Lexus Releases New Photos of Geneva-Bound LFA Nürburgring Edition

After providing us with an initial batch of three photos of its LFA Nürburgring Edition, Lexus today unleashed more than a dozen new pictures of the more track-orientated version of its supercar. Built to celebrate the LFA's hat-trick of class wins at the Nürburgring 24 Hours race, the limited edition will be shown in public for the first time at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1.

The Nürburgring performance package is available on only 50 of the 500 LFA cars that will be built, with all of these versions to be crafted during 2012, the second full year of LFA production.

The LFA Nürburgring Edition sports a more powerful version of the front-mounted 4.8-liter V10 engine producing 562bhp (+10bhp), while changes to the six-speed sequential transmission drop shift times from 0.20 to 0.15 seconds.

Despite the power boost and faster gearbox, due to the increased drag from the aerodynamic enhancements that were made to augment downforce at high speed and include a larger front spoiler, fin-type side spoilers, a canard fin and a fixed rear wing, the Nürburgring Edition maintains the standard LFA's 3.7 second 0-100km/h (62 mph) sprint time and 325 km/h (202 mph) top speed.

Other revisions include a more hardcore suspension tuning and a 10mm reduction in the ride height plus exclusive mesh-type wheels fitted with dedicated high-grip tires.

Exterior color options for the limited edition model are restricted to matte black, black, white or orange, with interiors finished in black and red, black and purple and all-black. According to Lexus, cars delivered in Europe will feature a carbon fibre centre console and door trims, with carbon fibre sports seats finished in Alcantara.

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VIDEO: Lexus LFA Meets Hot Dutch Supermodel in Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition

Normally, the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition wouldn't be something that you'd read about or see on CoolPictures, but being that Lexus is involved in the 2011 issue, we....couldn't leave you in the dark about the LFA's presence in the photo shoot with Dutch supermodel Rianne Ten Haken.

Now, if you're still with us and haven't used the zoom function for a closer inspection of Miss Ten Haken, in the hands of Rhys Millen, the Japanese firm's 552-HP, V10 supercar ran -in Lexus' own words- "multiple high-speed donuts around the model to create the imagery for the sizzling four-page spread." Now spread your wings over the jump to watch the video clip.

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Lexus Offers Special Driver Lessons to LFA Owners [with Video]

Owning a supercar like the Lexus LFA is not always a walk in the park. With 552HP on tap, it has enough oomph to get you in serious trouble and, given the $375,000 price tag and limited run of just 500 units, it would be a shame to wrap this beast around a tree. So, it’s definitely good news that Lexus will offer a driver development program for LFA owners that will run from March 8 to 15, at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California.

Racing professionals will provide expert guidance during the one-day program, which includes theoretical and track lapping sessions, performance limit exercises and technical demonstrations.

“This program offers a unique opportunity to experience the 552 horsepower Lexus LFA supercar in its natural environment,” said Mark Templin, group vice president and general manager, Lexus Division. “Lapping Infineon and tips from the professional drivers will certainly enhance the overall LFA ownership experience.”

First presented as a concept model at the 2005 Detroit Auto Show, the production version LFA was finally shown in October 2009 at the Tokyo Motor Show. Still, it took another year until it went into production, with the first units being delivered in the U.S. last month. The entire batch of 500 units is expected to be delivered by 2012 and, according to Lexus, there are still a limited number of LFAs available for purchase.

In the videos below, you can see the reactions of one of the first owners to take delivery of the LFA (allegedly in Costa Rica), upon getting behind the wheel.

By Csaba Daradics

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Lexus LFA Nürburgring to get its First Public Outing in Geneva

Nearly 3 months after the start of production of the standard LFA, Lexus will debut the more track-focused Nürburgring Edition at the Geneva Motor Show in March. While we've known about the bespoke version of the LFA since May, 2010, according to the Japanese automaker, this is the first time that the supercar will be shown in public.

Available as a special package on the options list, Lexus will build a maximum of 50 Nürburgring Editions out of a total of 500 LFAs. The limited production model gets additional aerodynamic features and technical revisions to improve handling and downforce, increases the V10 engine output by 10bhp to 562bhp and speeds up gear shifts in the six-speed sequential transmission.

In the United States, the Nürburgring package is priced at $70,000 while a Matte black finish carries an additional cost of $20,000. The MSRP of the standard LFA is $375,000.

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VIDEO: Lexus Sets the Bar High, Chains Four Cars on LS in New TV Ad

In another sign that luxury automakers in the U.S. are raising the stakes -or so to speak- with their latest commercials, following Audi's recent A8 ad, Lexus has released a new TV spot as part of an advertising campaign to demonstrate how far the company goes to achieve perfection.

This particular broadcast ad is titled “Chain” and it shows a crane slowly lifting the front end of a LS, which is attached to four more Lexus models (RX, GS, ES and IS) using nothing more than cables and stretch bars. At the end of the spot, a $375,000 LFA comes into the shot and parks directly below the chain of vehicles weighing a total 21,000 pounds.

The key point here is that the commercial is real and that no special effects were used for its creation as Lexus proves in the 'Behind the Scenes" video.

“It isn’t enough to just say that we pursue perfection, we want to demonstrate the great lengths we go to in our pursuit,” states Dave Nordstrom, vice president of marketing for Lexus.

“The new broadcast spot allows us to focus on the foundation of our vehicles, the chassis, and show its almost unbelievable strength. In fact, we feared that it would be so unbelievable, we invited a physicist and structural engineer to witness the shoot, to prove that it did, in fact, occur without the use of special effects or computer generated-imagery.”

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VIDEO: C&D Pits Lexus LFA Against Ferrari 599 HGTE

In 1971, one of the greatest one-on-one boxing matches took place in New York's Madison Square Garden: the bout between Mohammed Ali and Joe Frazier. So big was this event, advertisers dubbed it, 'The Fight of the Century'. Now, two different contenders take to the ring (uh...tarmac). The reigning champion: the Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano HGTE. The challenger: the Lexus LFA. Video after the jump.

One is a purebred, Italian racehorse with decades of motor racing heritage under its belt. The other is the new kid on the block: the young hood with its 'doof doof' music and unshakable will to win.

So maybe I went a bit too far with the boxing analogy...

The real scoop here is U.S. magazine Car and Driver putting the V12-powered 599 GTB HGTE and V10-powered LFA through their paces on the narrow, sodden backroads of Wales. Technical editor Michael Austin is behind the wheel of the Ferrari while executive editor Mark Gillies is in the Lexus. Their goal: to find out which of these two, similarly priced front engined, rear-wheel-drive GTs is the best?

Watch the video and decide for yourselves.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: C&D

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