Tucked in a nook way in the back of the Lexus booth was this insanely cool LFA stripped of all its bodywork to reveal the carbon fiber awesomeness within. But that's not all. There's also an incredibly detailed diorama of the LFA build process. A diorama!
Come across the jump and revel in the LFA OCD.
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Manufacturing - Braiding
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Manufacturing - Resin Transfer Molding
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Manufacturing - Pre-Preg Autoclave Molding
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic Manufacturing - Inspection
Painting
Assembly
Vehicle Inspection
--Jason Kavanagh, Engineering Editor
spqr309 says:
05:26 AM, 12/ 1/11
A really cool way of showing how to build an amazing car. The engineering process,inspection,attention to detail. If only they could have lowered the price and made it for the masses. In a hole different league than the Corvette.
throwback says:
05:28 AM, 12/ 1/11
That is cool! I hope they bring the Diorama display to NYC.
3vilgeniu5 says:
05:36 AM, 12/ 1/11
Even without its outer skin it's amazing how the LF-A is still a sexy vehicle.
jeepsrt says:
06:37 AM, 12/ 1/11
Look's just like the Diorama's I use to make in grade school.
duck87 says:
07:07 AM, 12/ 1/11
I can kind of see why the LF-A is so heavy- the way that chassis is built reminds me of an old Lamborghini- the front subframe with its square tubing looks like it was built for a tractor, and the carbon monocoque is a giant lump. And look at the size of that front crash structure! Nice welding though.
stovt001 says:
07:07 AM, 12/ 1/11
Without the skin it looks like it could become the batmobile. It also kinda looks like that with the skin. This is too cool.
hondacura4 says:
08:57 AM, 12/ 1/11
I wonder if that fabulous V10 will fit in my S2000?!
transpower says:
09:19 AM, 12/ 1/11
This should be made available to all engineering schools...it's nice to take a break from the equations and study the actual hardware.
subytrojan says:
11:23 AM, 12/ 1/11
hondacura4, maybe a BAR F1 V10 would fit into your S2K better. :o)
al_bashir says:
04:32 PM, 12/ 1/11
After 10 years of development, hundreds of engineers involved, a reported multi billion dollar budget, countless prototypes, hundreds of hours of testing and Toyota got it wrong. All it took to figure it all out were 4 pictures and a guy with a stupid moniker like duck87.
Its amazing how on the internet everyone and their dog is an "expert" on almost every subject. I wonder how some people make such major asinine assumptions just by glimpsing at a couple of pictures, SMDH.
gtrguy2012 says:
06:50 PM, 12/ 1/11
Can I just have that V10? Pretty Please?????
007Solace says:
09:37 PM, 12/ 1/11
Respect Toyota. LFA now the Toyota 86.
Unlike Honda which is Boring as of late.
duck87 says:
07:34 AM, 12/ 2/11
@al_bashir: I'm sorry for peeing in your cheerios this morning, I swear it was an accident! In fact, I like the LF-A, I think it's a much better car than the GT-R.
But that doesn't keep me from criticizing it. Lexus knows that it is heavy, and from this it's easy to see why. I'm trying to make some objective remarks here, using what I learned from my AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING degree.
Please, if you browse around IL you'll see some of remarks. I'm not a troll. Thanks. I'll try not to make fun of your own moniker (heaven forbid if it were your actual name!).
cubozoan says:
09:46 AM, 12/ 2/11
Wow. Just wow! They never show that kind of stuff in American auto shows. I'd love to have built that diorama. Think I'll go and buy the Tamiya kit of the LFA.
rjchev11 says:
08:10 PM, 12/ 3/11
can you show me the video of how the LFA was built?