10 Things About The Legendary Lexus LFA You Didn't Know

10. Idea of Akio Toyoda himself

Akio Toyoda - Source: Motohide Miwa from USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The development of the Lexus LFA started in 2000, just after one of the Lexus engineers drove its first laps around the newly opened Shibetsu Proving Grounds. He immediately figured, "This is the place where we could test our supercar". Now, pitching this idea was not an easy task, as there was little logic behind developing a supercar.

However, with a bit of help from Akio Toyoda (now the president of Toyota), who was 43 at the time, it all came to fruition. Chief engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi was persistent enough, and the dream soon became a reality. It is said that in Tanahashi's diary (written in Excel, mind you), there is a line that says, "February 10, 2000. In Shibetsu, Hattori approves the study of a real sports car." Hattori was his boss at the time.

9. The Lexus LFA was faster than the Ferrari Enzo

Ferrari Enzo - Source Axion23, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Lexus LFA's motor was a remarkable Yamaha-designed V-10 engine, which is a true marvel of mechanical engineering. The LFA's engine's aluminum pistons are forged, and its connecting rods and valves are made from titanium. The engine features 10 throttle bodies, which are air-fed through an opening below the hood, producing a unique sound that is reminiscent of an F1 car.

The LFA's impressive performance matches its remarkable engine. It can reach 60 mph in only 3.7 seconds and attain a top speed of 202 mph. In addition, the LFA recorded a lap time of 7:14.64 at the Nürburgring, which was faster than the Ferrari Enzo’s 7:25.21 lap time.

8. The Yamaha V10 was tuned by Musicians

Lexus LFA Engine - Source: Lexus UK

Incredibly, Lexus would collaborate with musicians to develop the engine note of the LFA—what attention to detail! Two independent ducts route intake noise from the intake manifold into the firewall, allowing two different octaves of engine music to enter the passenger compartment. As a result, the engine note of the LFA dominates the driving experience.

Engineers tweaked the Lexus LFA engine note in collaboration with Yamaha's musical instrument section, just as sound is tuned in an Ovation guitar. The intake manifold cover's uniquely formed ribs are carefully intended to generate a nice engine note.

7. Down to earth

Gazoo Racing Lexus LFA Nurburgring 24h Race - Source Lexus UK

Handling and feeling were prioritized in the LFA's development. Lexus became obsessed with making the LFA handle as well as possible, and a low center of mass was critical in this endeavor. To achieve an almost perfect weight distribution, the LFA featured a transaxle configuration, with the gearbox positioned in the rear and connected to the engine through a stiff torque tube.

Lexus even integrated the exhaust system into the gearbox tunnel, bringing the driver and passenger even closer together. This brought as much weight as possible closer to the car's center line.

6. Took a Decade

Lexus LFA Rear - Source: Lexus Press

When compared to practically any road automobile built to date, the LFA is a rather unique creation overall. Because it took years for the LFA to be developed before it was released to the public. The LFA's creation process started back in 2000 and wasn't finished until a full ten years later, in 2010. This however resulted in the competition bringing out more advanced cars by the time LFA made it to the dealership floors impacting its overall success.

The first time the LFA moniker was used was in 2005 when Lexus unveiled the first LF-A concept car at the Tokyo auto show. This car shared many visual similarities with the eventual production model, including the same surfacing quality. In 2009, it was finally revealed as the first supercar from Lexus.

5. Endless customization

Lexus LFA Interior - Source: Lexus Press

When the LFA was first unveiled, one of its coolest features was the degree of personalization that was possible when a consumer placed an order. Since every LFA is custom-built to order, it has several cool features that other manufacturers can't offer.

Every element that is painted, coated, or covered in leather in a Lexus can have the owner choose the color. Therefore, it is possible to alter the body, seats, door panels, leather of the steering wheel, wheels, and brake calipers. There are more than 30 billion possible bespoke combinations in all.

4. Lightweight chassis

At the time of its conception, the concept of building a car out of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic was not novel. However, Lexus was unable to succeed since the corporation lacked the necessary technical know-how and logistical backing. However, after realizing that using CFRP would reduce the weight by 220 pounds, a choice had to be made.

One of the industry's most robust chassis was created. Each carbon fiber strand can be weaved into any shape using a specially-made circular loom.

3. Attention to detail

Lexus LFA - Source: Lexus UK

The LFA received meticulous attention to detail, even in the smallest aspects that one may not expect. For instance, the 12-speaker Mark Levinson sound system was custom-designed to be lightweight for the LFA.

The vehicle's exterior design emphasized function over form and included features such as aerodynamically shaped mirrors, a hood vent, and a Gurney flap on the rear wing to enhance downforce. The V10's sound was also directed into the cabin through the tubing and tuned in a manner reminiscent of an Ovation guitar.

2. Was built using hands

Lexus LFA Door trim- Source: Lexus UK

The Lexus LFA V10 engine was assembled by a team of highly skilled engineers called the "Takumi". These experts were chosen for their experience, attention to detail, and ability to create engines that perform at the highest level.

Each LFA engine took around 10 hours to build and was signed by the Takumi who built it. This level of craftsmanship ensured that each engine was of the highest quality and provided a unique driving experience.

1. Self-adjustable rear wing

Lexus LFA Rear Wing - Source: Lexus UK

The Lexus LFA's rear wing was designed to adjust its angle based on the car's speed and driving mode. This allowed the wing to provide the optimal amount of downforce for each situation, improving the car's aerodynamics and stability.

The wing's angle could be manually adjusted by the driver using a button on the center console, or it could adjust automatically based on the car's speed and driving mode. This feature made the LFA even more agile and responsive and helped it deliver exceptional performance both on the road and on the track.