Lexus LFA (2012)

The lineage of Japanese super sports cars is sporadic, with only a handful of models over a period of nearly 60 years; but when a supercar does come from Japan, they seem to redefine the segment. Perhaps the first car to do this was the Toyota 2000GT when it was unveiled in 1965. 40 years later, Toyota, under the Lexus brand, set out once again to prove the dominance of their engineering with a new flagship product. Emerging from an almost decade long development programme, Toyota Motor Corporation did the unimaginable and finally announced that their halo super sports car concept would pe put into production in August 2009.

As early as 2004, Lexus were seen testing disguised prototypes, equipped with active aerodynamics and carbon ceramic brakes, at the infamous Nürburgring Nordschleife. The attention the detail and obsession with refining the LFA to create the ultimate driver’s performance car is so apparent, not only in the flesh but also looking into the incredibly drawn-out development programme.

For example, Lexus spent six years building and developing an aluminium platform, perhaps inspired by the most recent car from Japan to reform what the expectations of a performance car could do – the Honda NSX. By the time the aluminium constructed prototypes were ready, advancements in carbon composite construction had made progress to the point that it would be possible to construct the LFA to be over 100 kilograms lighter, yet more torsionally stiff. By this point an exorbitant amount of money had been spent, yet Lexus started again from scratch, in an entirely uncompromising aspiration to achieve automotive perfection. This contributed to a total development cost of over 90,000,000,000 Yen, - over half a billion pounds at the time – which meant each car sold would be at a significant loss.

The LFA was always going to set an impressive time at the Nürburgring, and with the Nürburgring edition, the car set a new outright production car record of 7:14:64 in 2011. Naturally, the LFA also translated well into racing, being driven in the Nürburgring 24 hours every year from 2008 to 2015. The car won in class in 2010, 2012 and 2014, and was driven by Akido Toyoda himself in 2009.

The engine is perhaps the primary talking point when it comes to the LFA. The 1LR-GUE 72-degree, 4.8 Litre V10 was co-developed with Yamaha to achieve the almost impossible goal; ‘the horsepower of a V12, the dimensions of a V8, and the mass of a V6’. With over 550 bhp, which means 115bhp/litre, it is safe to say they were successful in fulfilling the brief. Dry sumped, and with the periodic table being proverbially thrown at the componentry, such as the DLC coated rocker arms, titanium valves and connecting rods, with the rest constructed from magnesium and aluminium. With individual oil jets for each rocker, as well as individual throttle bodies for each intake, the V10 became the fastest revving engine to ever be fitted to a production car, with a response rate of 13,000rpm/s, it could rev from idle to redline in 0.6 seconds. Although the hard fuel cutoff did not arrive until a scintillating 9,500rpm, it could produce over 90% of its peak torque from only 3,800rpm.

In a rare case of ‘heart over head’ engineering from Lexus, the intake and exhaust system were co-developed with the Yamaha music division, with complex routing engineered to create the "the roar of an Angel" as much as it was optimised for performance.

It is always sensational when a car company ignores profit margins and development costs with such a purity to their goal, and the resulting machines are always so discernibly imbued with the passion and sentiment of their creators. More so than in perhaps any other car, this philosophy is evident in the Lexus LFA.

Please note, this vehicle is no longer for sale.

This Lexus LFA was delivered new to its first owner in 2012. It arrived finished in the fascinating specification of Fresh Green over a red interior. A truly unique specification, with only one other car being delivered new in Fresh Green. The paint has an incredible saturation to it. In isolation it appears similar to Porsche PTS Viper green, but side by side, or in lower light, it possesses a fluorescence that cannot be ignored.

As well as the striking exterior colour, the specification list also included:

• Carbon rear diffuser
• Rear side spoilers
• Alcantara interior (red & black)
• Alcantara roof lining (red)
• CFRP steering wheel
• Leather door grips
• Mark Levinson audio system
• Electrically adjustable heated seats

The car has only covered 1,350km from new, and a recent 2024 service at Lexus Milton Keynes has been performed. The sale will also include the car's bookpack, original Lexus LFA pen, and tyre depth gauge. This car presents the rare oppurtunity to own not just any LFA - which are not a frequently available car by any means - but a low mileage and great condition example in a one-off specification which is as memorable as the exhaust note. It is available to view by appointment at our showrooms just outside of London.