Lexus LF-A At The Nurburg

[Driz26]

Japanese Performance Car News: Spied: LF-A Heads Back To Nurburgring
More pics and more info...

After going back to the drawing board to address a few minor "engineering issues" (principally an unsatisfactory top speed), Lexus have taken the LF-A back to the Nurburgring to conduct further shakedown tests.

Two new LF-A prototypes were spotted being unloaded from a transporter and getting pushed into Lexus' garage at the Nurburgring Nordschliefe, and the spy photogs from KGP were there to snap off a few frames of them . Not much appears to mark these out as being any different externally from previous prototypes, and that's a good thing: that long bonnet and streamlined roofline just scream "Grand Tourer", while the rear-mounted radiators with their attendant fans and intakes make the LF-A look more like a fighter jet than a mere sports car. Those triple-stacked central exhaust pipes also dominate the hind quarters of the LF-A, but thankfully lack the obnoxiousness of those on the Pagani Zonda. Beautiful yet purposeful, the LF-A is shaping up to be one fine-looking vehicle indeed.

The prototypes haven't hit the 'Ring just yet, but we're sure we'll have more news and imagery for you when they do. What we really want though, is a confirmation (or a denial) of that 7:24 laptime the LF-A is supposed to have done. What would be even better is some video of a repeat performance.

Japanese Performance Car News: LF-A Gets Mad, Ready To Smash Puny Humans

Cripes. The LF-A is still stuck in the quagmire that has become its development and has a release date that's still in the distant future, yet Lexus are already hitting the track with what appears to be a prototype racing version of the prototype road-going version.

The be-winged coupe was spotted around the Nurburgring (where else) sporting a host of rather serious external changes, none of which would presumably be suitable for road use. The rear wing is a full-width design, with tall stanchions replacing the retractable mechanism of the regular, vanilla-flavoured LF-A. The front end has also been transformed by a different front apron, with carbon-fibre canards sprouting from the sides. The mirrors are lightweight and fixed, while the small window between the B and C-pillars has been filled in with a carbon-fibre blanking plate. The fans on the rear-mounted radiators have been removed and there's a rollcage too, along with a pair of bonnet pins.

All of these mods point to two things: big power and big performance. That massive wing and those front canards are there to create downforce: downforce that stops the rear wheels burning and downforce that keeps the front wheels turning. And besides, only racecars and show-going trailer queens have bonnet pins - guess which category this car falls under?

This LF-A is clearly built to go fast, but two questions remain: How fast, and why? The answer to the first question should hopefully become apparent before the month is out. Spy photographers seem to be arming themselves with stopwatches these days, so we hope one of them manages to time this thing around the Nordschliefe soon.
The second question is still open to speculation. One theory has Lexus entering the LF-A in the upcoming Nurburgring 24-hour enduro, which may also serve as the launch venue for the luxo-supercar. We're not so sure whether that'll be the case, but what we do know is that we definitely want to see more of this thing.