Spy shots: Lexus LF-A

Posted Fri Jun 15 2007 10:49 AM by Viknesh Vijayenthiran

Lexus has always positioned itself as being more about luxury than outright sportiness, but that’s about to change with the new LF-A coupe due to be launched later this year. Competing against cars such as the Audi R8 and BMW M6, the LF-A will likely be powered by a 5.0L V10 engine churning out 500hp. The LF-A will also be available in a hybrid variant, as we reported here earlier, but it’s unknown how much power this version will have or what effect the heavy batteries and extra motor will have on the handling and weight.

Its front mid-engine placement, along with a rear-mounted transaxle and rear-mounted radiators, should allow for excellent weight distribution. Lexus has billed the concept LF-A as having a top speed in excess of 200mph, and we have no reason to doubt the production version will reach these limits if it’s sold unrestricted.

It’s a good sign to see the LF-A being tested at the Nurburgring and we hope the marketing execs don’t soften what could be an amazing car. BMW and Mercedes are both expected to release new super-coupes in the future so the fight among the premium car manufacturers is really hotting up. We can’t wait.

More spy shots are available over at Autoblog.nl.

Reader Comments

Fri Jun 15 2007 1:05 PM
biturbo says

I can't wait as well, competition is good. But don't bet on Lexus :)
The new car will be following the Lexus tradition:
luxurios, confortable, quiet
and
heavy, automatic only, boring...
Fri Jun 15 2007 9:39 PM
HECTOR says

I know it's only a concept but they better do something about that interior, specially the dash... The only attractive things in there are the seats and the gauge color...
Sun Jun 17 2007 5:53 AM
ultima says

that car looks sex
Fri Jun 22 2007 5:39 AM
Ren says

biturbo are you crazy? this car will be anything but quiet, heavy and boring.

it will have a clutch less manual gearbox, just like in Formula 1, not an automatic

and the weight/horse power ration should be similar to Carrera GT
Sun Jun 24 2007 1:51 PM
isra says

its superb !!
i love it yo
i wish i cud buy dis .... lolz
but still i love it
Mon Jul 2 2007 12:54 PM
Alex says

Say what you guyz want to say but this ugly Lexus will never beat the quality of Mercedes and BMW. These guyz have been in luxury sport car waaaaaayy longer than Lexus. 500 horsepower won't help an overwieght sports car. Sure it will have the paddle but there are many cars these days, example the new Mitsubishi Lancer, that also have the paddle transmition. Low quality seats and overweight....this car has no chance against Mercedes or BMW. The only thing that I like about this car is the headlights and the tri mufflers. They should offer this kind of things in the aftermarket business.
Wed Sep 12 2007 1:33 AM
$laughta says

is it just me or does that car look a lot like one of the cars you unlock in true crime nyc

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