Lexus LFA: First Look
- Competes with: Ferrari F430, Lamborghini Murcielago
- Looks like: Exactly what a Lexus supercar should look like
- Drivetrain: 552-hp, 4.8-liter V-10 with six-speed automated sequential gearbox
- Hits dealerships: Only 20 a month will be produced, starting December 2010
Lexus had been showing a concept LF-A for years on the auto-show circuit, however, enthusiasts and journalists alike thought it would likely never materialize as a real car. This automotive specter is now real, but it’ll be as elusive for most people as any other phantom. Not only does a $375,000 price tag make the LFA unlikely to make it to your local Lexus dealer, but the company will only produce 500 examples of it over two years.
Will the rare gem be worth it for the Hollywood elite, Middle Eastern oil barons and Russian businessmen who will undoubtedly be “invited” to buy one? All indications point to yes.
The LFA is mid-engined with rear-wheel drive and has a V-10 producing 552 horsepower with a top speed of 202 mph. Its zero to 62 mph time is 3.7 seconds, making it one of the fastest production cars in the world.
The handmade interior looks high-tech, upscale and features an aeronautical themed gauge cluster that we imagine would make the driving experience feel even more like flying. The chassis and much of the body is made of carbon fiber to make it lighter and more aerodynamic.
While the LFA may never be a mass-seller, we hope that its style, interior design and performance chops filter down to the rest of the somewhat sedate Lexus lineup.
