 |
From our photographers at the ’Ring:
At its launch in late 2009, Lexus confirmed that its over-the-top supercar—the two-seat, V10-powered LFA—would be limited to just 500 units in total and that the cars would be painstakingly assembled at the rate of just 20 per month. At that rate, production of the LFA is slated to end in December of this year.
While Lexus has never mentioned that it was planning any more versions of the LFA beyond the regular model and track-focused Nürburgring edition, it being one of the automaker’s greatest achievements means it deserves a proper send out. That farewell may just come in the form of an extreme "Final Edition" model.
A mysterious Lexus prototype sporting manufacturer plates has been spotted racing around the Nürburgring. On initial glance, it looks just like the previous Nürburgring Edition, but a closer inspection reveals some new elements that suggest this is an even wilder version.
Apart from the bright new color, the prototype has an additional air intake on its hood, subtle bootlid spoilers and quad exhaust tips instead of the regular three-pipe, triangular design. In fact, the exhausts have even been moved up to just below the taillamps to make way for an aggressive diffuser integrated into the rear bumper.
There’s also the letters “AD-A” plastered on the prototype’s flanks and both its hood and roof has been left unpainted, exposing the car’s pretty carbon-fiber weave.
Given the modifications to the exhaust system, we suspect there is a revised engine under the hood, one that’s almost certain to be pumping out significantly more than the 552 hp, 4.8L V10 found in the regular LFA. The LFA's six-speed sequential transmission is likely to have been reprogrammed for faster shifts, and more weight-saving measures are probably employed as well. Throw in a revised suspension setup and we could be looking at a LFA capable of lapping the Nürburgring-Nordschleife even quicker than the 7:14.64 set by the Nürburgring edition.
Late last year reports emerged claiming Lexus was planning a new special edition of the LFA that would feature an unpainted roof. The car was dubbed the "Tokyo Edition" due to its expected reveal at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, but there was no such model. Could this be the car? A possible "Final Edition" perhaps?
It’s also been reported that Toyota’s motorsports partner—Toyota Motorsports GmbH (TMG) based in Cologne, Germany—will be called on to develop a range of new performance models for both the Toyota and Lexus brands. However, a spokesman for TMG has confirmed that this wild LFA prototype is not one of his company’s projects. We should have more details closer to the car’s expected launch early next year, so stay tuned for an update.
 |
Photo: Brenda Priddy & Company