The Lexus LFA - ultra-exclusive supercar goes into production
With power, performance and driving dynamics bred from the race track, the new supercar from Lexus, the LFA, goes into production and will be available next year.
The ultra-exclusive supercar – 500 will be made and only a handful is destined for the UK – is constructed using advanced carbon fibre technology to keep its weight to an absolute minimum. As well as using Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP), which is four times the strength of aluminium, for the chassis and bodywork, the CFRP structure is being built in-house rather than by a third-party supplier.
Powered by a bespoke, high-revving 552bhp 4.8-litre naturally aspirated V10 engine producing 480Nm of torque at 6,800rpm, 90 per cent of which is available from 3,700rpm, all the way to the 9,000rpm red line, the LFA accelerates from nought to 62mph in an amazing 3.7 seconds and has a 200mph-plus performance (top speed 202mph).
Its equally advanced rear-mounted transmission is a purpose-designed six-speed Automated Sequential Gearbox (ASG) that drives the rear wheels via a limited slip differential. The ASG is operated by paddle shifts mounted on the steering column and is engineered for exceptionally fast shifts: an upshift can be effected in just 0.2 seconds.
The system has four driving modes: Auto, Sport, Normal and Wet, activated by a selector dial on the dashboard. Each mode has a specific gearshift programme, and engine and brake control logic systems to let the driver tailor the car’s performance to suit driving conditions.
The LFA’s acoustics, induction system and exhaust notes, inspired by the sound of a Formula 1 engine at full revs and unlike that of any other road car, have been specially tuned to deliver an awesome “soundtrack” that expresses the car’s extreme performance, both outside and inside the cabin.
The LFA has one of the most advanced and powerful braking systems fitted to any production car, appropriate to meet the demands of its 200mph-plus performance capabilities. The track-tuned suspension is the result of intensive development work carried out by Lexus at the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit to give the best possible balance between control and comfort. The bespoke wishbone front/multilink rear design makes extensive use of aluminium alloy for high strength and low weight, and the aluminium monotube dampers are the same as those Lexus used for its LFA race car in the Nurburgring 24-hour race.
The LFA also boasts class-leading aerodynamics to achieve drivetrain cooling and superb high-speed handling and stability.
Dictated by its front-mid engine layout, long wheelbase and short overhangs, sophisticated aerodynamics and low-slung cabin, the LFA’s lines flow from roof to sill in a seamless convex to concave line. CFRP also gave the designers more freedom to create shapes, curves and edges that would have been impossible with metal.
The low-slung cabin is divided into three zones: the mechanical zone, which includes the skeleton of the car’s construction; the human zone, with two seats placed right at the centre of the car; and the driving zone, with high-tech instrumentation that brings driver and machine together. The cabin is hand-built, with driver-focused ergonomics. The seats, upholstered in fine leather and Alcantara, provide the high level of back and side support needed in such a high performance car.
Passive and active safety provisions are in line with the LFA’s exceptional performance. The central carbon fibre reinforced plastic central structure is extremely strong and provides excellent impact protection. Crash boxes are fitted front and rear that are designed to deform in a controlled fashion in the event of an impact. Side impact protection includes strong and rigid carbon fibre side members and door structures comprising an aluminium inner panel and a Glass fibre reinforced Sheet Moulding Compound (G-SMC) outer skin.
The LFA is equipped with Lexus’s Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM) system, which co-ordinates the smooth operation of the ABS, vehicle stability and traction control systems. Passive safety features include two-stage adaptive front airbags and seatbelt airbags for driver and passenger and a driver’s knee airbag.
The UK launch price for the LFA is around £336,000.