LF-A Revealed!

[the Teuton]

Aston Martin?  I don't think GT has anything to do with the popularity of Aston Martin.

I had read in CAR a long time ago that GT led to much more recognition for the brand. It didn't hurt that Aston Martin gave the DB7 an uprated engine at around the same time, too.

[Payman]

Hey, if people buy $70k Nissans over Porsches, there's probably a market for this car.

70k for the GT-R is worth it, but that price point should be the ceiling for a Japanese car, IMO. Acura didn't sell many $95,000 NSX's. Toyota might find 500 buyers, but I think they would have been much better off creating something in the Corvette Z06/Nissan GT-R price range.

[the Teuton]

Let's see what the final price of this thing will be before we lambaste its price. I can see this being a great $150k car. And I don't think Toyota's people are stupid. $250k will definitely be too much. $200k might be too much.

Given what's at $80-100k (GT-R, Viper, ZR1) and what can be had for $130k (911 Turbo), this car has to really do something amazing to warrant a much more expensive price tag.

[mojammer]

I think this is going to cost a mite more than $250k;  more like $400k.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/243709/lexus_lfa.html

[CJ]

I hate it.

[the Teuton]

How much?

I don't trust that number for a second. The McLaren MP4, SLS, F458, and Murcielago replacement are all better values, have more history and heritage, and can legitimately command high prices. A Lexus can't, no matter how good it may be.

[Payman]

Might be a marketing ploy. When they reveal the actual price of $85,000, all the magazines will call it a screaming bargain.

[Laconian]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDsXsdNgov0&feature=player_embedded

The noise that car makes is just unreal!!!

http://jalopnik.com/5379864/lexus-lf+a-sounds-awesome-even-when-tested-by-auto-journalists
Skip to 0:24

[Cookie Monster]

That engine is probably one of the best sounds I've ever heard.

[Onslaught]

Hey, if people buy $70k Nissans over Porsches, there's probably a market for this car.

That Nissan is worth every penny. And probably a better car than anything Porsche has at that price point.

[Tave]

But do they honestly think somebody will buy a $250,000 Toyota over a Ferrari? I really don't get the point of this car.

Something different?


Jeez you guys, live a little...

[ifcar]

If they're only making 500 cars, they can charge whatever they please.

[Tave]

I had read in CAR a long time ago that GT led to much more recognition for the brand. It didn't hurt that Aston Martin gave the DB7 an uprated engine at around the same time, too.

You honestly believe that the millionaire, +40-year old Brits who represent the biggest chunk of DB7 buyers were heavily influenced by a video game marketed to Japanese and American youth? Or likewise with regards to their American and European counterparts (buyers)?

The DB7 did well because it was the best Aston in decades and one of the best-looking Astons of all time. And the brand (as well as the line) already had enormous mainstream exposure before then.

[ifcar]

Edmunds LF-A first drive:

http://www.insideline.com/lexus/lf-a/2010/2010-lexus-lf-a-first-drive-and-video.html

[the Teuton]

You honestly believe that the millionaire, +40-year old Brits who represent the biggest chunk of DB7 buyers were heavily influenced by a video game marketed to Japanese and American youth? Or likewise with regards to their American and European counterparts (buyers)?

The DB7 did well because it was the best Aston in decades and one of the best-looking Astons of all time. And the brand (as well as the line) already had enormous mainstream exposure before then.

By 1997, Aston was in the crapper. They were pumping out only a few hundred cars a year, and most of them were based on a platform that dated back to the 1970s. Their only direct competitor was Bristol. So yeah, I'd believe it.

Let's not forget history, shall we?

[Tave]

By 1997, Aston was in the crapper. They were pumping out only a few hundred cars a year, and most of them were based on a platform that dated back to the 1970s. Their only direct competitor was Bristol. So yeah, I'd believe it.

Let's not forget history, shall we?

"best Aston in decades"


Let's not forget what happened before 1997, chief: Aston came under new ownership, opened a new factory, embraced new production techniques, recorded record sales, etc...

In 1997, Aston was doing pretty well for itself

[cawimmer430]

I don't see any Lexus design language in this thing. It seems characterless from a design aspect to say the least.

If people cannot associate this design with a brand, then are they really going to pay big money for it? 

[mojammer]

Probably everyone's heard that a 50/50 weight distribution is ideal.  BMW likes to tout that for their cars, and Infiniti even said once that something like 52/48 is better because under acceleration it would turn into 50/50.  If that were the ideal why do all the top end cars always have mid engine layouts, with something like 45/55?  The LFA is front engine and even has 48/52. 

[Submariner]

$400,000...that's a great deal of money.

[the Teuton]

Nissan's still made a more expensive production car.



But I do wonder how a $400k Lexus will sell.

[USA_Idol]

Much interest in the FT86 concept. Zero interest in this.

Ditto.

[S204STi]

Edmunds LF-A first drive:

http://www.insideline.com/lexus/lf-a/2010/2010-lexus-lf-a-first-drive-and-video.html

That exhaust note is awesome.  Not a good looking car on the road though, IMO.  I'll take an SLR for that sort of thing.

[SVT666]

[the Teuton]

That's sharp, but it's no $375k car.

I still think it's going to sell for $180-220k, which would be perfectly reasonable...

[SVT666]

$80-$100,000 should be the price point for a car that "looks" like this one.  It doesn't have the styling of a $200,000 car.

[S204STi]

What in the world is the point of those air scoops behind the b-pillars if the engine is F/M?  Do they locate the radiator back there or something?

[the Teuton]

Plastic intake manifolds do not $375k cars have. I think someone is yanking our chain.

[Submariner]

Plastic intake manifolds do not $375k cars have. I think someone is yanking our chain.

It could be...most press has pinned this at 200,000-250,000. 

That being said, I'm actually beginning to like the interior, but scoops are way too over the top, and unless the rear breaks need massive amounts of air to cool them, are completely pointless to boot.

[Onslaught]

It's funny how people bitch and bitch that Toyota is boring and makes dull cars. Now they are making something far from it and people still bitch.

[Laconian]

3,263 pounds! 3,263 pounds with a nice interior AND a V10 under the hood!!!