flipside909

It was a busy for Lexus last month as they held several Lexus LFA Driving Experiences all over the world. Of course we know about the ones administered here in the United States and there was one administered in Abu Dhabi at the fairly new Yas Marina Circuit. Several guests were invited to come to the Yas Marina Circuit to sample the Lexus LFA supercar for the very first time. Unlike the USA where we will get about 171 LFAs, the UAE will only get 7 of the 500 LFAs for the world. Forget being stuck in their garages, you can bet those 7 lucky owners of the LFA in the UAE will be driving their LFAs around the desert! Unfortunately I wasn't one of the lucky ones to get to experience the LFA at Yas Marina, but there were several that did. We're fortunate to have enthusiasts all over the world to be the eyes and ears for our members! Check out the pics and video below!


Lexus LFA Driving Experience - Yas Marina Circuit - Abu Dhabi, UAE
March 8 to March 11, 2011

Fun Facts:

• 3 Prototypes were used for this event.
  
  • Pearl Yellow - Saddle Tan (?)
  • Pearl Gray - Orange Alcantara
  • Whitest White - Red Leather (Carbon roof/spoiler) Show Car
• Only 7 LFAs are coming to the United Arab Emirates!
  
• Chief Engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi was present.
  
• Toyota & Lexus Pro Race Driver Akira Iida gave hot laps to guests.

Photos Courtesy of: H.I. of Lexus






















The Yas Marina Circuit

flipside909

Additional photos by: MC Bassam

flipside909

Videos taken by MC Bassam:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr1XZiNqnho

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4b-tlptuqI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6scdwa9V0D8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8J_xB84Yoc8

TF109B

I've been seeing videos on youtube about this event for the past couple of weeks. The orange interior looks pretty good. I'm sure you'll have pictures of it, so I'll wait until you post them up before I post some vids I found. I also love the fact they have the carbon fiber roof and spoiler show car there. If that is the showcar. Man that thing is pretty. Is there other parts of the car you can leave in 'naked' carbon fiber? I like how it contrasts with the bright white.

flipside909

More photos and videos added!

flipside909

I believe you can order the spoiler as carbon fiber, but with the Nurburgring Edition. I haven't gotten a firm answer on having the option of plain carbon fiber for the roof and spoiler for the regular LFA like the show car from Japan.

No add'l photos but there is video of the Orange Alcantara interior on the Pearl Gray prototype:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcgPrdXVRxQ

gengar

Very cool that they got Haruhiko Tanahashi out there. Lexus is clearly making a big marketing push out in the Middle East - after all, the west coast of the US probably isn't much further from Japan.

flipside909

Yeah I asked why hasn't Tanahashi-san made a visit to the US with the LFA yet....they said good question. Hopefully they can bring him out and demo the LFA here in the US someday.

gengar

I'll ask Paul to keep me informed of any Tanahashi visits. I'd fly out to see him wherever he visits in the US.

gengar

Here's a video from CAR Middle East covering the Yas Marina event, including a short interview with Haruhiko Tanahashi at 4:03 and part of a hot lap from Akira Iida at the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zLRl59fZO0