Lexus F-Sports Apex, or LFA, is the abbreviation for the “Apex” of the Lexus premium sports-blended “F” series. Apex refers to the top. Additionally, the Lexus Future Advance initials serve as the name of the concept version of this vehicle.
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The Uniqueness
The LFA is more than just a typical supercar, despite the fact that it does so obviously. Both the exterior and interior appear to be completely custom-made. Since every single car was totally handcrafted in Japan by a small group of workers known as takumi, the attention to detail is astounding. There’s a slim possibility that you’ll see two LFAs, much less one, at a supercar meet as just 500 of these vehicles were produced.
The Engineering
In addition to having a small number of units produced, the LFA is a marvel of engineering. The first LF-A concept car was unveiled at NAIAS in 2005, but the car’s development actually started back in 2000.
A few years before manufacturing, the development came to an end after continuing continuously for some time. The LFA’s planned aluminum body would be excessively heavy, thus CFRP was chosen instead. It only weights 1480 kg as a result, and when combined with the 552 hp of the 4.8 L V10, you get a vehicle that can accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3.6 seconds and reach a top speed of 326 km/h (203 MPH). Yes, that does seem impressive, but not really. But how it delivers that power is what really stands out about it. Which brings up the next point.
The Sound
The LFA is arguably best known for its instantly recognizable, distinctive, and high-pitched sound. It’s frequently compared to an F1 car because of this. The engine’s relatively small displacement need higher engine revs in order to produce adequate power. As a result, the redline can reach 9000 rpm.
Why is the Lexus LFA forbidden in America?
Is Toyota becoming more like Apple? You’re being sold a product, but they’re telling you how to use it?
The Lexus LFA supercar’s buying regulations may be loosening up a touch for American buyers.
When Lexus unveiled the LFA last year, the Japanese automaker stated that only American customers on lease would be able to purchase one. The decision was made because Lexus didn’t want consumers to profitably sell the limited series car to another client. The car could only be purchased outright after the two-year lease period.
Recently, Lexus published new, more rigorous terms while reversing course (a bit). Customers in the United States can buy the car, but they are only permitted to return it to the dealer for the sticker price or its fair market value, whichever is lesser, for the following two years. The dealer is owed the sale’s profit plus legal fees if the owner sells the LFA privately without first providing the dealer the buyback option. Ouch!
With its first entry into the supercar market, where it will compete with names like Ferrari and Lamborghini, does Lexus really want to hurt itself? Evidently so.
The Lexus LFA’s failure: why?
Last but not least, the price tag of this supercar was the main factor in its failure. The LFA debuted in 2011 with a windscreen sticker that read $400,000 on the market. It cost almost twice as much as a Ferrari 599, the same model.
As to why Lexus created the LFA,
The Lexus LFA was only produced for one model year, 2012, at Lexus’s request. It was successful for Lexus to create a V10 supercar that could compete with those made by European manufacturers like Porsche and Lamborghini. They were aware from the start that they would only be able to produce 500 LFAs, and they all sold out in the first year.
Because the Lexus is a very expensive vehicle, Lexus sought to limit manufacturing to protect the value for those who purchased one. Due to the high cost of research and development for the LFA, which had a starting price of $375,000, Lexus was still losing money on every unit that was sold.
Once all 500 Lexus LFAs were sold, the company stopped producing them. Due to rising demand in recent years, this has caused the LFA’s value to rise.
What number of LFA remain?
According to the listing, the owner of the dealership, Arlington Lexus in Palatine, Illinois, bought the vehicle after it was delivered to the business. However, according to the listing, it has only 72 miles on the odometer and has spent the most of the last nine years on display in the dealership’s showroom. The LFA’s final sale price of $808,000 reflects a profit of $433,000 over its initial sticker price of $375,000 plus any initial dealer discount. Sometimes it makes sense to keep a brand-new car for almost ten years.
Many dealerships kept their LFAs as showcase items to draw customers into their showrooms. Five brand-new, unregistered LFA vehicles were still available as of January 2020, even though production on the model finished in December 2012 and the final vehicle arrived in the United States in February 2013.
The carbon-fiber-bodied LFA was intended to be a halo vehicle for Lexus, elevating the company’s reputation while leveraging some of parent Toyota’s Formula One expertise.
A 5.2-liter V-10 with a 9,000-rpm redline and 552 horsepower and 334 lb-ft of torque powers the vehicle. An automatic manual transmission with six speeds and a single clutch is attached to the high-revving engine.
Despite that magnificent V-10, many people have trouble grasping the concept of a Lexus supercar. In comparison to the rest of the Lexus series, the $375,000 base price appeared absurd. That could help to explain why even the modest 500-unit production run was difficult for Lexus to sell.
According to the listing, this vehicle is one of just five Pearl Yellow versions made for the American market. Though sources disagree on the precise number, less than 200 automobiles were imported into the United States.
Even more than other recent LFA sales, the sale price was high. A brown LFA was posted for sale at a dealership in January with an asking price of $680,000, while a silver LFA sold for $720,000 at an auction earlier this year.
Who is a Lexus LFA owner?
Only 50 of the even more rare Lexus LFA Nrburgring models left the Motomachi production line, and Pasin Lathouras is the proud owner of one. When visiting the UK, Pasin, who is based in Thailand, drives the LFA on a regular basis. We caught up with him to find out what it’s like to own and use this renowned supercar.
Who can purchase a Lexus LFA?
With a reported price of $680,000, the dealership Hyper Voitures is selling a 2012 Lexus LFA in an unusual hue.
Only 178 of the 500 supercars produced by Lexus were exported to the US. Even among that exclusive group, this car stands out thanks to its Pearl Brown Metallic paint job and orange leather interior.
The original price for the LFA was an astounding $375,000 when it was brand-new, so this lightly-used model with 1,073 miles on the odometer offers a sizable markup.
Any LFA is unquestionably uncommon and collectible, but as of January 2020, five brand-new, unregistered LFAs are still available. Some dealerships kept their LFAs as showcase vehicles to increase showroom traffic because the vehicle did not sell quickly when it was first introduced. The last LFA arrived in the United States in February 2013 after LFA production came to a stop in December 2012.
The LFA was designed to represent Lexus as a brand and bring some of Toyota’s Formula One expertise to the road. It has a 4.8-liter V-10 engine with a 9,000-rpm redline and 552 horsepower and 334 pound-feet of torque. Although the LFA’s carbon fiber exterior and powertrain still appear to be cutting-edge, the vehicle’s outdated 6-speed single-clutch automated manual transmission is a dead giveaway.
The LFA was never followed up by Lexus. The more opulent LC is currently the brand’s flagship model, having been produced in the same Japanese plant as the Toyota Mirai fuel-cell car. Still a possibility is a hotter LC F performance variant, but this time with a twin-turbo V-8 rather than a roaring normally aspirated V-10.
Can I still purchase an LFA?
The Lexus LFA is regarded by many as one of the best supercars ever produced. I imagined that since Lexus only produced 500 units, they were immediately consumed. I was mistaken. Despite the fact that Lexus stopped producing the LFA in 2012, Carscoops reports that there are still seven brand-new LFA supercars available for purchase in the United States.
Lexus had stated that it still had 12 LFAs on hand. Five of the automobiles have now been sold. Seven vehicles are still on dealer lots across the nation.
When it was released in 2011, the LFA was a revelation. It took a very, very long time to arrive, but when it did, it astounded many in the automotive press and customers.
That being said, it cost $400,000 to purchase. Potential customers might have found that to be too much. The car is currently available for approximately $350,000, with some excellent models apparently costing as much as $500,000.
All things considered, the LFA featured one of the best V8 engines ever created by a Japanese carmaker. The 4.8-liter V8 produced 352 lb-ft of torque and 552 horsepower. It had a free-revving engine with a chill-inducing exhaust noise.
These cars probably won’t be worth as much as they did when they were first purchased. They’ll probably become collectible cars. However, it appears that not many people are currently prepared to pay for the car. You can pick one of seven cars if you’re one of the few who are willing.
The number of LFA produced.
Because Lexus only produced 500 LFAs in total, with about 190 of those being manufactured in a US version, a significant factor in the LFA’s legendary and bespoke status was its limited production.
It really is the best illustration of what years of hard work and dedication can produce for Lexus. The fact that they are not made in quantities equivalent to those of other supercars, let alone your typical family saloon car, also demonstrates why the vehicle is so distinctive and totally customisable.
How quickly can the LFA Rev?
The stunning 1LR-GUE engine, a custom 4.8-liter V10 that is hailed as an engineering marvel, was the beating heart of this supercar. It was equipped with extraordinary peak power of 553bhp at a sky-high 8,700rpm and was rich in motorsport technology.