The Lexus LFA is what you get when the world’s second largest automobile manufacturer decides to build a halo car. It’s a masterpiece of Japanese engineering. It rivals, or as some say, surpasses the best of Germany and Italy.
Why it matters: The LFA was a 10-year project that produced just 500 examples. It features the best sounding engine ever for a production car. And it changed the way the Lexus factory made cars moving forward.
The LFA production line know-how trickled down to the rest of the Lexus line.
You can see LFA DNA in the Lexus RCF and the LC 500.
Details: Kengo Matsumoto led the design team as the car began development circa 2000 under the code name TXS. The first prototype was completed in June of 2003, and the LFA debuted at the North American International Auto show in Detroit in January of 2005
Zero to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds.
Top speed of 203 mph.
Engine: Developed in cooperation with Yamaha, the engine revs so quickly to 9,000 rpm that a digital tach had to be used. The V10 is smaller than a V8 , and weighs less than a V6.
72-degree, 4.8L V10 with Dual VVT-i (1LR-GUE) rated at 553hp and 354 lb-ft of torque.
Transmission:
Alsin six-speed single clutch automated manual with paddle-shifters.
Chassis:
In-house carbon fiber-reinforced polymer monocoque with aluminum front and rear subframes.
Jeremy Clarkson once proclaimed the LFA “the best car I have ever driven.” And in January of 2010 an LFA recorded the fastest wet lap ever on the Top Gear track with a time of 1:22.
Yes, and there’s the Nürburgring Package - a competition focused model with a total of 64 produced. Those numbers are included in the 500 unit total.
An LFA driven by Horst Von Saurma reportedly turned a lap time of 7:38 in 2010.
The National Geographic show, Megafactories, reported an LFA with the Nürburgring package driven by Iida Akira turned in a production car lap record of 7:14 in 2011.
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