If playing hard to get is a strategy for attraction, Toyota’s coy disclosures (or non-disclosures) about their highly anticipated Lexus LF-A Mule, raises the tactic to an art form. The “supercar” made its initial appearance as a concept at the 2005 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The 5-liter, front/mid-mounted V10 with a thrumming 500 horsepower was a head turner, as were the rumors that the cars hybrid-electric powertrain might be a possibility.
Two years passed before we saw the LF-A again, this time at the 2007 show in Detroit where the biggest changes were stylistic refinements. The car, whose back end is dominated by square cooling vents and a triangular arrangement of triple exhausts in the rear fascia, was more aerodynamic and sleeker. The massive rear wing had been replaced by a smaller, fixed unit and little polished details were apparent throughout. But the company still stoutly maintained that the vehicle was a concept — albeit one that was closer to production.
Now, however, this “concept” is the new unofficial King of the ‘Ring, having set a lap record of 7 minutes 24 seconds at Germany’s Nurburgring. In theory, that beats the Porsche GT2 by a whole second although there’s considerable dispute about whether or not that’s actually the case. A second is shaving it pretty close, but whether the record stands or not, let’s face it, the LF-A is one seriously fast machine and if it’s running the ‘Ring it has to be much more than a concept.
The best current stats for the Lexus LF-A says were looking at a high-performance sports car outfitted with a 4.8-liter V10 developed in cooperation with Yamaha. The engine revs to a gorgeous 9,000 rpms and returns 552 bhp. With those numbers, it should easily top out at 210 mph. The expectation is that drivers can finally get their hands on the machine in 2009 with a price tag expected to top a cool $100,000. And what about the hybrid-electric rumor? At this point, don’t hold your breath, but it is worth noting that the intake ducts, which are integrated into the rocker panels and C-pillar could cool a battery pack mounted to the rear. For now, however, after almost three solid years of teasing, most enthusiasts just want to see the LF-A on a showroom floor and ready for a test drive.
Gallery
