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The AutoGuide News Blog is your source for breaking stories from the auto industry. Delivering news immediately, the AutoGuide Blog is constantly updated with the latest information, photos and video from manufacturers, auto shows, the aftermarket and professional racing.
We were well aware that Gazoo Racing was working on a pair of Toyota GT 86 race cars and a Lexus LFA for the upcoming Nürburgring 24 Hours race, and now Toyota Swiss Racing Team will be joining it with another pair.
Lexus apparently loaned an LFA supercar to skateboarding legend Tony Hawk for a few days, but after seeing the shenanigans that Hawk does with the rare Lexus, they may reconsider sending him another loaner vehicle.
You probably know what it means to play “chicken,” but the risks associated with the reckless schoolyard game take a more serious tone when cars are involved. That said, it’s a blast to watch.
Toyota is extremely proud of its new GT 86, and out in Japan, its motorsports partner Gazoo Racing has built a pair of GT 86s to compete in the famous Nürburgring 24 Hours race.
The race will take place from May 17th to the 20th and Gazoo Racing will also be fielding a Lexus LFA in the competition. Before one of the GT 86s compete in the Nürburgring race, however, it will make its way to the Japanese Rally Championship. Both custom Gazoo Racing Toyota GT 86s will be on display at the upcoming Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK from June 29th to July 1st.
It appears that the GT 86s will have around 200-hp and will be equipped with a six-speed manual for the race. We’re excited to see how well it does during the grueling endurance classic.
Watch a video of the Gazoo Racing Toyota GT 86 below
With the advent of hybrids and electric vehicles, many skeptics thought the age of high-performance sports car would die out. Reality couldn’t be any more different, as America has more than 70 cars on sale today that make 500-hp or more.
The number of vehicles pushing out 500-hp or more has nearly doubled in the last five years. What is more remarkable is more than a decade ago, there were just two vehicles in the club: the Ferrari 575M and the Lamborghini Murcielago. Now Ferrari alone has four models pushing out over 500-hp.
The ability to pump out so much horsepower has been aided by the leaps and bounds that engineering and technology has made over the last decade. Automakers are now able to equip their vehicles with smaller, more fuel efficient engines, which thanks to forced induction, can reliably crank out plenty of peak horsepower.
[Source: Autoweek]
Toyota will be sporting some nice hardware at this years Goodwood Festival of Speed, debuting the TS030 hybrid Le Mans car, the Dynojet Racing-prepared Toyota Avensis and Gazoo Racing LFA and GT86.
The Festival of Speed, as the name suggests, celebrates racing heritage and fast cars, both of which Toyota has to offer.
Toyota Racing driver Anthony Davidson is set to show off the TS030 hybrid racer on the famous hill course at Goodwood. The Dynojet Toyota Avensis will take some laps with BTCC driver Frank Wrathall behind the wheel. Wrathall raced to four podium finishes in his rookie season piloting the Aventis, and perfectly fits the Goodwood Festival of Speed’s chosen theme for 2012, “Young Guns – Born To Win.” The Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA and GT86 will be on hand for festival goers to appreciate and drool over.
To coincide with the cars release, Toyota will also display regular road going GT86′s to the public to drum up some hype and hopefully sales around the cars official UK release date.
We expect more announcements from Toyota in the coming weeks about additions to its Festival of Speed cars, as well as its famous faces.
Click back to AutoGuide for updates.
After driving an F1 car in competition, it would be hard not to have an unrealistic set of expectations for any car after that. So you would think that an F1 driver could never sit in a production car and still become enthralled with its performance capabilities. Well, according to Alex Wurz, the former F1 driver, the Lexus LFA is a rocket ship he would take home any day of the week.
Lexus is still eager to prove that it is fully capable of producing a super sports car that can perform with the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini. And with the LFA still sitting in the fifth position for fastest laptime around the famed Nürburgring, above both Lamborghini and Ferrari, the car has shown the world its true potential.
Watch the video below of Toyota Racing’s Alexander Wurz take the LFA out for some hot laps on the Estoril circuit in Portugal. Its interesting to listen to his take on the car, and how it handles.
Alex calls the car a “rocket ship”, and by the looks of the LFA in the video, we wouldn’t disagree.
GALLERY: Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition
10. 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S
Whether you’re heading to the Chicago Auto Show and want to know what to check out, or your trip is a bit more virtual, AutoGuide editors have compiled a list of the must-sees at this year’s event.
Head into McCormick Place and hang a left. You can’t miss the all-new 2012 Porsche 911. It might not be a world premiere, or even a North American debut, but the beautifully blue Carrera S is a piece of art. Four inches longer than the outgoing model it’s more substantial and a much sleeker design.
Powered by a 400 hp 3.8-liter flat-six engine the Carrera S can hit 60 mph in just 3.9 seconds when paired with Porsche’s PDK 7-speed dual-clutch transmission and the optional Sport Chrono Package. It’ll also lap the Nurburgring as fast as the previous generation GT3!
The one percent is doing just fine in the Midwest. At least that’s what you’d be lead to believe if you dropped by the Lexus stand at the Chicago Auto Show.
There you’ll find a stunning display of not one, not two, not three, but four Lexus LFA supercars. Priced at an exorbitant $375,000 (each), you’re looking at $1.5 million dollars in total. Is that a ton of cash? You bet! But if you look at it another way, it’s also 40 cylinders, generating 2,208 hp.
For more on the Chicago Auto Show, see our complete coverage page here.
GALLERY: Lexus LFA Collection
As popular as drifting has become in America, the sport’s home will forever be in Japan and a quick demo out at the 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon gave us a reminder why.
While we have plenty of fun listening to V8-powered Ford Mustangs and Chevy Camaros go at it sideways, this year’s TAS played host to a Toyota GT 86 doing tandem with an old school AE86, only to be outdone by a Lexus LFA Roadster.
And as cool as it was to see the new Toyota GT 86 going sideways alongside its classic predecessor, what’s even more interesting is the fact that the LFA Roadster isn’t even supposed to go on sale until 2014, so how did someone get their hands on one? Either it’s a pre-production model or someone decided to chop the roof on theirs themselves. But leave it to D1 to put on yet another demo to whet everyone’s appetite for drifting, despite how controversial the series is out in Japan.
Check out the video after the break with various cars putting on a drifting demo.
[Source: Jalopnik]
Toyota’s motorsports partner Gazoo Racing had several machines to show off at the Tokyo Auto Salon, but none as impressive as this Lexus LFA. Prepped for race duty, the car has already seen competition, with an automotive CEO behind the wheel no less.
Akio Toyoda? Nope. Try Dr. Ulrich Bez, the man in charge of Aston Martin and a long time racer.
How exactly the CEO of a competing automaker wound up behind the wheel of the Lexus supercar is the result of a friendship that has grown between Dr. Bez and Mr. Toyoda – a friendship that started when the two shared garage space at the Nurbrgring 24 Hour endurance race a few years back.
The two automakers have volunteered to share space ever since and this past year even shared cars, with Bez getting behind the wheel of the LFA, while Akio Toyoda had the opportunity to pilot Aston Martin’s Zagato V12 race car.
GALLERY: Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA
Aftermarket wheel manufacturer TWS Forged obviously liked what they saw when Toyota unveiled the Nurburgring Edition Lexus LFA. Sporting a more track-oriented aerodynamic kit and a functional rear spoiler, that package (even in its shocking orange paint scheme) now looks tame compared to the modified LFA on display at the TWS booth at the Tokyo Auto Salon.
Along with that huge spoiler out back the LFA gets a custom set of TWS wheels, as well as an ultra-aggressive rear diffuser setup to further improve aerodynamic flow over and around the supercar.
GALLERY: Lexus LFA by TWS Forged
See AutoGuide’s complete 2012 Tokyo Auto Salon Coverage here
If buzz at the LA Auto Show last week was anything to go by, a high-performance Lexus GS is on its way. During inside discussions at the west coast auto show, enthusiasm about building a GS based M5 beater was very much in evidence.
And it’s likely that such a machine wouldn’t just be fast, but actually enjoyable to drive as well, building on the foundation of the new GS model’s already very competent and dynamic chassis. It’s all part of Lexus‘ plan to move away from the somewhat staid, gilded-washing-machine persona it’s created over the last two decades.
In terms of engines, there are many believe that such a super sedan would need a super car engine, in this case a variation of the LFA’s 4.8-liter V10, though Lexus has continued to deny such rumors. Instead, given that BMW and even Mercedes are moving away from V10s and V12s and toward twin turbo V8s in an effort to add a bit of fuel economy along with performance, there’s every indication Lexus might do the same.
Nonetheless in a perhaps interesting move, Lexus is also adamant about not offering diesels on the GS even in Europe, despite the fact most rivals sell them there. Instead, Lexus is focusing on hybrids, it’s European vice president, Andy Pfeiffenberger stating that, “if you’re looking for diesel, I suppose you’ll be buying another brand.”
So does that mean that a V10 really could be a possibility in the GS after all? At this point, it’s simply too early to really say.
[Source: Autocar]
Lexus is looking to follow up their record-setting Nurburgring LFA edition with a Tokyo Edition model, which is supposedly making its debut at, where else, the Tokyo Motor Show.
Details are light right now, but the Tokyo Edition LFA will allow us to see the LFA’s carbon fiber skin on the roof and the wing. Even though extensive details about the Tokyo Edition LFA have not yet been released, somehow the pricing premium was – the model is rumored to be another $54,445 or so more than a standard LFA. For that premium, we better hope it’s more than just a lack of paint the Tokyo Edition LFA will be sporting.
[Source: CAR]
A slap in the face to internet bench racers everywhere, Lexus has confirmed its 7:14.64 Nurburgring lap time. Whether or not this is the new production car record is up for some debate, but the LFA is certainly one of the leaders with the only other cars to post quicker times being obscure models like the Gumpert Apollo, or the Radical, which isn’t street legal in many countries. True, Lexus may only have built 500 LFAs and just 50 of these custom are Nurburgring edition models (like the record setting car), however, unlike those cars, the limited number of cars isn’t as a result of a lack of demand or production capability by the automaker.
Powered by the same 4.8-liter V10 engine as the “regular” LFA, the Nurburgring Edition makes 10 more horsepower for a total of 562-hp. Suspension and aerodynamic upgrades are also included. Priced at $70,000 more than the already expensive $375,000 model, just 50 of the 500 LFA models will be Nurburgring editions.
The previous non-obscure record holder was the Porsche GT2 RS.
Watch the proof after the jump:
Having had the opportunity to experience Lexus‘ LFA firsthand, we can attest to its freakish performance and elegant handling all wrapped in a luxurious package. While its price tag has drawn criticism, it’s certainly not unheard of in the exotic segment and so EVO Magazine decided to compare (very expensive) apples to apples, pitting the Japanese supercar against Ferrari‘s 599 GTO – both vehicles with MSRPs just barely under the $400,000 mark. The result may be surprising to some, with EVO giving their nod to the LFA despite the 599 GTO’s quicker 0-60 time and higher top speed.
It goes without saying that no true auto enthusiast should judge a car simply by its acceleration and top speed, but the 599 GTO clocked a 0-60 time in just 3.8 seconds while the LFA was a solid few ticks behind at 4.2. The LFA’s top speed was recorded at 179-mph while the GTO easily outpaced it at 193-mph. But the article goes way beyond that, with EVO coming to the conclusion that Lexus now has a vehicle that tops Italy’s finest.
“What marks out the LFA for particular praise is its bravery and originality;” says EVO, “for Lexus to create such a car from scratch, with no evolutionary engineering or existing bias from which to work, is a remarkable achievement. Innovative, extreme, immaculately executed and exquisite to drive, it’s the greatest high-performance car Japan has ever produced.”
“Get hung up on the badge and you’ll be blind to its magic. Revel in its rarity, its rare abilities and the fact we’re unlikely to see its like again and you’ll understand why the LFA is one of the greats, and why this test ends with three unexpected, hard-won and thoroughly deserved words: Lexus beats Ferrari.”
Check out a video of EVO Magazine comparing the two cars after the jump.
[Source: Lexus Enthusiast]
Kyle Busch might be firmly behind the wheel of the NASCAR points race, but off the race track he’s riding shotgun. That’s because an Indiana judge has just suspended the racer driver’s license, after he was busted back in May, at 128-mph in a 45 zone.
Busch had his license revoked for 45 days, in addition to a $1,000 fine, as well as a sentence that included a one year unsupervised probation. The NASCAR star had pleaded guilty to the speeding charged and “no contest” to reckless driving charges.
A contrite Busch apologized to the judge and to the media gathered outside the Iredell County Courtroom, while thanking those who have stood by him.
A driver for Toyota, the car Busch was caught speeding in was the first ever exotic, built by the Japanese automaker’s Lexus luxury division. Priced at $375,000 the bright yellow Lexus LFA makes 560-hp and is capable of a top speed of 202-mph!
[Source: WECT]
Rumors are brewing that the Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept we saw debut back in 2008 may head to production, debuting in 2014. Reports are coming in that once the first batch of 500 LFAs are completed, there will be a one-year break before the LFA Roadster becomes available, possibly in mid-2014.
It would appear that the production LFA Roadster will have the same 4.8L V10 powerplant that the LFA currently has, pushing 560-hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. The original concept from 2008 did feature a speed adaptive rear wing. It will be interesting to see if the LFA sales pick up enough for Lexus to warrant a convertible variant and whether or not there are enough consumers to be interested in purchasing one.
GALLERY: Lexus LF-A Roadster
[Source: GT Spirit]
Rumors surfaced late last month that Toyota Motorsport in Germany was developing a Le Mans GT race car based on the Lexus LFA. Now photos have surfaced of what is believed to be the upcoming Lexus LFA GTE racer that will be a future competitor in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. There are of course no concrete details behind the LFA GTE and what it will be packing in order to compete with the likes of Ferrari and Porsche.
The LFA has had some success on the track, taking a class win in a class for most stock vehicles at the 2010 Nurburgring 24 Hours. It really remains to be seen if the LFA will be a potent platform for race teams worldwide, but a successful entry into the 24 Hours of Le Mans will go a long way.
GALLERY: 2012 Lexus LFA GTE
[Source: MotorsportsRants via Jon Sibal]
The Lexus LFA may sport one of the highest price tags in the exotic car market, but until now it’s been missing an all-important Nurburgring lap time.
Lexus has never released an official time for the car, but leading up to this past weekend’s 24 Hours of Nurburgring, the Toyota luxury arm took a Nurburgring Edition LFA for an exhibition hot lap. Even though it wasn’t classified as a full-on attempt, Gazoo Racing driver Akira Iida put in an impressive 7:22.85 in the LFA, putting it in 10th place overall on the fastest production vehicle list.
With that time being three seconds off the Corvette ZR1, which costs just a third of the price, even Lexus fanboys aren’t thumping their chests. That may soon change, however, with reports that there are plans for an official run in the future.
Was Iida going balls-to-the-wall, or was he sand bagging? Time will tell.
[Source: LexusEnthusiast]
Lexus has just released a new advertisement highlighting the LFA supercar as well as the company’s technological innovations. This new ad focuses on new technologies critics thought Lexus was not capable of designing and the Japanese automakers commitment to sustainability. “It is not about simply making incremental strides and improvements, but about taking giant leaps in innovation,” said Dave Nordstrom, Lexus vice president for marketing.
This new ad entitled “A New Era of Lexus Innovation” highlights the development process for the Lexus LFA’s V-10 and carbon-fiber components. The LFA’s high revving engine screams through the entire ad, while being put through hairpin turns on the track all the while the sophisticated components inside the car are explained. The soundtrack and narration add to the experience and overall the commercial is worth checking out. The sound of the 4.8-liter V-10 sounds absolutely flawless.
Check out the video after the jump!
Those that have been fortunate enough to witness the Lexus LFA’s brilliance first hand know just how potent and magnificent of a machine it is. Even though some will debate whether or not it’s worth the price tag, we’re pretty confident owners are more than satisfied with their purchase.
Be that as it may, Lexus is reportedly already working on a new version of the car, code named LFA II. While a successor is possible, the car is rumored to actually be a higher performance version of the wild Japanese exotic.
No details are available, but you can be sure that if Lexus is planning an even more capable LFA, it’s sure to come with an even steeper price tag.
GALLERY: Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition
[Source: Best Car via Autoblog]
NASCAR racer Kyle Busch is used to going stupid fast. Normally it’s behind the wheel of his M&Ms sponsored No. 18 Toyota race car, but in what Busch describes as a “lack of judgement” the pro driver was recently clocked test driving a yellow Lexus LFA at a speed that is plenty fast, and even more stupid.
In a statement released today, Busch apologized after being busted driving 128-mph in a 45 mph zone near his house in Mooresville, N.C. The vehicle he was piloting is none other than the LFA supercar, one of just 500 to be built by Toyota’s Lexus luxury division, with a 552-hp V10 engine and a $375,00 price tag.
“I apologize to the public, my fans, sponsors, and race teams for my lack of judgment,” said Busch in a statement. “I take responsibility for my actions and I can assure you that something like this will never happen again. I thank the Iredell County Sheriff’s Department and all law enforcement for the hard work they do every day to protect the public and to enforce the laws in a fair and equitable manner.”
Busch is currently ranked third in the Sprint Cup standings and the incident is not expected to affect his status as a NASCAR driver. It could, however, have a less than positive impact on his sponsorship agreement.
[Source: USAToday]