Two years ago in Detroit, also in the Riverview Ballroom, Lexus announced its intent to build a supercar with the unveiling of the LF-A, a front mid-engine, rear-drive car with a sub-5.0L V10 engine. Two years on, we're seeing the car again with styling updates and air management enhancements, based on the company's testing at Toyota's Higashi Fuji Technical Center and on track at Fuji Speedway. Don't get too excited: Despite the "F" badge on the LF-A's front fender (signifying the brand's new performance division), this is still a concept made of fiberglass.
Key differences from the original include reshaped headlights and air inlets (both in the front fascia and just ahead of the rear wheels).
It's a better looking supercar concept than the original, and says Bob Carter, Lexus group vice president and general manager, "much closer to a vehicle that we would bring to market and one we will be gauging consumer interest in. It's also one I'd love to have parked in my garage."
Company officials remain tight-lipped about performance specifics. They're still promising upwards of 500 hp and a top speed of 200 mph. And the transmission (mounted as a rear transaxle) is a sequential manual design with paddle shifters. The Bridgestone tires on the concept are understandably massive -- 265/35R20 in front, 305/30R20 -- and the brake rotors looked ceramic enough to us.
In addition to the updated concept car's tour on the auto show circuit, Lexus will continue to show it around to select groups of exotic car owners, said Vince Salisbury, Lexus auto show manager. --Erin Riches
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