So Lexus dropped the LF-A... Go Nissan

[tokyogtr]

One can only assume production costs were just too much for lexus. you'd have to assume now that toyota will chuck all that money into the supra now. Looks like the GT-R lives to fight another day....

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/28/r...f-a-stillborn/

The writing has been on the wall for some time. Although the Lexus flagship graduated from "concept" to "prototype" when it campaigned in the 24 Hours of Nurburgring, Toyota has refused to even hint at a production date for the V10 supercar. Then Toyota declined to plonk an LF-A silhouette on their Super GT racer, electing to continue with the doomed SC 430 jello mold.

Then news broke that production cars would cost a whopping $225,000, but the LF-A still wouldn't turn a profit. Needless to say, Toyota doesn't like things that are not profitable.

Finally, members of the testing and development crew who have been putting the car though its paces in Germany, as well as test drivers from rival Honda and Nissan crews, have told Autoblog that the LF-A is not destined for the showroom, and will remain only a development platform.

No reasons were given, but we can think of a couple. How many people are willing to part with nigh on a quarter of a million bucks for a Toyota/Lexus? Also, the world's most prolific car maker may not be willing to join the current Nurburgring pissing contest unless it is 100% sure that they can beat the Viper, ZR-1 and perhaps more importantly, the GT-R and upcoming NSX replacement.

Actually, one 'Ring test driver didn't mind going on the record with his opinion. Former Nissan racer, NSX development driver and Nurburgring legend Motoharu "Gan-san" Kurosawa reckons, "Toyota are good at making money, but they're no good at making sports cars."

[gtrlux]

That's nice in one way . . .because like this it will live as a legend of what it could have been . . I mean the looks were staggering and the performance on the Ring as well . . .RIP

Now bring that fcking Supra, instead of producing one boring Familyvan after another in japan . . .

Anyway the new RX7 will be the next car to look for, as it will be probably priced just below the GTR . .the NSX will again be in Ferrari costs thought.

[kismetcapitan]

I think the nail in the coffin was the absolutely dismal performance of the LF-A at the 24 hours Nurburgring.

It did have a very nice exhaust and rear diffuser....but a sexy ass does not an overall performer make, just like the ladies

[gtrlux]

Originally Posted by kismetcapitan

I think the nail in the coffin was the absolutely dismal performance of the LF-A at the 24 hours Nurburgring.

It did have a very nice exhaust and rear diffuser....but a sexy ass does not an overall performer make, just like the ladies

I disagree with you, a sexy ladies ass just depends on your performance.

[tokyogtr]

back to the topic and off of sexy ladies asses (which i'll be glad to discuss in tantra) does anyone have any news on the supra?

[dtp]

haha... in contrast, this website stated that Lexus LF-A is on its way to join super league!!!! They even stated some specifications.

A new Japanese supercar is on its way.
It's low, a purposeful two-door coupe sitting on big wheels with a sleek body and it promises super performance. But what is the car in our picture - an Aston Martin, Jaguar XK, maybe a Ferrari?

Nope. It's from Japan and from a company known for building luxury cars, Lexus.

This Lexus LF-A is arguably the first supercar from a Japanese brand since the Ferrari-challenging Honda NSX of 1991-2005, but with a lot more power than the NSX.

Lexus has aimed “to build a supercar with world-class performance that is uniquely Lexus”.

It features a five-litre, V10 engine developed for high revs. Power output is 370kW and early track testing shows a 320km/h top speed is within reach.

The engine is mounted in front of the two-seat passenger compartment but behind the front axle line. LF-A engineers call it a `front-mid” configuration.

The transaxle is rear mounted, providing the rear-wheel drive that enthusiasts prefer -

and helping the weight distribution. As an aid to even weight distribution over each end of the car, two cooling radiators are mounted in the rear.

It means the nose of the car can be kept low and designed for optimum aerodynamics - a science which often is compromised by having airflow into radiators.

In this case, large intake ducts are just ahead of the rear wheel on each side of the car and feed air to cool the radiators.

Aerodynamics, including the car sticking to the road at high seed, is helped by venturi-effect underbody shape as used on race cars.

The rear bodywork has a pair of large grilles as exit vents for hot air from the radiators.

The Lexus LF-A bodywork is built of aluminium and carbon-fibre. The rear section has a speed-activated spoiler.

Gearshifting will be via paddleshifts.

Lexus started with a fixed-top coupe in developing its LF-A, which is now well beyond concept stage but also has created a Roadster convertible as a show car. Both versions are just 122cm tall.

Wheels? Try 20in diameter turbine-styled alloys - special 265/35 tyres on the front and 305/30 on the rear.

Lexus joins super league | carsguide.com.au

[tokyogtr]

classic... i wonder when they dug up this info? they don't even list a price! looks like it's straight off the lexus concept car website in japan...

[Eric GTR]

Does Toyota make any interesting cars at all any more?

Serviced ere in doors MR2 (which we cant replace since there's nothing comparable now ) in our dealers brand new showroom and it was depressing, we had entered a world of beige, there wernt any cars there just white goods...

[tokyogtr]

toyota have left it up to lexus to produce more exclusive cars now, even in tokyo.

[gtrlux]

Toyota is not and never was a car manufacturer like BMW, Honda, Mazda, VW, Fiat ex . . . . Toyota is a government institution, it is one of the flag ship destroyers from the japanese industry. Toyota is there to crash any non japanese rivals on the japanese market and get's anyway heavy illegaly founded by the j-governement to conquer the rest of the world.

Now Toyota is not so powerfull because they make the best or interesting cars, but because they make enough cars, that somebody wants to buy, by making the biggest margins!

Toyota was on a very good track back in the 90. but they lost the plot in the last 10 years . . . But no wind of sportyness now anymore . . . IS-F and co are brilliant cars, but what's the point?

I think it will not be worth to wait for a new Toyota sports car, as they get more attention from wealthy peeps with a Prius dustbin, then winning the 24H race on the Nuer Ring or winning the F1.


As I said ,wait for the RX7, it will be very good priced and I bet that it will be the fastest RWD sub 100k $ production car in the world.

[Eric GTR]

They certainly used to make exciting cars

The MK1 MR2 was pretty remarkable for the money 20 odd years ago

The Celica GT4 was brilliant, as fast as damn it as an integrale but with bullet proof reliability (i had 3 of them over 5 years)

The MR2 Roadster won huge praise in the press often beating even the elise in road tests.

So they can do it if they want, but from what you say the will doesnt seam to be there.

On the world domination front i thought honda was far ahead of toyaota in the usa

[gtrlux]

Toyota has about 52000sub companies only in japan and about 150000oversea . . . . Toyota is the only japanese buinsess model company that has been successfull over the 50years of existance . . .mainly as they droped the samurai ego in favor of a listening to 10000markets at the same time and taking the best out of it.Toyota is owned by 15000sub companies which again have spider net shares within partner companies ex . . . . let Toyota settle down in your city and they are going to assimilate every one and every thing. That's why no western firm can even scratch the Toyota walls, even with counter productivity it is useless . . . .

To understand the extent of the Toyota model, you have have to think about how the elite of about 10000japanese engineers works at Toyota . . . one of the Prius fathers dies last month because of overwork (karoushi). Now his memorie will certainly remind me not to by a toyota Hybrid anymore . . .

Toyota Supra and the legendary cars you mentioned above, were produced in the golden years of japanese sport cars, Toyota then joined the market and contributed very good stuff . . .but now the golden years are over and Toyota won't contribute anything at all . . .

[hipogtr]

Real disappointing news if this is legit - I was looking forward to the LF-A. Lexus make top quality cars for the price. I guess the next NSX and RX-7 will be interesting but I felt there was going to be something special about the LF-A. We wait again...

[mg1942]

I think Toyota/Lexus was trying to move in to the Luxury GT segment with the likes of Aston Martin. I guess the world is not yet ready for Toyota/Lexus to go really upscale.

And Toyota needs a sports car for the middle class!

Bring back the Mister-Two to compete with the likes of Honda S2000 and Mazda Miata.

Bring back the Supra to challenge the GT-R!

Introduce the Celica to the world again as a rear-drive sport compact car. It should have the characteristics of the AE-86 from 22 years ago.

[Mega]

"Bring back the Supra to challenge the GT-R!"

The Supra is DEAD!

Mike