flipside909

GAZOO Racing LFA & 86 Ready for 2013 Nürburgring 24.

Press Conference:

Base vehicle LEXUS LFA
Engine Model 1LR-GUE
Total emission 4.805L
Fuel supply system Electronically controlled fuel injection system
Maximum output More than 367kW (500PS)
Tire Bridgestone race tires 330/40R 18 only
Vehicle dimensions
(mm) Overall width 1,200 height 1,950 × 4,455 × length
Wheelbase 2,605 mm
Drive system (Rear-wheel drive) 2WD
Transmission Sequential paddle shift MT
Skin color CFRP color for the race (carbon fiber reinforced plastic)

Source: Gazoo Racing

05RollaXRS

Thanks for posting, flipside.

After feeling LFA "withdrawals" over completion of production, this is exceptionally exciting news.

It looks better than ever. Definitely the same LFA we saw locked in a garage that appeared to be a GTE race car. Notice it does not have any winglets and there are no radiator cooling ducts just behind the front windows essentially giving a hint that this LFA has a significant design and architecture difference. Question is, where are the radiators getting their cooling air from now??

I wonder if LFA is moving away from SP8 class into a different class this year??

TRDFantasy

You must be looking at a different LFA than what is posted here. You can very clearly see the radiator cooling ducts/air intakes on the car.

Yes, this is a much wider-body LFA than stock, and much wider tires than stock. Also there is a significantly different diffuser/exhaust setup and hood than stock on the car.

My guess is it that this may no longer be in the SP8 class.

05RollaXRS

You are telling me those tiny inlets are comparable to these tall and massive inlets in the previous Gazoo LFA/road going LFA?? Maybe, you are looking at a different car.

To me, this looks like an LFA Evo. I have always seen the LFA radiators covering almost the entire height of the rear small window. In this new LFA, it barely rises above the door height and the bodyline is actually running straight the entire length of the car. You SHOULD be able to see the big difference in the pictures below. Actually, lack of height on those ducts is actually accentuating the width.

Looks just unbelievable and so cleanly designed.

TRDFantasy

The paint scheme on the 2013 car, the significantly wider bodywork, and the angle of the photos is fooling you. Upon closer examination, the air intakes are smaller, but they are still there. Looks like they just slimmed down the intakes a bit for aero purposes.

05RollaXRS

^^^

The new design looks infinitely better. It gives the illusion of very "broad shoulders"stretching so far outwards from the cabin directly from behind and direct in the front making it very very muscular.

TF109B

Told you months ago this was happening now it's confirmed!

05RollaXRS

There is also a new GT-86 based sports car being launched this year (for which teaser pictures came afloat)

Long live Akio Toyoda. All credit goes to him for his passion for racing and high performance cars.

RickL87

That LFA is so badass.

05RollaXRS

As per lexusenthusiast.com, the list of drivers does not include Akira Iida and Kinosh'ita. I wonder why they will not be participating this year?? (considering Akira Iida hinted about his "next challenge" many months ago)??

TF109B

If he's not listed, perhaps he will be using the car for something other than the N24. Or he just jumped the gun assuming he was going to be a part of the crew piloting this LFA.

05RollaXRS

Iida was the lead driver in last year's race and Kinosh'ita is also someone who has been a part of the Gazoo team since 2007.

I believe Akira Iida is the most integral part of the testing/driving team so they ought to include him.

TRDFantasy

Here are the "planned" driver lineups for this year's race. Gazoo will have one LFA and two 86s running.

LFA:

- Masahiko Kageyama
- Hiroaki Ishiura
- Kazuya Oshima

86 #1:

- Akira Iida
- Takuto Iguchi
- Naoya Gamou

86 #2

- Takayuki Kinosh-ita (absolutely ridiculous forum censor, can't even properly spell out people's names. For shame).
- Kumi Sato
- Hisashi Yabuki*
- Yasuo Hirata*

------------------------------------------------------

So it seems as though Iida was either teasing, or mistaken with the LFA photo, because his "next challenge" seems to be driving one of the 86s in the 24 hour race.

Kinoshi-ta as you can see will be piloting the 2nd 86.

05RollaXRS

Thanks.

Looks like they really want to target a high finish for the GT-86, which is why they are putting their best drivers (?) in the GT-86.

I hope the LFA does exceptionally well. It looks to me like a GT3 class car, but we will have to see what class is it qualifying for.

TF109B

It'll probably be in some EX class like the GTE BMW M3's were a couple years ago. I don't think it'll be SP9 (GT3), because its not a GT3 car. It's basically a one-off.