Unbelievably Lexus Is Bringing Back the Incredible LFA
The Lexus LFA was and still is one of those rare instances where an instant classic was created. It had it all, from looks to that V10, it is still one of the ultimate touring cars of all time. First available in late 2010, believe it or not, four brand new LFAs sold in 2020. There is supposedly one more waiting for someone. But production ended at the end of 2012, with Toyota announcing no new LFA was being developed. Until now.
Will the LFA V10 make a reappearance?
Japan’s Best Car says not only is a new LFA coming, it even has a release date. The only wrinkle is that the V10 won’t be back. But in the age of electrification, we expected that.
The arrival of this new LFA is slated for 2025. Power will come from a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 hybrid system. Rumors peg the horsepower at almost 1,000. That number almost makes us forget about the Yamaha-developed V10, as it is about twice the horsepower of the original.
Cleaning up the V10 is probably more than Toyota is willing to take on. If the carbon fiber body and all-wheel drive are back, this lightweight should rip with close to 1,000 hp. After all, at the end of the day, Toyota is still a bread-and-butter manufacturer. It crunches numbers with precision. The parent company for Lexus, it is in some ways a miracle that any LFA exists.
Lexus produced only 500 LFA coupes in total
When the production LFA debuted in 2009 at the Tokyo Motor Show, there was nothing like it. Lexus took orders for it but reviewed every person before selecting a buyer. Production was only 500 cars, with 20 made each month. And the price? Well, if you had to ask… For the record, $375,000 was the price.
But each build was a special order. Each customer chosen spec’d their LFAs. That meant colors inside and out, brake caliper colors, seats, steering wheel, and other bits inside. All LFAs originated at the Motomatchi plant in Aichi, Japan.
Sales were tied to a dealer first right of refusal arrangement to slow secondary market price increases
Lexus was concerned about prices on the secondary market and would lease the cars in the US for two years. It eventually backed off of the lease deal, but buyers had to sign an agreement that Lexus dealers got the first right of refusal. The dealer could then buy it back for retail, of the fair market, whichever was lower.
Toyota Motors USA stopped taking orders in late 2009, with its allotment spoken for. North America received 150 vehicles in total. We can’t wait for the reappearance of a new Lexus LFA.
