Lexus, Toyota’s luxury car company, has taken the wraps off its exotic V10-engined 412kW coupe.
Lexus LFA, a V10-powered supercar, unveils at the Tokyo Auto Show 2009, which shows Toyota’s luxury brand is serious about performance.
An exotic performance car with an aggressive, aerodynamic form, a cabin crafted from carbon fibre reinforced plastic and extensive use of lightweight metal components, such as magnesium, titanium and aluminum alloys — and ‘that’ 10-cylinder engine.
Lexus LFA, the two-seater supercar, is scheduled to go into production at the end of 2010 and is powered by a 4.8-litre V10 with an eyebrow-raising 9000rpm redline.
LEXUS developed the peak power 10-cylinder lump — known internally as the 1LR-GUE — is 412kW at 8700rpm and the engine is recessed deep into the engine bay to improve weight distribution.
The front-mounted V10 engine drives the rear wheels via a new six-speed automated sequential gearbox – complete with steering wheel paddle shifters — that has a quartet of selectable driving modes (from chilled out to flat out) and is claimed to deliver upshift speeds of 0.2 seconds.
All-new V10 engine features titanium valves and ultra-light rocker arms with a “diamond-like coating” that, combined with an integrated lower crankcase, helps to keep pumping losses at high revs to a minimum.
The V10 engine cranks out 90 per cent of its 480Nm of torque between 3700rpm and 9000rpm, helping in its 325km/h top speed together with its low-slung form and light 1480kg kerb weight.
The exhaust system creates a “unique, exciting and inspired soundtrack” via equal-length exhaust manifolds and dual exhaust system, not to mention a multistage titanium main muffler. The induction acoustics haven’t been neglected either, with 10 individual throttle bodies linked to an acoustically tuned surge tank.
Blistering 3.7sec 0-100km/h acceleration of engines are “track-sized” carbon ceramic disc brakes at each corner of the LFA, combining with an electronically controlled braking system to provide “ultra-powerful yet stable” deceleration.
The Japanese supercar reduce oil surge using sump engine lubrication under high G-forces and by placing weighty components inside its 2.6-metre wheelbase, the car optimizes its balance such as the transmission and the fuel tank.
And the lighter components (such as the radiator and electric fans) placed behind the rear axle, explaining the need for the bold air vents located above and below the trailing edges of the doors.
Lexus has managed to achieve a front-to-rear weight distribution of 48:52, positioning the driver’s seat as far inboard as possible to lower the car’s centre of gravity.
It features front double-wishbone suspension and a rear multilink suspension setup that, together with Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM), “provide a high level of vehicle stability and preventative safety without interfering with the driver’s intentions, especially when sport driving.”
An exterior design appears the same as the Toyota Supra of the late 1990s, which is the result of detailed aerodynamic engineering.
The Japanese two-seater super coupe features a flat underbody and a significant rear diffuser to promote a smooth airflow underneath the vehicle. A speed-controlled rear wing helps increase downforce over the rear axle, allowing precise vehicle response at all vehicle speeds.
The Supercar interior boasts a cutting-edge digitized instrument panel that is linked to a directional control pad on the steering wheel to cycle through its various systems.
The Lexus LFA will go under production at the end of 2010 and expectedly will go for sales in 2011. Pricing is expected to be around €250,000, which is about A$405,000 or US$375,000.
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