The Supercar that died tragically!
Most car-companies are defined by the customers that they appeal to!. A Ferrari follower will eagerly want that Testa Rossa Red beauty no matter the hefty price tag. On the contrary, we have Toyota, a company that targets the happy-go lucky families. They excel at making ergonomic cars that have impeccable reliability and indestructible engines. For once, it left this stereotype in the dark by launching the LEXUS LFA. Lexus- The defender of Men- is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota.
Lexus- The The defender of Men- was the new direction
Lexus is known for its attention to detail since the very beginning. Since their parent company is Toyota, Lexus inherited similar genes of exceptional reliability even while having complex technology. Additionally, as the purpose of a divisional company suggests, it excels at creating luxurious vehicles with unique designs which are independent of Toyota’s.
The LFA served the purpose of a halo car- A flagship car produced in limited numbers or with low sales expectations in order to generate public appeal for the brand. Akio Toyoda roped in only the best and trusted members for this project. He wanted everything to be perfect. He handpicked a special team to work on the LFA. Hence, the LFA is a bespoke automobile. Its parts were made specifically for it, and the primary material in its construction was carbon fiber. Carbon-Fiber is like an athlete’s steroid, only better. It’s durable and lightweight at the same time.
Akio Toyoda handpicked the team to build the LFA
Each LFA contains a front engine signed by the individual Lexus engineer who built it by hand. It has a V10 which delivers arguably the best sound. Yamaha’s musical instrument division had to perfectly tune the sound of the LFA. Delivering 553 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque, the LFA is an adrenaline-junkie’s fantasy. The revs were so quick that Lexus had to install a digital tachometer as the analog one couldn’t keep up. Keep in mind that it was a performance coupe, yet it had 12-speaker Mark Levinson audio system generates crisp high quality sound throughout the cabin. Also the airbags on seatbelts was another true purpose addition.
Chief Engineer, Haruhiko Tanahashi described the supercar’s sound as “The roar of an angel.”
When one decides to take a step down a new path, it always comes with its own set of conundrums. The costs were too much since they had to work on everything from scratch. Lexus worked on the car for several years, and even after such delay, it had to go through some major R&D changes. By the time Lexus launched the LFA inflation took its toll. When it finally hit road in 2012, several competitors had already launched superior rivals in the segment. Lexus had lost the spotlight it should have garnered. Marketing flaws were another setback for Lexus. Unless you are a car-person, not many people know about the LFA. In the end its biggest ally ended up being its greatest enemy- Time. Some parts remained outdated and people could afford better “Status” cars at cheaper prices.
When it finally hit road in 2012, several competitors had already launched superior rivals in the segment. Lexus had lost the spotlight it should have garnered.
Regardless of its flaws, a true car lover will respect the risk Lexus took! The LFA’s DNA runs throughout all of its successors. It will forever remain in the hearts of us car enthusiasts.
RIP LFA
