#LexusLf-a

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.

While prototype units of the Lexus LF-A have been in production for over a year, the first units destined for retail customers began rolling off the line at the company’s facility in Toyota City, Japan.

After coming under for instituting a bizarre lease scheme that restricting Lexus LF-A buyers from even holding title to the car, the brand has decied to allow customers to purchase the car  outright- however if they decide to sell, they must offer the car to dealers first, at current market value, or sticker price, or whichever is lower. If they don’t, owners could be liable for the difference in price, as well as any legal fees needed to recoup the costs.

Despite a barrage of stories to the contrary, the Lexus LFA is not sold out, and Lexus is more than happy to take your $375,000 in exchange ( sort of) for their flagship supercar.

Toyota announced that they have no intention of returning to Formula 1, labeling the sport as “elitist” and a bad fit with the company’s customer base.

Having failed to complete the grueling Nürburgring 24 Hour endurance race last year, Gazoo Racing took home the SP8 class victory (18th overall) at this year’s around-the-clock race at the 12.9-mile Nordschleife in the #50 Lexus LFA.

In a field of over 200 cars including privateers and full-on factory efforts and with some very stiff competition from Aston Martin, the Gazoo Racing LFA’s battled heavy traffic and the constantly changing weather conditions the Nürburgring is famous for on their way to taking the checkered flag and the SP8 class win. Based in Japan and with a driver’s lineup drawing from the Japanese Super GT series, Gazoo Racing has certainly done Toyota and the Lexus brand proud with their performance at the Green Hell this past weekend, which leads us to wonder if/when we’ll start to see the LFA popping up in other racing series. We’d love to see Lexus enter the fray in the FIA GT1 World Championship, a series Nissan seems to be getting some very good value from with their GT-R entries.

Coming in second in the SP8 class was the Aston Martin Rapide, which even topped the V12 Vantage in 3rd.

For a full photo gallery go to Gazoo Racing, but in the meantime enjoy a few photos of the LF-A at the Ring after the jump.

[Source: Gazoo Racing]

After quite literally years of anticipation, Lexus has officially revealed its latest flagship, the LFA. As the automaker’s first supercar, so far, the LFA does not disappoint.

Officially unveiled today at the Tokyo Auto Show, the first showing of the Lexus LFA supercar in North American will be at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas. The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association) Show, which runs from November 3rd to 7th is not a public event, however, and so the first public showing of the car will happen at the L.A. Auto Show in December.

It is undeniably the most expensive Lexus, the company has ever created. The LFA supercar, priced at $375,000 is aimed at raising Lexus from a German imitator to an Italian rival. Aimed at cars like the Ferrari 599, the LFA is powered by a 4.8-liter V10 engine with 560 PS (552hp) and 354 ft-lbs of torque and thanks to a six-speed sequential transmission and a weight of just 3,263 lbs, the LFA can hit 62 mph in 3.7 seconds and tops out a 202 mph!

Official images and specs of the Lexus LFA supercar have just emerged prior to the car’s debut at the Tokyo Auto Show and it’s as impressive. Not only does it look spectacular, but it has an engine to back up all that angular sheetmetal – or should we say carbon fiber. In total 65 percent of the car’s body is made of the light-weight substance. As for under the hood, Toyota has developed a very special V10 engine with a displacement of 4.8-liters. In total it pumps out 560hp at 8700 rpm and 354 ft-lbs of torque at 6800 rpm.

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With the expected launch of the LF-A grand touring supercar at the Tokyo Auto Show in two months time, Lexus was out recently doing some last minute tweaks at the Nürburgring. The folks over at AutoCar snapped these photos of what appears to be an undisguised production ready version of the LF-A.