The give-away was the Lexus LF-A's regular appearances in concept form at international motor shows from Paris to Sydney. Now, the suspicions have been confirmed, Lexus is going into the supercar business for real.
And the car that Toyota's flagship brand will launch (perhaps as early as next year Down Under) is captured here as a thinly disguised pre-production tester -- courtesy of our sleep-deprived friends at Carparazzi.
Not all that far removed from the concept car (more here), the production LF-A will have different headlights, an additional leading slot and louvres in the bonnet and what appears to be an automatically retracting rear spoiler.
The intake behind the doors also appears to have been modified for production. Two rising strakes in the doors lead into the intake and are matched to a trailing extraction vent in the front quarter panel and trailing sculpture line in the lower leading section of the door.
Sources suggest the V10 engine is based on the same architecture Toyota uses in its F1 cars -- though anyone close to F1 will say this is more marketing speak than engineering actuality. Nonetheless, in road-going trim the powerplant is expected to develop over 370kW (500hp).
Despite the rear mesh inserts below the tail lights, the car is definitely front-engined. Lexus sources insist the car will be finely balanced for optimum dynamics.
And the latest news is the LF-A will likely be offered with in a powered folding metal roof version.
Competitors will likely be the Mercedes SL65 AMG, Porsche 911 Turbo, Ferrari F430 and Aston Martin DB9.
The LF-A broke cover around the same time as Lexus announced they would be branching out into high performance variants which will be badged 'F', as an answer to Audi's 'S' and BMW's 'M' models.
'F' is for Fuji Speedway, the place where Lexus is permitted to carry out all high speed testing of the company’s performance cars.
If the first car to go on sale in Australia -- the Lexus IS-F -- is anything to go by, 'F' series vehicles from Lexus will be very special cars indeed. The IS-F (pictured) is due in the closing half of next year.
Locally delivered models of the IS-F will be fitted with a 300kW V8 engine displacing five litres, an eight-speed (yes, you read that right) automatic transmission and limited slip differential.
Divisional Manager for Lexus Australia, John Roca, made no bones about it; the IS-F will compete with European rivals and penetrate a market niche not previously explored by Lexus.
"Much as the LS400 did in the luxury market, the IS-F will challenge performance rivals in its field -- providing a level of performance and on-track ability unlike any previous Lexus" he said.
-- with Carparazzi
To comment on this article click here