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Lexus LFA
Tuesday 27 October 2009
Sporting glamour is being added to the Lexus line-up thanks to a barnstorming supercar called the LFA.
An evolution of the LF-A concept car first seen at the Detroit Motor Show in 2007, this new halo vehicle feels like it has been a long time coming. Rumours of a troubled on-then-off-again development have dogged the project, making the green light announcement all the more surprising. The LFA in a near production form rolled out last week at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.
Lexus, unlike German rivals like Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW, has no real performance pedigree to speak of. IS-F aside, the success of the brand in pushing values of refinement, reliability, premium interiors and fuel efficient technology have so far not translated into vehicles to rival BMW's M Power models, for instance. Which makes the decision to build a world-beating supercar all the more surprising.
And unlike other Lexus models, which look set to all be offered as hybrids within a few years, the LFA pretty much sticks to conventional norms of supercar construction. The LFA uses conventional fuel, uses a brutish engine and boasts no clever hybrid wizardry or other 'green' technology.
But the engineering is certainly worth talking about nonetheless. The heart of the LFA is a bespoke, naturally aspirated V10 engine that sets new standards for compact dimensions, lightweight architecture and scintillating performance. From the outset it was determined the engine should have a 4,805cc capacity, develop 552bhp and rev to a wailing 9,000rpm red line. Using a dry sump lubrication system allows the block to be positioned deep in the engine bay, lowering the car's centre of gravity and moment of inertia, and enabling the engine to handle sustained, high-speed cornering.
That V10 produces 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, thanks to Dual VVT-i technology, equal length exhaust manifolds and high-volume, 12-hole fuel injectors. This gives searing in-gear acceleration at all engine speeds and in any gear: nought to 62mph takes just 3.7 seconds and maximum speed is 202mph.
Keeping the car's weight to an absolute minimum was one of the defining elements in the development of the LFA and this led to the decision to switch from using aluminium for the car's construction to advanced Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) for the chassis and bodywork. Moreover, Lexus decided the CFRP structure should be built in-house rather than by a third-party supplier. In doing so, it drew on Toyota Motor Corporation's heritage in textile weaving technology to push the boundaries of its technical abilities, developing new carbon fibre looms and a laser system for monitoring the integrity of the material.
At four times the strength of aluminium, CFRP gives the LFA an exceptionally stiff and strong structure, and also delivers major weight advantages, saving around 100kg on an equivalent aluminium body. CFRP accounts for 65 per cent of the body-in-white, with aluminium alloy used for the remaining 35 per cent.
With a kerb weight of 1,480kg, the LFA has a power to weight ratio of 373bhp per tonne, while specific output of 115bhp per litre is among the highest of any current supercar, aided by a high, 12:1 compression ratio, low friction internals and optimised intake and exhaust flow.
Move over Ferrari - the LFA's acoustics, induction system and exhaust notes have been specially tuned to deliver an awesome "soundtrack" that expresses the car's extreme performance, both outside and inside the cabin. Referred to by the acoustic team as "Octave Harmony", it is inspired by the sound of a Formula 1 engine at full revs and is unlike that of any other road car, with different harmonic qualities created as the engine moves up towards its maximum 9,000rpm.
On the inside, 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 a car capable of 200mph-plus performance. The trim echoes the advanced materials used in the LFA's construction, with exposed areas of both matt and gloss carbon fibre. An information selector switch on the left side of the steering wheel lets the driver toggle through a series of functions, including customising the data display, adjusting cabin illumination and operating a track-ready stopwatch system.
And now for the bad news - Lexus says only 500 examples will be built, at a maximum rate of 20 per month to ensure the finest build quality and attention to detail. Each V10 engine will be assembled by a single engineer even, and will bear his signature as testament to each LFA's bespoke status. Consequently, the UK launch price for the LFA is approximately £336,000, an eye-watering sum of money that will take this one truly into the supercar super league.
