Lexus L-FA: Tokyo show 2007: Lexus LF-A
Lexus supercar needs to be faster, while next NSX needs to be prettier
On the Toyota stand at Tokyo there was, disappointingly, no evidence of a production version of the Lexus LF-A supercar, just the concept version we’ve seen several times before. Word on the stand was that, in its current state (as seen testing at the Nürburgring for several months now), the LF-A is simply not fast enough.
Toyota wants the car to have a top speed in excess of 350kph (217mph) to justify its $100,000 price tag, but apparently getting beyond 330kph has proved to be a struggle. Now Toyota has asked its designers to look at making the car more aerodynamic before it’s shown to the public.
Over at the Honda stand, meanwhile, the replacement NSX was also conspicuous by its absence. It seems Honda was stung by criticism of the Acura Advanced Sports Car Concept it showed at Detroit earlier this year and is hastily redesigning the car in time for next year’s shows. Expect something more along the lines of a classic GT car, similar to an Aston DB9.
The plan is for it to still have a 500bhp V10, but it now looks as if it won’t make production until 2010 at the earliest.
