The Lexus LFA has become a myth among collectors and JDM car enthusiasts. Only 500 of these renowned Japanese supercars were ever produced, and they are selling like hotcakes to eager purchasers. We came across an extremely uncommon LFA completed in Pearl Brown a few years ago. It sold for $645,000 and was the only one of its kind. At Hyper Voitures, this rare treasure is once again available for purchase for a discount price of $680,000. Is this LFA still a wise purchase, or is the brown paint job a curse?
In This Article...
Is Lexus regarded as JDM?
For the Japanese domestic market, use JDM. In other words, they are a particular kind of car that was offered solely to Japanese car purchasers and was only sold in Japan. Honda, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Suzuki, Subaru, and Toyota are some of the more well-known brands that are categorized as JDM.
The LFA is it Japanese?
The Lexus LFA is a two-seat sports car made by Lexus, the premium automotive division of Toyota (Japanese: LFA, Rekusasu LFA). It is the first solo Lexus F model and the second model in Lexus’ F marque line of high-performance cars, following the IS F. At the North American International Auto Show, three concept versions were shown, each bearing the LF-A moniker as a member of the LF Series concept series. The initial LF-A concept debuted in 2005 following the start of development in the early 2000s (under the codename TXS), and a second idea with a more fully furnished interior and exterior debuted in 2007. In 2008, the LF-third A’s iteration with a roadster body style made its debut. In October 2009, the Tokyo Motor Show hosted the unveiling of the production model, designated LFA[3] by trademark. [4] The “Apex” of the LF line of vehicles is represented by the “A” in the production LFA nomenclature, according to Lexus. [5]
The LFA was an opportunity for Akio Toyoda, CEO of parent firm Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC), to establish a global icon for the Lexus brand and represent Toyoda’s philosophy that the ideal Lexus should connect with its owner.
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The Lexus LFA’s production model has a body constructed of carbon fiber-reinforced polymer and a 412 kW (560 PS; 553 horsepower) V10 engine created in partnership with Yamaha specifically for the vehicle (CFRP). 65 percent of the mass of the LFA’s body is made up of CFRP components. [7] The LFA began manufacturing in the latter part of 2010. [8] [9] One of the most costly Japanese road vehicles ever produced made its dbut in 2012[10] as a circuit-tuned variation. [11] 500 vehicles were built through December 2012, with a Nrburgring Package model serving as the last vehicle. [12]
Alain Uyttenhoven, head of Lexus Europe, said there wouldn’t be a new LFA replacement anytime soon in February 2016.
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After selling three LFAs in 2019, Lexus still had four LFAs available as of 2020[update]. Despite the fact that the LFA’s production ceased in 2012, two were nevertheless sold in March 2020 and another in September 2020. [14] [15] [16]
The LFA was it sold in Japan?
The Lexus LFA was all about sales last we heard about it. Prior to that, it concerned the allocation of LFAs to the United States and further information regarding the car’s speculator-thwarting leasing program. Last month, we revealed that Lexus built a specialized sales center for the vehicle in Europe.
The Lexus LFA’s run in Japan has now been completely sold out, which is more sales-related news.
All 165 Lexus LFAs designated for Lexus’ home market of Japan have been reserved in the months after the vehicle’s official debut. Oddly, the leasing isn’t in place in Japan or Europe; the LFAs are exclusively leased in North America.
On the one hand, it may be unexpected that the automobile has sold out so rapidly, but on the other, the car is widely hailed in Japan as the height of Japanese engineering. We’ll see how quickly the last 500 models in the production run are sold out.
What kind of vehicle qualifies as JDM?
The word “JDM” refers to the Japanese Domestic Market, which refers to the fact that these cars are intended to be manufactured in Japan and distributed to residents of Japan. Even if they are sold in the US, all Japanese automobiles are frequently referred to as JDM. You must recognize the difference between this and the misconception it is.
A automobile is not a JDM car if it is manufactured in Japan and sold on the global market in the US, Europe, or somewhere else. JDM cars frequently have unique characteristics designed to fit in with Japanese car culture and rules, which is one of the reasons they are so coveted by car enthusiasts searching for something unique.
If you enjoy unusual, out-of-the-ordinary cars, you may have heard about the JDM automobile before and been curious about its significance. JDM cars are autos that are manufactured in Japan exclusively for the Japanese market and are not intended for export. Unlike certain Japanese vehicles, like the Honda Civic or the Toyota Corolla, which are intended for sale in the United States, these vehicles are targeted at Japanese consumers.
JDM cars are occasionally imported by persons who want to possess distinctive automobiles even though they are not always intended for sale in the United States. Owning one of these cars has advantages and disadvantages, just like owning any other car. You can decide if one of these automobiles is perfect for you by understanding what JDM signifies and how these vehicles are distinctive.
What JDM vehicle is the fastest?
Although the Skyline is still not sold in the United States, we can start to forgive now that the GT-R Track Edition is. The ultimate JDM supercar is the GT-R Track Edition. With an astounding top speed of 207 MPH, the GT-565 R’s horsepower, 3.8L twin-turbo engine, all-wheel drive, Brembo braking system, and honed aerodynamics are featured!
The Nissan GT-R Track Edition is also the fastest production vehicle to ever leave Japan, with a 0-60 time of 2.7 seconds. For the time being, this Nismo makes up for the loss of the Skyline.
A BMW: a JDM vehicle?
Anything created for the Japanese market and not coming from a Japanese corporation would be the straightforward response. Since they are made by non-Japanese automakers with no production facilities in Japan, vehicles like the Porsche 911 and BMW 3-Series are obviously as far from being JDM as is humanly conceivable.
Some automakers must modify their vehicles to fit various markets where they want to sell. The BMW 3-Series, for instance, is available in both US and UK specifications. Any Americanized version of a European automobile must typically feature orange indicators on the side of the bumpers. To meet more stringent emissions requirements, there may occasionally be variations in the suspension settings or in the horsepower and torque statistics.
Take Honda as an illustration. It is a Japanese automaker that produces vehicles both for the Japanese market and for overseas markets. Honda operates manufacturing facilities across the globe, including in the US, like many other automakers. Depending on the market, the eighth-generation Honda Civic was available in three different configurations. For Asia, Australia, Russia, and South Africa, the Civic FD was built. The Civic FD qualifies as a JDM because it is a product of the Japanese Domestic Market and was produced in Japan, which is located in Asia. Since they are designed for foreign markets, the other iterations of the eighth-generation Civic are not regarded as JDM. The FK1/FN2 hatchback is not considered JDM because it is intended for Australia and Europe. Additionally, Honda’s facility in Swindon, England, is where its assembly is finished.
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.
The Lexus LFA’s demise: 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.
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 spoke with him to learn more about what it’s like to drive and own this storied supercar.
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.