I stopped reading Lexus LFA reviews for a while as they were starting to blend together, but Automobile Magazine’s Georg Kacher pulled me back in with his impressions of the new Lexus supercar:
Codeveloped with Yamaha, the 552-hp, 4.8-liter V-10 is without a doubt a mechanical masterpiece. It has been skillfully engineered, with almost telepathic throttle responses that underline the car’s strong motorsport connection, acoustic performance that is positively addictive, and a willingness to rev that is refreshingly uninhibited…That’s where the real dilemma of the Lexus lies: too many revs for not quite enough grunt, 6800 rpm for 354 lb-ft of torque. On the racetrack, the LFA formula works very well. On the road, however, you often find yourself with 4000 or 5000 rpm to play with when what you really need is an instant kick in the butt.
Kacher also draws attention to the six-speed transmission, which he felt was unresponsive—though he admits that it may have something to do with the way the prototypes have been driven over their short life. (It’s unlikely Lexus will release the LFA with such an obvious glitch.)
Also, once again, the idea of an LFA “sequel” is brought up—take this quote from LFA Chief Engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi:
“What remains a dream for me will hopefully turn out to be a thrilling drive for our customers. Is there going to be a follow-up project? Well, I think this car deserves a second chapter. Whatever the next iteration of such a brand-shaper may be, it definitely needs to be right for its time.”
Already talking about the successor to the LFA—now that’s a singular pursuit of perfection.
[Source: Automobile Magazine]
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