SPY PICS: Lexus hones LFA ‘Final Edition'

Lexus has already given us one tweaked version of its LFA supercar – the hardcore Nurburgring Edition that lapped the daunting Nordschleife in a blistering 7:14.64 – and now it appears another fettled variant is being honed in the form of a ‘Final Edition’ model.

When production of the LFA commenced in late-2010, Lexus said it would build just 500 examples at the rate of 20 a month. Based on this equation, the last LFAs are likely to roll out by the end of this year, with the extreme ‘Final Edition’ likely to make up the last few numbers.

Technical details remain a closely guarded secret, but the accompanying spy pics suggest the new special edition will be even more extreme than the Nurburgring Edition, with the clues provided by a new bonnet featuring an extra air intake, a more aggressive front splitter, extra vents in the front fenders, subtle bootlid spoilers and quad exhaust tips in lieu of the regular three-piece triangular tips.

The exhaust outlets have also been relocated to just below the taillights, creating space for a purposeful looking rear bumper diffuser. Adding further differentiation, the roof and bonnet have been left unpainted to expose their carbonfibre weave.

It’s not yet known whether the bespoke LFA’s 4.8-litre V10 gains a power increment over the 420kW pumped out by the Nurburgring Edition, but we suspect this is more than likely, given the car’s conception as the last hurrah for the nameplate. In addition, the six-speed sequential gearbox is believed to have been reprogrammed for faster shifts.

Factor in the weight savings, extra aero aids and uprated mechanical spec, and we could be looking at an LFA that will comfortably undercut the 7:14.64 lap of the Nordschleife set by the Nurburgring Edition – only the Radical SR8, Gumpert Apollo Sport and Dodge Viper ACR have gone quicker.

Watch this space...

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