TommyJames

With all the other cars coming out now, I don't think there will be any more stand-alone press about the LFA. It has run its course. Now it will all be about the LP700 followed by the McLaren and so on. The LFA will probably show up in comparative articles- the usual battles, etc., but that will be about it. Besides, what hasn't been written yet?

Joe Z

iTrader: (10)

^^ "Everybody" wants to see tests /write ups /comparisons on a "true production LFA" verses everything already out there on the prototypes we have driven..


Great tid bits of info.. Thank you!!

Interesting on the allocation of USA units.. WE have been told numerous times the number is 171... It's been documentated & quoted several times..

Not sure how now we are getting 173 units now

Guess will know one day once the FINAL confirms are out..

Joe Z

gengar

Ya, I got clarification on the gray/yellow issue and heard the same thing. The Pearl Yellow one will also probably go back in the summer. Lexus USA is indeed paying to borrow both the gray/yellow LFAs, yikes.


Actually, basic insurance might include driver education or it might be available for a small marginal increase on the premium. For example, my quote from State Farm includes driver education track events, even though initially I didn't ask for a quote including it. A friend of mine who has a GT3 RS mentioned that his premium increase for driver education events was very small, although I don't remember who he uses. Of course, you need to ask and make sure. My Geico quote (ridiculously low, btw, makes me wonder if the agent I e-mailed with is on drugs - but I'm not going to go with them either way) specifically excludes anything on the track.

General track day insurance is more expensive and often involves a high deductible. A bunch of people I know use WSIB. Of course pretty much no one insures anything involving an actual race or timing, but I don't think either of us will be doing that.

Certainly I will be looking into insurance for track days; we can even start a thread on it once we start getting more information. This is one reason I would like to start getting more LFA owners on forums - not just for the community, but for the knowledge database.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

if that's the case then lexus shouldn't push out the prototype for testing so early, should just wait for production. taking out a production unit now (and in the future) imho won't boost that much interest to magazines and public outside of lexus enthusiast circle

yeah, with 173 units, the pruett wine has to make another 2 bottles and redo all the labels

Joe Z

iTrader: (10)

^^ This is true....

Hopefully ALL remains well with LFA's in process at the Motomachi Plant in Toyota City...

I pulled some data and the plant is about 20 miles away from the nearest body of water.
&
It's approx 380 miles south of the 8.9 quake zone

Joe Z

TF109B

If they go and make some viral ads and show the LFA is capable of some amazing times, it'll be fine for most I think. CAR magazine didn't even get to test the LFA against the 458 GT3RS GT2RS and all those guys last time around, I'm sure they'd love to have it back. Maybe an owner will step forward and let Chris Harris 'have a go' with their LFA. Ferrari owners didn't usually have a problem with it. Hell, maybe they'll send a Nurburgring edition the way of some magazines or put out some videos of their driver training courses at the Nurb itself? Ya never know.

gengar

As I mentioned before in this thread, Top Gear USA has been requesting an LFA for a future segment. Interest is definitely still out there in the media.



There shouldn't be much if any damage to the actual production facilities. Delays will be caused by production and transportation stoppages due to power loss, infrastructure issues, etc.

Certainly my concerns are with the people in the heavy-hit regions. I saw the live NHK feed yesterday as the tsunami hit Sendai, very tragic.


Keep your eyes open, you may like what you see. Even if there's no LFA II, junior LFA, or even any other new performance cars other than the FT-86 and GS-F on the map, Lexus is going to keep the marketing machine going on this one. They're certainly committed to that, just as they are committed to service/support and community building for LFA owners.

05RollaXRS

x 2

I am sure other publications like CarAndDriver and RoadAndTrack are interested in seeing how the production model LFA performs. It also has many other things the prototypes did not have such as, production spec tires, launch control system etc.

Given how IS-F unfair has been handicapped in European tests (for example, acceleration despite even a monkey knowing it to be very similar to M3, is always a lot slower in European test). I am certainly more interested in reading American reviews than European reviews especially comparative one's.

TF109B

The europeans know how to work their own machinery but come a japanese or american car, they seem clueless how to get good times, launches, etc. They just have a certain snobbery to them in their publications, which is why i really don't care for most of them. Autocar, CAR, sometimes EVO, automobile etc.

I was pretty sure that Lexus was going to 'milk' the LFA exposure for the brand image. I'd be surprised if they don't go ahead and take the LFA racing. Why not? Nurburgring edition is a good start, take out most the luxury features, give it some slicks add a cage and fire equipment and it should be almost there! Porsche does it with the GT3RS.

GFerg

Since on the topic of auto publications, what ever happened to that Japanese show Best Motoring ( the show where they would have the track races)? I used to see a bunch of those episodes on Youtube.

TF109B

I love those videos, where they do the "Super 3 lap battle" at tracks like Tsukuba and Twin Ring Motegi. I do wonder if there is any new ones.

05RollaXRS

Saw the LFA for the first time in real life here at the Calgary International Auto Show.

All I can say is wow!!! Pictures mostly don't do justice at all to the car. I don't know why it comes out boxy in pictures since in real life it is very round and also very small. The back is very very curvy and not flat at all with the exhaust triangle is very 3 dimensional and protrudes out in the back (not ever shows in the photos). People were just gushing over the exhaust triangle. Three dudes beside me looking at the exhaust "that is just f'ing sick!!!". LOL

Lots of nice lines and curves and very aggressive front fascia.

Stay tuned! I will be putting up pictures tonight that I took.

gengar

Teaser vid from the early morning straight line acceleration runs. The other group went first, so we were in IS F chase cars watching the other pairs going. As I mentioned for some reason we only used the runoff from the drag strip (so basically the straightaway on the course coming out of turn 6 until going into 7a). Still were getting up over 120 though before braking.

Give youtube some time to process HD (this one is 720p). I'll probably get the hot lap vid in later this evening or tonight.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSLALrOHqCE&hd=1

Also, I think someone asked about telemetry data - I never wound up hooking up my PerformanceBox because the yellow and black cars had telemetry hooked up already. The Lexus reps told us full videos including the telemetry will be sent to us on DVD at some later date.

05RollaXRS

Thanks, gengar. Looking forward to seeing the other videos including satellite telemetry videos.

Great video. I noticed taking off the yellow had a little traction issues while the black one had full traction all the time. I think it could be due to both cars taking off from different points on the track.

So I assume these take offs were completely from idle?? Meaning, mash the pedal from idle??

In the wake of the catastrophic disaster in Japan, I am wondering how will it be affect Lexus LFA's production?? Any ideas??

gengar

Hot lap. Available in 1080p.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=titDmb-q13g&hd=1