LEXUS LFA

The last of just 11, V10-engined Australian delivered Lexus LFA coupes will be the star attraction in the upcoming Shannons Timed Online Winter Auction: August 2-9.

The hand-built 4.8-litre V10 engine was co-developed with Yamaha for the LFA with 412kW/480Nm.  The six-speed automated manual gearbox was modern for the time, but it is the engine’s redline of 9500rpm reached from idle in 0.6 seconds that still makes this car better than most cars currently on offer from new.

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ABOVE: 2011 LEXUS LFA, Lexus 2019 LC500 Coupe

The engine tone is unmistakable, likened  the scream of a V10 Formula 1 racing car. Lexus LFA came with an LCD tachometer, because engineers said analogue instruments would ‘not keep up’ with the engine’s revs. Not only is the V10 engine smaller than some V8s, it weighs about the same as a V6. As seen in the current LC 500, the door handles sit flush against the LFA’s body and pop out when touched.

LFA production started in late 2010 at 20 cars a month. Lexus ultimately built 500 LFAs over the next 2 years, allegedly losing money on each sale.

The ‘A’ in LFA referred to the ‘Apex’ of the LF line of cars. In fact it was so good that Jeremy Clarkson said the LFA was “the best car I have ever driven” and “exquisite.”

This Pearl White LFA has a red and black leather interior, with Alcantara and carbon fibre highlights, with an ultra-low 5,180km on its odometer.

LFA sold for $750,000 when new, to its first and only Melbourne-based owner in 2013 by Lexus of Blackburn, which has served the car from new.

Among many extras as standard were the pair of Tumi suitcases custom designed to fit the LFA interior, with each set inscribed with the car’s VIN.

This as-new LFA is expected to fetch between $1- $1.3 million range. Although 10 were sold, a blue LFA was kept by LEXUS Australia with most of its kilometres having been done on the track by racing legend Alan Jones.

Jones said, “and all we have ever done to it is serviced it, done the tyres and oil, and a couple of other bits here and there.”

The question is, when will you ever see another one?

The closest Lexus gets to an LFA today is the current Lexus LC500 coupe, with a one-owner silver with black and grey Alcantara interior example in Shannons timed, on-line Winter auction.

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LC500

The 54,000km 2019 LC500 comes with the optional ‘Enhancement Pack’, that included a carbon roof, an active rear spoiler and dynamic rear wheel steering.

Still available today, the LC500 has a 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated V8 with 351kW of power at 7100rpm. It has the world’s first 10-speed automatic transmission, with a 0-100km/h of 4.7 seconds and on to 270km/h.

In many ways, the LC500 Concept, which debuted at the 2016 Detroit motor show, looks very much like the LFA. It was 1.3 metres tall, two metres wide and 4.8 metres long,  the LC500 like the LFA is all bonnet and hips, with giant 21-inch rims tucking into its enormous wheel arches.

Its extensive standard features list includes a Mark Levinson stereo system, a 10.3-inch display, a head-up display, dual-zone climate control, proximity key door opening, leather upholstery with heated front seats, stainless steel pedals and LED headlights.

A new Lexus LC500 with the ‘Enhancement Pack’ will set uou back around $250,000 new in Australia, but Shannons expects this one to go in the $130,000-$150,000 range.