Lexus LF-A to hang ten?

At Detroit, the premium Japanese marque wasn't divulging whether the car was powered by a V8 or a V10 -- or, for that matter, whether the engine was housed up front, or behind the cabin. All Lexus was prepared to disclose was that the car it delivered "more than 500bhp (373kW)" from an engine with fewer than 5.0 litres, and that with optimal gearing, the LF-A could hit 200mph-plus (320km/h-plus).

Curiously, the LF-A concept has a long snout -- indicating a front-engine configuration -- but the twin cooling fans housed in the car's derriere would suggest that the powerplant is mounted amidships, in keeping with contemporary supercar tradition.

Sources at the Detroit show hinted that the engine was slotted up front, but a senior Toyota insider recently let slip that he had been a for a few hot laps in the car... and that the motor was housed behind the cockpit. So who's telling the truth? Hard to say, but it's possible Lexus has been experimenting with both formats to determine the best solution.

As for the engine itself, in its 2005 Tokyo show press material, Lexus states: "The LF-A engine bay is fitted with a newly developed high-output, (40-valve) V10 engine that takes driving into a different dimension."

Given that the car is intended to celebrate parent company Toyota's involvement in Formula One, it seems strange that a V10 is the engine of choice. Yes, Formula One cars have been powered by V10s for the past several years, but a new 2.4-litre V8 formula comes into effect from 2006. Therefore, the seemingly logical move would have been to equip the the production LF-A with a V8 to reinforce its F1 connection.

Whatever the case, exciting times are clearly in store. With arch rival Honda announcing a V10 NSX successor for 2008-2009 and Nissan launching a new GT-R in 2007, a new Japanese supercar race is hotting up.