Lexus LFA Supercar to Make North American Debut at 2009 SEMA and Los Angeles International Auto Shows
Lexus' First Supercar Redefines the Segment for the 21st Century
4.8L V10 Engine Generates 552 Horsepower for Powerful Rear-Wheel Drive Performance
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer Helps Provide a Light and Strong Structure
October 21, 2009 - Torrance, CA. - The highly anticipated 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 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 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 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 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 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 (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.
*All LFA specifications are preliminary.
Lightweight, powerful and balanced, the 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 LFAs 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 LFAs 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 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 cars 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.
