The Lexus LFA was first unveiled in 2005 as a concept car. During this time, Lexus did not intend to produce the car. However, public interest was too great for Lexus to eventually relent. Lexus worked on the car for five years, then decided it wasn’t good enough and its aluminum chassis needed to be replaced with a carbon fiber chassis to reduce weight, thus extending development. of the car even further. The finished model hit the market in 2010, when it was already lacking in performance compared to some of its European rivals. This was all on paper, of course, but it was enough to ruin LFA sales forever.
In reality, the LFA is a true supercar with a powerful Formula 1-derived engine, nimble handling, powerful brakes and arguably the best exhaust note in the industry. This makes it one of the few exotic Japanese sports cars which can go hand in hand with the best performance cars that Italy or Germany had to offer. And with only 500 units produced, the LFA is legendary. Here are some features that make the LFA Japan’s greatest sports car.
8 Excellent grip
The LFA is a unique piece of automotive engineering. He is able to show his Italian competitors a flawless pair of heels. It offers excellent handling as its good suspension balance helps the tires stick to the tarmac. This allows the car to easily navigate tight corners despite its rear-wheel drive.
The LFA’s engine uses dry sump lubrication to prevent oil starvation when cornering, as well as a very low center of mass. It also has four driving modes; Sport, Wet, Normal and Automatic. In Sport mode, the LFA’s stability control system provides a greater amount of yaw. It also allows drivers to completely shut down the system.
seven Unique Abilities
The last car that had the same level of performance, exclusivity and technology was the Ferrari Enzo. That makes the LFA look like a bargain considering it’s a front-engine, two-seat, exotic, rear-drive coupe. Like its AMG competition, the LFA features a hand-built engine.
The 72-degree bank angle 4.8-liter V10 produces 553 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque that help propel the LFA to a top speed of 202 mph. The LFA is also low and deliberately holds a greater presence than the Ferrari 599 GTB and Mercedes SLS AMG.
6 A unique suspension configuration
The LFA features double-wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear suspension, all with coil-over shock absorbers at the wheels. These shocks have a monotube design with a remote fluid reservoir.
The tank has a mechanical system with contraction and expansion bellows. This unique suspension setup helps give the LFA a low stance, increasing its cornering grip. The LFA further includes a three-mode VDIM system for ease of handling.
5 perfect sound
The LFA is arguably one of the loudest cars on the planet. One of the reasons for its perfect sound is that it took more time to develop and polish it. It has a naturally aspirated 4.8-liter V10, developed in conjunction with Yamaha, that revs up to 9,000 rpm.
Its growl from the triple exhaust is natural and pronounced. Additionally, the LFA has distinct manifold cover ribs that help refine engine sound while maximizing aural effects. The Yamaha collaboration helped Lexus make a grunt that matched the performance of the LFA.
4 Automated manual transmission
Each LFA contains a six-speed single-clutch transmission with paddle shifters. That makes the LFA an adrenaline junkie’s fantasy with a 0-60mph time of 3.6 seconds. Its single-clutch transmission makes it more fun to drive than the refined dual-clutch of the Mercedes SLS AMG.
This Aisin gearbox has minimum shift times of 150-200ms. These short shift times help the gearbox take advantage of the high-revving V10. It also adds fun to shifting using the steering-mounted paddle shifters.
3 Breathtaking cockpit
Besides having a refined aerodynamic exterior, the LFA’s sophisticated interior trumps even Mercedes-Benz sports cars like the SLR. It is dressed in specially designed materials, unlike its competitors. The LFA has supportive bucket seats and seat belt airbags for the driver and passenger.
Behind the sporty steering wheel are column-mounted paddle shifters and a side start button. The LFA has a remote touch interface in the center to make it accessible to the driver. For sound, the LFA has a Mark Levinson 12-speaker system that generates quality sound in the cabin.
2 Custom car
All parts of the LFA were explicitly designed for this. This bespoke supercar features a carbon fiber body to help increase durability and reduce weight. It also features a form-follows-function exterior with sharp edges for aerodynamic performance.
The LFA has a speed-sensitive rear wing with a stretcher flap that deploys at speeds over 50 mph. It was available with three wheel colors, 28 standard exterior colors, and a matte black option.
1 Race-derived engine
The LFA is powered by a naturally aspirated 4.8-litre DOHC 40-valve V10 engine developed using Formula One technology. This track engine produces 552 hp at 8,700 rpm and 354 lb-ft of torque at 6,800 rpm, 90% of which is available from 3,700 rpm. Its Aisin single-clutch automated manual transmission sends all the power to the rear wheels.
The race-derived engine and automated manual transmission give the feeling of being in a race car. Its engine construction features forged aluminum pistons and redlines at 9,000 rpm, but there is a fuel cut at 9,500 rpm.
