jrock65

Washington DC July 6, 2006; The AIADA newsletter reported that Japan's Nihon Keizai Shimbun newspaper reported, without citing sources, that Toyota is planning to launch a two-seat luxury sports coupe under its Lexus badge for the U.S., Japanese, and European markets in 2009.

Further information from the Shimbun indicates that the new two-seater will be based on the LF-A concept car, which was on exhibit at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show and equipped with a 5-liter V-10 engine and technologies developed through Formula One racing.

When the sports car hits the market, the Shimbun said it will eclipse the Lexus LS as the most expensive vehicle in Toyota's lineup.

2009 is later than I expected, but better late than never.

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

3 years isn't so bad.


Can't wait to see what the final product looks like.

CHIS350

Probably will see it in late summer 2008, so that's only 2 years

TRDFantasy

LF-A production car is basically confirmed, with the date being set.

Car is supposed to be first shown to the public in 2007 at the F1 Japanese Grand Prix as a pace car, as well as the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show.

The production car is supposed to be in showrooms around 2009.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

very interesting, i wonder if one of them would be the sc430 replacement

sounds very promising!

Gojirra99

According to one poster in the SC430 forum, what he's heard is that the next SC will be a convertible with real usable rear seats, while the LF-A will be a true sports car

Trexus

Can't wait till the LF-A comes out. We have plenty of time to save up for it. Patience is such a virtue...

GSteg

iTrader: (15)

Not sure if I dig the name "LF-A". Saying it alone doesn't seem so exotic to me. Hopefully the power makes up for that

__________________

1999 Lexus GS400
-Stock

MUAHAH

spwolf

Pricing should be around 80k-120k according to that report - 50% more expensive than LS, but LS is more expensive in Japan because of the taxes so its hard to tell what it should be exactly...

rotaryrock

Lexus please drop some kind of manual transmission in this! A halo type car should be as sporty as possible.

baddis es

iTrader: (3)

i hope they stick with the idea of the coupe/targa/convertible

Gojirra99

I won't worry about that, they didn't call the new LS460 the LF-S, & I don't think they will call the IS350 based hardtop convertible the LF-C . . .

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

I guess this kind of car is going to compete with the likes of 650 and Aston Martin? What other competitors?

TRDFantasy

Think semi-automatic, with a similar box that they use in Formula 1

TRDFantasy

This is not the next SC, because when you consider the price of the LS hybrid, very doubtful the SC would go that high in price.

This basically *is* confirmation about the production version of the LF-A, and it fits perfectly with current rumours that the car will be publically unveiled next year, and go on-sale in 2009. This gap is rumoured to changes in the car's bodywork, as Toyota supposedly has decided to go with completely carbon fibre body to meet it's goal of curb weight under 3000lbs.