The Japanese brand has announced today that the Lexus LFA US debut will take place at the 2009 SEMA show in Las Vegas, followed by the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show in December. The Lexus LFA had its world debut today at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show and will go on sale in 2011. The Lexus LFA price for the US market has not been announced yet, but in Europe it will sell for 368,000 EUR.
The new Lexus LFA is powered by a V10 4.8 liter engine good for 552 bhp and 480 Nm of torque. with a maximum speed of 202 mph, the Lexus LFA can reach 62 mph from 0 in 3.7 seconds. The fuel economy and CO2 emissions level of the Lexus LFA have not been announced yet.
The engine of the Lexus LFA is mated to a 6-speed Automated Sequential Gearbox (ASG) with paddle shifters that's linked by a rigid torque tube.
The Lexus LFA will enter production in December 2010 and will be on the market for the next 24 months.
Lexus Press Release:
The highly anticipated Lexus LFA supercar, which just made its global debut at the Tokyo Motor Show, will be on display for the first time in North America at two back-to-back premier venues
-- the 2009 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas this November and the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show in December.
Next year, Lexus will show the Lexus LFA at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Chicago Auto Show, Dallas Auto Show and New York International Auto Show.
As the first Lexus supercar, the Lexus LFA serves as the flagship for the F portfolio of Lexus performance models and redefines the supercar for the 21st century. The Lexus F brand complements
the core Lexus DNA by emphasizing serious performance. The Lexus LFA was carefully developed from a blank canvas by a small and dedicated team of hand-picked engineers that pushed every possible dynamic boundary.
"The development of the Lexus LFA was unlike any other Lexus," said Mark Templin, Lexus division group vice president and general manager. "Minute details were engineered to provide an engaging and serious supercar that delivers impressive performance on and off the race track. Only 500 will
ever be built worldwide, and each will be assembled to customer order, offering a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be part of a small, exclusive group of individuals."
All 500 Lexus LFA supercars will be hand-assembled by skilled technicians in the "Lexus LFA Works" at the Motomachi Plant in Toyota City at a rate of no more than 20 per month.
The rear-wheel drive LFA is dynamically styled and powered by a sophisticated new high-revving 9,000 rpm (redline) 4.8-liter V10 engine that generates 552 hp and 354 lb.-ft. of torque for adrenaline-fuelled 202- mph performance. This specially-developed powerplant is paired with a unique six-speed Automated Sequential Gearbox
Lexus LFA video:
(ASG) with blazing-quick paddle-activated shifts for ultimate driver control. Linked by a rigid torque tube for excellent drivetrain integrity, the ASG is located in a transaxle layout over the rear axle for an optimal 48:52 front-to-rear weight distribution. Motorsport-developed lightweight aluminum alloy suspension components are complemented by Carbon Ceramic Material (CCM) brake discs and an innovative electrically assisted rack and pinion steering system.
Lightweight, powerful and balanced, the Lexus LFA features advanced Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) construction for its chassis and much of its bodywork to deliver a light, incredibly strong and impact-resistant structure. Rather than outsource this sophisticated materials technology, the LFA team took the radical step of developing its own CFRP processes internally for ultimate quality control and to make a sound engineering investment in the future.
The Lexus LFA's sporty styling is distinguished by coherent lines that flow from roof to sill in a seamless convex to concave line for sophisticated aerodynamics. Its front-mid engine layout, long wheelbase, short overhangs, and snug, low-slung cabin identify it as a supercar. CFRP also gave the LFA's designers a far higher degree of design freedom, allowing them to create shapes, curves and edges that would have been impossible with metal. For example, the sharp trailing edges at the rear of the Lexus LFA that help provide superlative aerodynamics would not have been possible had traditional metal been used for the bodywork.
A dramatic low-slung cockpit has been intelligently designed and hand-assembled with the finest materials to reflect the car's driver-centric dynamics. The intimate two-seat cabin has been conceived at every stage -- ergonomics, acoustics, materials, comfort, versatility and visibility levels have all been painstakingly engineered -- to put the driver at the center of the driving experience.
Production of the LFA supercar will begin in December 2010 with deliveries continuing for the following 24 months. Consumers may contact the Lexus LFA Information Center at 866-LFA-4794 to express interest or visit www.Lexus-LFA.com for more information.
