05RollaXRS

So the latest news from the grapevine is, Lexus has lent the Nurburgring edition to Sport Auto to conduct the first ever supertest.

The magazine will be available near the end of January.

I personally have mixed emotions. Considering the Sport Auto supertest of the standard LFA did not do it justice, I am not holding up any hopes of Horst Von Saurma getting anywhere close to Akira Iida's 7:14.

I would be much happier to see an American magazine like Car and driver doing a full test on the Nurburgring edition.


****** Edit 01/27/12 ******





Engine: 4.8 Liter V10 40 valves
Power: 571 DIN HP @ 8700 rpm
Torque: 354 ft-lbs@7000 rpm
Weight: 1563 KG (3438 lbs)
Tires: Bridgestone Potenza RE70 street tires

0 - 200 km/h (125 mph):

Saurma's Comments: Perfect launch control system for maximum fast starts makes it reach 200 km/h in just 11 seconds.

Lexus LFA: 11.2 secs
Corvette ZR1: 11.4 secs
Nissan GTR '12: 11.5 secs
Gallardo LP560-4: 11.6 secs
SLS AMG: 11.7 secs
R8 V10 GT: 12.0 secs
GT3 RS 4.0: 12.0 secs


Nurburgring Nordschliefe:

Saurma's Comments: Lexus gave very limited time for the super test, which allowed only 5 laps out of the LFA and limited practice sessions making it difficult to get comfortable finding the absolute limits of the LFA

7:34


Hockenheimring (2.6 km):

Comments: Over the top agility, massive rear mechanical grip, slight understeer tendency

Lexus LFA: 1:09.5
Porsche GT3 RS 4.0: 1:09.5
R8 V10 GT: 1:09.6
911 GT2: 1:09.7
ZR1: 1:09.7
458 Italia: 1:09.7
GTR '12: 1:09.9


Aerodynamics: 0.40

Comments: 83 kg of downforce over the rear axle at 200 km/h (125 mph)


Maximum cornering g-force: 1.5 g

Comments: The maximum cornering g-forces are approaching borderline R compound slick tires


Overall score:

Lexus LFA NE: 70/70
GT2 RS: 70/70
Maclaren MP4: 70/70
Audi R8 V10 GT: 69/70
Ferrari 430 Scuderia: 69/70
Gallardo LP570-4 SL: 69/70
Porsche GT3 RS 4.0: 69/70
Corvette ZR1: 67/70
458 Italia: 67/70

0 - 285 km/h Video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5KIs9Pzgek

Akira Iida's casual 7:30 lap time with Car magazine editor as passenger:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKsJC...layer_embedded

Scans:




A virtual three way lightweight track car comparison:

Lexus LFA NE wins the three way comparison

Lexus LFA vs Porsche GT3 RS 4.0 vs Audi R8 V10 GT:

p.s. As noted above, Lexus allowed very limited time for the LFA NE test, which resulted in insufficient practice sessions. Saurma had said the car is actually alot faster than the 7:34 suggests

rominl

iTrader: (4)

if you ask me, something > nothing

05RollaXRS

True.

However, right now the LFA is sitting great. If (and most likely) Horst Von Saurma will run a cr*ppy time in the Nurburgring edition and maybe some subpar straight line results and voila, people will find an excuse to hate some more.

07grIS350

I hope he's watch the 7:14 video and learned a few things on how it's done in the N LFA.

jpvarghese

iTrader: (1)

Maybe Lexus Europe can give them some tips. Rolla, suggest something on their twitter.

05RollaXRS

Good point. However, the test is already done. The magazine goes on sale at the end of January.

My understanding is, Horst Von Saurma did the timed lap before Nurburgring closed down for the winter back in October so he must have run the lap back in September or something.

LexFather

Any idea when we hear/see something?

05RollaXRS

It is supposed to hit the news stand near the end of January. I am somewhat pessimistic since I think Horst Von Saurma being the lead Porsche tester/endurance race driver will want to keep its lap time under the Porsche GT2, GT3 cars to project their supremacy (even though, it is ofcourse more capable).

TF109B

Or, he just doesn't know it's limits. I think he short shifted the LFA last time out. It was taking corners faster than the 458, but no reason for it to be 20kmh slower on the straight.

G Star

iTrader: (2)

We need the LFA Ring Edition on a Top Gear DRY run.

TF109B

They don't wanna embarrass their local favorites though. To them, it's still 'a Lexus'.

GS3Tek

iTrader: (8)

Does it first need to be broken in ?

05RollaXRS

It might possibly be one of the prototypes used during the Nurburgring driver's training program.

TF109B

The haters will be in full swing if it still has a cage built in it! lol- it's not stock because they added weight with a cage not even needed, just for journalist protection. But somehow in the hater's minds it makes it 'stiffer'. I just hope it gets some praise.

05RollaXRS

I think I mentioned before Viper, GT2 RS and ZR-1, Z06 all officially ran with roll cages. It is for driver safety and nothing more.