LotusGT1
02-18-2005, 06:00 AM
Toyota has been promising a Supra replacement for some time and, finally, this is it. The Lexus badging on the LF-A concept is confusing, as the car was meant to celebrate Toyota's involvement in Formula 1. However, there hasn't been much to celebrate recently, so the Lexus badge has been chosen to excite the US market.
The plan is that when the car is launched in 2007, its engine will be similar to the F1 car's, which could mean a V8 ('07 is earmarked for F1 engines to change from V10 to V8). It's not clear at the moment whether the car is front or mid-engined, but Toyota says it will have 500bhp and will top 200mph, a speed that it has already achieved at Toyota's secret high-speed oval track in America using a 500bhp V10 engine based around the current F1 unit. The LF-A is five inches shorter than a 911, yet the wheelbase is nine inches longer than the Porsche, so there would be no problem with fitting a V10 engine if that is the unit chosen. Testing has also taken place at the 'Ring this year, and setting a decent time there is something Toyota is taking very seriously.
<center>http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/picture_library/dir_36/car_portal_pic_18323.jpg
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/picture_library/dir_36/car_portal_pic_18324.jpg</center>
There were some odd details on the car when it appeared at Detroit, such as the minimal air intakes at the front. It seems Toyota is experimenting with using the drag created behind the car to suck air through the rear-mounted radiators rather than using the natural flow of air at the front of the car. The three exhausts seem strange too, as do the lack of visible driveshafts in the rear venturi area under the car.
Toyota is serious about this car and is working towards the planned launch in 2007 - expect to see the production-ready car at the Tokyo show in October this year or at next year's Detroit show. The price is expected to be around £78,000 - steep for a Toyota but perhaps not for a car with 200mph capability.
The plan is that when the car is launched in 2007, its engine will be similar to the F1 car's, which could mean a V8 ('07 is earmarked for F1 engines to change from V10 to V8). It's not clear at the moment whether the car is front or mid-engined, but Toyota says it will have 500bhp and will top 200mph, a speed that it has already achieved at Toyota's secret high-speed oval track in America using a 500bhp V10 engine based around the current F1 unit. The LF-A is five inches shorter than a 911, yet the wheelbase is nine inches longer than the Porsche, so there would be no problem with fitting a V10 engine if that is the unit chosen. Testing has also taken place at the 'Ring this year, and setting a decent time there is something Toyota is taking very seriously.
<center>http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/picture_library/dir_36/car_portal_pic_18323.jpg
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/picture_library/dir_36/car_portal_pic_18324.jpg</center>
There were some odd details on the car when it appeared at Detroit, such as the minimal air intakes at the front. It seems Toyota is experimenting with using the drag created behind the car to suck air through the rear-mounted radiators rather than using the natural flow of air at the front of the car. The three exhausts seem strange too, as do the lack of visible driveshafts in the rear venturi area under the car.
Toyota is serious about this car and is working towards the planned launch in 2007 - expect to see the production-ready car at the Tokyo show in October this year or at next year's Detroit show. The price is expected to be around £78,000 - steep for a Toyota but perhaps not for a car with 200mph capability.