Presented at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show, the Lexus LFA is powered by a new 4.8 liter V10 engine which delivers 560 hp / 480Nm and makes extensive use of lightweight materials (aluminium alloy, magnesium alloy and titanium alloy) and is very compact in size.

The main performance figures are a 0-100 km/h sprint time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 325 km/h.

The mid-front mounted engine is coupled with a six-speed ASG (Automated Sequential Gearbox).

The rear transaxle layout delivers a 48:52 front-to-rear weight distribution.

The structure comprises front and rear aluminium subframes which are mounted on to an advanced Carbon Fibre reinforced Plastic (CFrP) cabin section.

The main dimensions are a length/width/height of 4,505/1,895/1,220 mm, while the weight is limited to 1,480 kg.

The design is characterized by many of the styling cues introduced by Lexus with the LF-A Concept unveiled at the 2005 Detroit Motor Show and the LF-A Roadster Concept (2008).

The two-seater interior is designed around the driver and features a remote touch system for quick control of the satellite navigation and infotainment systems.

The Lexus LFA will be produced in a limited series of just 500 units starting from December 2010, while the pre-sales are already started. Racetrack-specific versions will be available from early 2012. The announced price is 375,000 Euros.

Aerodynamic studies with a 1:5 scale model

The first design studies for the engine (left and center images) were started in 2002

From the official Press Release:

Exterior Design

Sleek, athletic and muscular, the low-slung LFA coupe exudes supercar style from every curve and angle. despite its mould-breaking styling the LFA can immediately be identified as a Lexus through adherence to the three key characteristics of the Lexus L-finesse design philosophy.

Rooted deeply in both traditional and modern Japanese culture, the L-finesse design rationale expresses three fundamental elements: ‘Incisive Simplicity’ or purity; the ‘Intriguing Elegance’ of emotional appeal; and the ‘Seamless Anticipation’ of the experience and care of Japanese hospitality.

Dictated by its front-mid engined layout, long wheelbase and short overhangs, sophisticated aerodynamics and snug, low-slung cabin, the LFA’s coherent lines flow from roof to sill in a seamless convex to concave line.

As well as its low weight and high strength, carbon fibre reinforced plastic (cFrP) also gave the LFA’s designers a far higher degree of design freedom, allowing them to create shapes, curves and edges that would have been impossible with metal.

For example, the sharp trailing edges at the rear of the LFA that ensure the wind breaks cleanly away from the body would not have been possible had traditional metal been used for the bodywork.

The LFA’s clean styling is also free of token fripperies, reflecting both the L-finesse approach to uncluttered design and the mechanical purity that lies beneath its composite skin.

Its numerous air-intakes and aerodynamic features, for example, fulfil a functional role first and an aesthetic role second - an example of form following function in the L-finesse idiom.

The LFA features advanced lighting systems: piercing, bi-Xenon high-intensity headlamps, complete with wiper-linked jet cleaners are complemented by a trio of high visibility LEd brake lights.

The wing mirrors are designed to not only provide exceptional visibility but also to channel cool air over the car’s shoulders into the rear air intakes.

Designed not to interrupt the clean lines of the LFA’s flanks, its letter-box style door handles are secreted in the door uppers, and, in a similar move, the LFA features a double-blade, single-sweep wiper with a consistently generous wipe area.

The car’s glazing also came under the weight-saving scrutiny of the LFA’s engineering team, which opted for ultra-thin 4.76mm laminated infrared-reducing green glass for the front screen and tough lightweight polycarbonate resin glass for the rear quarterlight windows and the partition that separates the cabin from the luggage bay.

The LFA’s rear features an exhaust baffle with a trio of stacked exhaust outlets. Finished in heat-resistant black coating, this stainless steel baffle offsets the polished rims of the exhausts. It also features an imperceptible gap between the exhaust pipe and the baffle to enhance its technical appearance.

Interior Design

Swinging open the LFA’s doors reveals a dramatic low-slung cockpit that has been designed and hand-assembled to reflect the car’s driver-centric dynamics.

The cabin is divided into three zones. the first is the mechanical zone, the skeleton that emphatically underlines the LFA’s supercar performance.

Next is the human zone, the seats to support occupants even during extreme driving. And finally the driving zone, the instrumentation interface that brings driver and machine together.

The LFA’s leather-wrapped seats are orthopedically designed with a split rear backrest, pronounced side bolsters and eight-way electric adjustment to deliver comfort and high levels of support.

Adopting a mid-front engined layout created the ideal longitudinal position for the seats – at the centre of the vehicle’s wheelbase and laterally as close to the car’s centre as possible, a position that allows the driver to feel and respond intuitively the changes in the vehicle’s behaviour.

Creating a narrow centre tunnel to house the horizontally stacked torque tube and exhaust pipes allowed the LFA’s engineers to position the seats as low and as close together in the chassis as possible, further enhancing driving control and pleasure.

Instrumentation

The hooded instrument panel takes centre stage. despite its compact dimensions, its technology enables it to deliver a high level of information to the driver in a clear and logical manner.

It combines a Liquid crystal display panel with a colour thin Film transistor and a motor-driven movable ring.

The central tachometer runs to 10,000rpm and features a fast-reacting Lcd needle.

Housed within the dial are the digital speedometer, gear indicator, transmission mode, vehicle control data, trip information displays and tyre Pressure warning System display.

The acrylic lens in the metal ring is composed of multiple layers to create a three-dimensional appearance.

The overall appearance of the meter changes according to the vehicle’s mode.

When the engine speed exceeds 9,000rpm, the tachometer display area turns red to prime the driver for the next upshift.

The display area can also be set by the driver to change illumination – to either yellow or green - when the engine speed reaches a user-selected range.

The raised centre console that divides the cabin houses the seven-inch integrated display screen as well as the intelligently located controls for the climate control and infotainment systems.

It’s coated in satin metal accents and leather, a tactile combination complemented by the 10 matte black buttons running down the console’s flanks that control the driver and passenger climate control temperature and associated functions.

A number of different hues are available for the satin metal accents, allowing LFA drivers to further customize their cars.

Like recent Lexus models, the LFA features a remote touch system.

Located precisely where the driver’s hand falls for optimal comfort and ease of operation, this multi-function control device operates on the same fundamental principles as a computer mouse and its on-screen cursor.

Using an advanced two-axis haptic joystick mechanism with reaction force feedback to guide the cursor, the remote touch system offers intuitive and quick access to the LFA’s satellite navigation, configuration and infotainment functions.

(Source: Lexus)