IL Insider: Lexus LF-A Finds Its Feet and a New Top Speed

TOKYO — Toyota has succeeded in its bid to reach a higher top speed for Japan's most expensive and fastest production car ever, the Lexus LF-A. According to a well-placed source, the LF-A's 550-horsepower-plus 4.8-liter V10 is now capable of 220 mph.

Inside Line was told by a source more than a year ago that the development team was not happy with the car's top speed of 198 mph and had sent it back to the shop for fine tuning. And now, after a year of testing in wind tunnels, strategic revisions to the car's aerodynamics and minor adjustments to its V10 engine, we are the first to reveal that the R&D team has finally found the extra legs.

Channeled through a six-speed Aisin AMT transmission bolted to a transaxle, that 220-mph top speed is 27 mph faster that the production Nissan GT-R and even the legendary Ferrari Enzo, the Lamborghini Murciélago LP640 and the Pagani Zonda F.

Our scoop squad has also learned that the actual production model looks very different from the prototypes seen at the Nürburgring, "especially around the headlights and grille." So we can expect a surprise when the car finally surfaces later in 2009. When queried as to whether the LF-A looks better now than the current prototype, our source could only scratch and tilt his head, and suck air through his teeth.

We are now being told that the LF-A will be produced in a limited edition of 500 cars, which includes a high-performance sport version with a wider body and beefed-up aero parts similar to those seen on the racing version at the Nürburgring. Speaking of the Green Hell, if the race version's lap time of 7 minutes, 13 seconds is anything to go by, we can expect a blistering time from the production model, too.

Sitting on a steel and aluminum chassis with a body employing copious amounts of lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum, the base model will cost between $220,000 and $250,000, while the top-of-the-line full-spec sports package will clear $300,000.

One rumor surfaced recently that Toyota's bosses still had not decided where to reveal the car and that both the Tokyo and Frankfurt shows were being considered. However, all the signs point to a 2009 Tokyo Auto Show launch in October, especially given that Toyota wants to maximize exposure with the double reveal of its all-new rear-wheel-drive, 2.0 liter three-door sport coupe, co-developed with Subaru.

So expect to see the production-ready version at this year's Tokyo show, and you can bet that Lexus will start taking orders almost immediately.

Inside Line says: Whether a Lexus has the brand image to demand such a high sticker price and compete with the likes of Ferrari and Lamborghini buyers, only time will tell. — Peter Lyon, Correspondent