Heavy hitting Lexus 650 unveiled

Better late than never? Toyota Motorsport GmbH's (TMG) Lexus-based TS 650 twin turbo V8 concept car has been a long time coming. So long, in fact, the bahn-storming 478kW concept car is based on a superseded model, the pre face-lifted Lexus LS.

The heavy-hitting limo was built by the Cologne-based operation in the hope that Toyota's top brass would give the nod to the brand becoming a permanent rival to Mercedes-Benz' AMG and Nissan's Nismo performance arms.

But with the new-look Lexus LS unveiled more than four months ago, the concept car's light of day would now appear a step backward.

With its imminent unveiling at next week's Germany's Essen motor show, TMG will be hoping the car can generate enough interest (and perhaps a few cash advances) from public and private admirers to kick start a full-time hot shop, much as HSV is to Holden.

Despite out-dated details -- headlights, doors, windows, brakelights -- much of the car's exterior has been heavily modified, showcasing what TMG's fabricators can do with data from its state-of-the-art wind tunnels.

The roof has been lowered or 'chopped' and carbon fibre used extensively for the body kit, which consists of new side skirts with extreme aero effects, flared wheel arches, new front fascia and revised rear apron; the latter sporting a huge rear diffuser and stepped quad exhaust pipes.

Showcasing TMG's engine tuning as well as body shop capabilities, the TS 650 is powered by a significantly modified Lexus 5.0-litre, quad cam V8 engine capable of propelling the big 2070kg sedan to 320km/h.

Peak power is 478kW, while 710Nm of torque provides enough twist to whip the car from 0-100 clicks in just 4.2 seconds. That's 0.4 secs quicker than BMW's fastest 7 Series limo, the twin-turbo V12 760i.

The rear-drive TS 650 has giant bonnet vents to keep the engine cool and runs a fettled eight-speed auto transmission.

Deceleration is handled by carbon ceramic rotors shrouded by large, lightweight BBS alloys shod with Michelin Pilot Sport rubber.

Toyota Motor Corporation CEO, Akio Toyoda, has driven prototypes of the TS 650 and it is understood a decision will be made by Toyota's top brass on whether a full line of TMG-badged high performance production vehicles will be developed in the first half of 2013.

Toyota Motorsport GmbH President Yoshiaki Kinoshita said the TS 650 highlighted TMG's high-performance capabilities and he was looking forward to feedback from show goers.

"The Essen motor show is a great opportunity to highlight a range of TMG's current projects, from very high-end engineering like our race-winning WEC car or the road-going TMG Sports 650 to entry-level competition with the GT86 CS-V3 and Yaris R1A," he said.

"In particular, we are proud to show the TMG Sports 650 super sports car in public for the first time. This is a truly remarkable car with incredible performance; we are looking forward to hearing the reaction of visitors to this showcase of TMG’s engineering capabilities," concluded Mr Yoshiaki.

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