the looks and sounds of the new Lexus LFA in real-life conditions as the Japanese company brought its Ferrari-challenging V10-powered supercar to the Cars and Coffee event last month in Irvine, California. Watch the two films after the jump, and don't forget to say 'ouch' at about 43 seconds into the first video...

Thanks for the tip 3Deuce27 (First video via Motortrend)

Lexus Appoints London Dealership as Dedicated European Sales Center for LFA Supercar

If you live in Europe and want to buy the all-new Lexus LFA V10 supercar, then the only option you have is to head over to the Japanese firm's Park Lane showroom in London that has been selected as the center for all European LFA sales. Lexus has opened a special VIP selection room in the Park Lane dealership where LFA customers can discuss their requirements with Devshi Varsani who is the firm's dedicated LFA Personal Liaison Manager.

"Lexus has a world-leading reputation for customer service and I will be playing my part in ensuring the people who purchase the LFA, wherever they come from in Europe, are given all the assistance and support they require," said Varsani.

"Since LFA was unveiled to the world last month, we have experienced a strong demand from prospective customers from across Europe. Having the car on display in our showroom will allow these potential customers to come see the supercar in the flesh, an important part of the sales process for such an extraordinary car."

From the 500 examples of the LFA that are destined to be built, only a small proportion of this total will be available in Europe. Lexus made it clear that all European cars will be fully sold to the customer.

Lexus LF SS Concept by Jin Hee Kim

Lately there seems to be an abundance of concept proposals all over the net from independent designers -professional or amateur. The most recent one to fall upon our hands is the Lexus LF SS which is a somewhat futuristic study for a next-generation Lexus GS created by Jin Hee Kim. According to the designer, while the premium sports sedan concept features the same wheelbase length as the current GS, the two vehicles differ significantly in their styling, drivetrain and packaging. -Continued

Jin Hee Kim supports that the LF SS has been designed to accommodate a hybrid drivetrain that comprises a V8 petrol engine and an electric motor backed up by a dye-sensitized solar cell which is a relatively new type of low-cost solar cells.

Taken as a whole, we'd say that Jin Hee Kim's styling proposal for the new GS ain't so bad but if we had a say in it, we'd tell him to completely rework the concept's front end as it looks like a swollen belly about to burst.

Via: diseno-art

Detroit Show: Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Update – Now, With Press Release

Lexus finally decided to add a press release to the official image gallery of its Detroit Show LF-A Roadster concept that we first showed you earlier today (click here for the high-resolution pictures). As anticipated, the Roadster is equipped with the same 500 plus horsepower 5.0-liter V10 engine unit as the LF-A Coupe which was unveiled in 2007. Apart from the removal of the roof and the structural reinforcements, the Roadster configuration also adds a speed adaptive rear wing. -Details after the jump

Press Release - Click here for the image gallery

Lexus LF-A Takes on Roadster Form – An Open Version of the Supercar Concept Revealed

January 13, 2008 - Detroit, MI - The engineers and designers at Lexus continue to use their groundbreaking LF-A premium sports car concept as a medium for expressing their ideas about what a high-performance sporting vehicle not only can be, but should be. In this latest expression of the LF-A, they have removed the car's top to create a high-performance roadster.

The LF-A Roadster is based on the sturdy yet lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminum body used for the LF-A coupe, which helps maintain the structure's strength and rigidity even without a top.

Like its coupe counterpart, the LF-A Roadster is powered by a high-revving V10 engine that approaches 5.0 liters in displacement. The V10, capable of more than 500 horsepower and test-track speeds greater than 200 mph, is mounted in front of the passenger compartment but behind the front-axle centerline in what the LF-A's engineers refer to as a "front-mid" configuration.

The engine is connected via a torque tube and propeller shaft to a transaxle that is controlled by paddle shifters. The torque tube is a structural member that adds rigidity to the drivetrain and chassis while also reducing vibration.

Styling is rooted in the Lexus L-Finesse design philosophy, conferring the LF-A Roadster's front end with a compact, low-profile, aerodynamic shape. Like its coupe counterpart, the LF-A Roadster stands just 48 inches tall, but the Roadster configuration adds a speed adaptive rear wing.

The rear is marked by a pair of wrap-around, arrowhead-shaped taillights that bracket a pair of large grilles. These grilles vent the heated air from the car's two rear-mounted radiators into the LF-A Roadster's aerodynamic wake. The radiators are fed cool air by two large intake ducts mounted just above the rear wheel wells. This aft radiator positioning not only allowed the designers to keep the car's front profile low and tight but also aided the LF-A's chassis engineers in their search for optimal weight distribution.

Helping to provide balance and scale to the design, which features an overall length of 175.6 inches and a wheelbase of 102.6 inches, are high-performance tires on turbine-styled alloy wheels. The front tires are 265/35R20s, while the rears are 305/30R20s. Like the LF-A coupe, the brakes consist of 14.2-inch cross-drilled, vented discs up front, and 13.6-inch cross-drilled, vented discs at the rear. The front brake calipers are six-piston units and the rear calipers use four pistons each.

An "F" logo, located on each front fender of the Roadster, indicates the vehicle's status as a part of the new "F" marque. The name is derived from the original "F" designation for the first Lexus LS prototype. That vehicle was internally coded "Circle-F," with the "F" standing for "flagship." The Circle-F designation further evolved into the code name Flagship One, or F1, and the first F1 concept developed into Lexus' first vehicle, the LS. Since then, the "F" code has come to signify a special vehicle program within Lexus that falls outside the normal engineering and development process. In addition, Fuji Speedway is the IS F's home circuit, and the shape of the F-logo was inspired by many of the track's turns. The all-new Lexus IS F sport sedan is the first production vehicle to carry the F marque.

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Preliminary Specifications

Body Type: Two seat roadster

Powertrain

Type: Front-mid-engine, rear-mid-transaxle

Engine: V10 (under 5.0-liters)

Transmission: SMT (sequential manual transmission)

Horsepower: More than 500

Top Speed: More than 200 mph

Tire Size
Front: 265/35R20

Rear: 305/30R20

Dimensions (inches)
Overall Length: 175.6

Overall Width: 74.6

Overall Height: 48.0

Wheelbase: 102.6

Detroit Show: 2008 Lexus LF-A Roadster High-Res Image Gallery

Lexus surprised us today by unveiling a roadster version of last year’s LF-A sports car concept. However, while the Japanese carmaker liberated the high-resolution image gallery of the LF-A Roadster early this morning, we’re still waiting for the official press release. Most probably, the roadster will feature the same running gear as the coupe – a front-mounted 500 HP 5.0-liter V10 powering the rear wheels. We’ll have more on Lexus’ latest concept later on the day, but for the time being follow the jump to check out our high-res image gallery. -Continued