The Lexus LFA Nurburgring Laps The 'Ring In 7:22 - Where's The Hate Now?

If there is one car that has easily generated the most hate in recent time, it's got to be the Lexus LFA. Boasting a limited build quantity, an outrageous price tag and essentially going against the brand's identity, it has "hate me," written all over it.

But when I drove it, that quickly dissipated. The problem is that the LFA won't be driven by many. Simple statistics, really.

One of the biggest complaints levied against the LFA was its lack of performance given its hefty fee. Well, when the Nurburgring Edition laps the Green Hell in 7:22.85, you've gotta tip your hat because that's a helluva time, no matter the price. AND it was on street tires.

So, now what?

Excuse the poor translation below...


It is the picture which flowed without a notice in "GAZOO RACING" booth of the endurance race for 2011 Nurburgring 24 hours. Probably I think that the time attack picture of the LFA is the first among the world. The vehicle is Akira Iida that Lexus LFA "Nurburgring Package".A driver is Akira Iida who is GAZOO RACING supervision...



[Source: YouTube]


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Joe_Limon - 6/30/2011 12:15:04 AM

0 Boost

Still slower then a z06 :P

WorldofLuxury - 6/30/2011 12:43:28 AM

+2 Boost

aha yeah I'll give the Corvette engineers credit for that, but I still can't deny the engineering that went into the LFA with its more lively and much smaller displacement engine, luxurious interior, and (I assume) better ride on local roads).

The thing is... I sort of expect the Corvette to be just as fast or faster, especially with better chassis and suspensions!

bmwdrvr - 6/30/2011 8:31:22 AM

+1 Boost

at 5 times the price of the Z06 I would expect just the opposite the LFA should completely blow it out the water. Of course it doesn't actually do that in an regard nor the vettes top model the ZR1. Do I like the LFA? Yeah I like its sorta like a cross beween a GT and a supercar, it sounds amazing, and looks outrageous whats not to love about it but the ultimate performance car its just not as a GT dialed up to max sure excellent vehicle.

bmwdrvr - 6/30/2011 10:01:20 AM

+1 Boost

lol they do where have you been, between the GTR, 911 turbo, and Corvette from a performance stand point they completely shame the competition which costs hundreds of thousands more but OF COURSE this is an article about an LFA not any of the cars you mentioned so frankly your point isnt relevant nor does it even remotely relate to the TOPIC at hand.....

ThierryHenry14 - 6/30/2011 12:37:00 PM

0 Boost

911 GT3... Winner of Nurburgring 24h race again... King of the Ring... enough said...

vtandon - 6/30/2011 12:40:40 PM

+4 Boost

Agreed there are a few cars ahead of the LFA that are also cheaper. Both the ZR1 and 911 GT2 Rs both did under 7:20 and the Dodge Viper ACR did it 8/10 faster than the LFA. But the fastest street legal car was the Gumpert Apollo, 7:11 and a price of 500k, which is more expensive than the LFA.

LexSucks - 6/30/2011 4:09:52 PM

-3 Boost

"Still slower then a z06 :P"


- Before the LF-A was released, most people here were saying that it would outperform every exotic, (They must have been smoking crack). While they were saying that, I was saying that the LF-A wouldn't be able to outperform a Z06. Guess who was correct?

Joe_Limon - 6/30/2011 4:24:23 PM

0 Boost

Wasn't there the one Toyota enthusiast who was banned who also claimed that it would also get 35mpg? Well EPA finally rated it at 11mpg city, 16mpg hwy. lol that's 3-4mpg less than the 638hp ZR1, and 4-8mpg less then the faster Z06. Maybe this is why it placed so poorly at lemans?

Joe_Limon - 6/30/2011 4:56:40 PM

-4 Boost

Say what you want about the tyres, they are street legal and vette's come straight from the factory with them. It's not like they used $15,000 tyres a la Buggatti

Duesen - 6/30/2011 5:37:11 PM

-1 Boost

@Black
The tires are street legal and come from the factory, and also the most recent times from the ZR1 and Z06 were from engineers from Chevrolet, not even actual professional drivers (which is stunning). No doubt the engineers from Chevrolet are good, but I bet a legitimate professional could post an even faster time for both vehicles.

freshseth83 - 6/30/2011 1:23:07 AM

+3 Boost

According to Lexus, this wasn't even a 'hot lap' but really just a test lap that was recorded. If you notice, the center console is still metal. Which means this was done in testing, and isn't even the final iteration of the Nurburgring Edition (which has a carbon fiber center console). According to Lexus Europe, a 7:15 is in the cards.

dlin - 7/1/2011 1:02:01 AM

+3 Boost

For the sake of record, Lexus should just prove it like what Nissan did.

agent507 - 6/30/2011 6:54:38 AM

+3 Boost

Who cares?

Brembo - 6/30/2011 10:22:42 AM

-2 Boost

Who cares?! Nurburgring pointless! It's like saying the World Series is pointless... or The Super Bowl is a joke... or NBA final is a waste of time... or World's Cup is just a game!

Nurburgring is a difficult track and also punishing to a car racing at extreme speed. It's one of the world stage for cars and if a car run through the track at it's maximum potential without breaking then it's a good car.

So who cares? Everyone who loves car and value the significant of Nurburgring including car manufacturers as well.

Joe_Limon - 6/30/2011 3:02:34 PM

0 Boost

If I had the ban button... autospies1 wouldn't be around anymore. Seriously? I know blazinboy's opinions are different then well... pretty much anyone elses on this forum. But why would you outburst at him? He's not pulling a sportyturbo and comparing races/countries. In fact he even said the LFA is good!

LexSucks - 6/30/2011 4:03:26 PM

0 Boost

"But why would you outburst at him?... In fact he even said the LFA is good!"

- Some people (lexus fans) get bent out of shape when you don't say 100% nice things about the LF-A. They act as if someone was talking smack about their girl. They get all defensive and then it's on to the persnal attacks and insults. All because that someone else doesn't prey to the God Lexus like some people here do.

dlin - 6/30/2011 10:08:57 AM

+1 Boost

Where's the rest of article?

tkindred - 6/30/2011 11:28:10 AM

-1 Boost

The LFA is overpriced and looks boring. But that is just my opinion. If they sale all of them then it is a success so who cares what people think?

enthusiastx11 - 6/30/2011 12:26:19 PM

-1 Boost

unfortunately, even if they sold all of them for $500,000 a piece it will have been an enormous financial loss for toyota

500 cars x $375,000 = $187,500,000

the LFA cost toyota hundreds of millions to develop. can run a car company that way. good thing all those camrys can offset the loss.

Joe_Limon - 6/30/2011 3:04:12 PM

-1 Boost

enthusiastx11, there is a problem with your analysis. It assumes that the LFA's are made for free and that Toyota makes $375,000 profit for every one they sell.

vtandon - 6/30/2011 12:45:01 PM

+2 Boost

Wait a second this is the LFA nurburgring edition correct? How much more is this suppost to be compared to the regular LFA? The regular LFA did the nurburgring in 7:38 which is pathetic. There are some many more cars that are faster and cheaper than the LFA.

JRobUSC - 6/30/2011 7:36:04 PM

+1 Boost

that's a 1.57% improvement, not 4%. And since the tests weren't done on the same day with the same driver under the same conditions, comparing them is pointless. I'm sure some of the difference is the tires, but some might be wind, or the weather, or whatever. Maybe he lost a second on a turn the first time (or the second time). Point being there's no way to quantify different runs, all we have are the times to compare. And the Z06 and ZR-1, in bone stock form, on the tires they come with, are quicker around the Nurburgring than the LF-A Nurburgring Edition that costs 3-5x more. Don't blame the Vette's for coming with those tires, blame Toyota for not putting better tires on its Nurburgring Edition supercar.

olscuul - 6/30/2011 9:40:28 PM

0 Boost

You have a way of certifying that it was a lap by public available factory spec unit?
How much trunk space is there in a Camry? More your expertise.

tkindred - 6/30/2011 7:10:27 PM

-3 Boost

Not only do cars that cost less perform as well, like the ZR1, the ZR1 looks better.

SSP350 - 6/30/2011 10:22:16 PM

+2 Boost

ZR1 is a Corvette that you see people driving every day on the streets. It hardly turns head nowadays. People will break necks if an LF-A is spotted. But, I understand, looks or subjective.

veyron1001 - 7/1/2011 12:56:21 PM

0 Boost

The reason the ZR1 is so cheap is because its a modified Z06. Nothing more. I have seen the ACR and the ZR1 in person a couple of times. The ACR will turn more heads with its park bench spoiler and silly 'look at me' paint job.

dlin - 7/1/2011 12:26:31 AM

+2 Boost

For a car of 9000 rpm and 562 hp, that lap time sounds about right.

freshseth83 - 7/1/2011 2:32:32 AM

+4 Boost

more around 580hp. It's probably underrated. The tread wear is 140 for the tires on the Nurb edition- Bridgestone Potenza RE070's. The tires on the Vettes are half that. Like I said earlier. The LFA already has enough power and d/f to take on cars with special tires with factory drivers. This was an exhibition lap done by one of their factory drivers. Not even trying for a hot lap. The dynamics of the car makes for effortless driving. This is what Lexus set out for in making the LFA. Number crunching can't show you how the car feels. And that '7:38' was by a Porsche factory driver with a pre-production LFA. But wait- his time with the ZR1 on the same day? 7:40! And his time with the GTR? 7:42. Time with the Lambo SuperLeggera? 7:40.

tkindred - 7/1/2011 8:09:48 PM

0 Boost

"The reason the ZR1 is so cheap is because its a modified Z06. Nothing more." Hmm, "cheap"? or do you mean more reasonable in price and a better value? Why is the LFA worth so much? What is it made out of? What makes it worth so much more than the Vette when it's performance numbers are in the same ballpark, and that of the GTR as well. And when I see a ZR1 on teh roads here in Cali I still grabs my attention.