There are road trips, and then there are road trips in a $375,000 supercar. Nearly everyone has done the former at some point, and almost no one has done the latter. Especially in the extremely rare and brand-new 2012 Lexus LFA. Somehow we convinced Lexus that Inside Line should hit the road in the first production LFA dedicated to the press fleet.
But where to go within the 72-hour window afforded to us? Why not Vegas, Baby? Senior Editor Josh Jacquot and I were saddled with the chore. First we headed to a dyno to see what this V10 rocket really produces horsepowerwise, and of course we made a pit stop in Fontana, California, to run our usual barrage of instrumented tests. While at Auto Club Speedway we drag-raced the LFA against a 620-horsepower Porsche 911 GT2 RS. And we even let a couple of IL readers fulfill their fantasies and test-drive the LFA, much to Lexus' displeasure. We also blogged, Tweeted and Foursquared everything along the way.
No road trip is worth burning fuel on if you don't push the car to its limits on at least one curvy road, so we took a run up Glendora Mountain Road. Then it was off to Las Vegas, where we cruised the Strip looking for trouble, and challenged a 2012 Nissan GT-R to a drag race on a closed stretch of desert road. We also made time for a Tweetup with some IL readers at a local Vegas hangout.
Then it was full steam back to Torrance, California, sustained on Red Bull, peanut M&Ms and the natural adrenaline that comes with piloting one of the most raucous and utterly capable supercars ever created.
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330cizhp says:
08:06 PM, 07/20/2011
gutsoj1: LFA a competitor only of a 350Z?? Huh?? Ignorance is a bliss! 350Z 0 - 60 mph in 5.5 seconds, Lexus LFA 0 - 60 mph in 3.6 seconds. Hmmm...Let me see if there is a comparison here. Clearly, you are smoking something very good. Here are the questions to ask:
1 - How many cars can get through the slalom in 75.2 mph without super-slicks and special high-grip tires??
2 - How many cars can circle the skidpad at 1.07g lateral acceleration??
3 - How many cars can hit the 1/4 mile in mid-11 seconds and 0 - 200 KM/H (125 mph) in 11.4 seconds??
4 - How many cars can lap the Nurburgring 7:22 without any super-slick tires
5 - How many cars hold records around the world on various track of the "fastest lap time ever".
6 - How many cars brake in 94 feet??
7 - Offer this level of technology, 9500 rpm and all the luxury amenities down to real time satellite traffic??
All of this without high-grip and super-slick tires DOT competition tires. The answer is, they could be counted on one hand. Case in point, you are a complete ignorant.
330cizhp says:
08:00 PM, 07/20/2011
T
gt500svt says:
07:50 PM, 07/20/2011
gutsohj1: You are completely an moron. Lexus LFA has beaten the 599 GTB HGTE in a CarAndDriver comparison, SLS AMG in AutoZeitung comparison and also in this comparison it put down better handling numbers than the GT2 RS. It has lapped the Nurburgring in 7:22 as demonstrated on the ADAC 24-hours, which none of the cars have achieved (except GT2 RS, which was achieved on super-slick tires). It also has been compared in numerous European comparisons and also holds the record fastest laps on Goodwood track and Circuit De Nevers in France.
Calling LFA only being able to beat Ford Focus and 350Z shows how ignorant you are of truly where the LFA stands and most likely throw in hatred in the mix to marginalize LFA's true capabilities.
gutjos1 says:
08:43 AM, 05/24/2011
I understand that in order to get a review on a car they probably has to agree to say that the car is good and fast, for example the LFA. For what I seen so far the only good thing the LFA has is a good engine sound, other than that nothing, because sticker price is too much for a car that can't keep up with the other contenders, like Nissan GT-R, 458, 599, GT2 RS,SLS ......... maybe against aFord focus rs or a 370Z
330cizhp says:
02:15 PM, 05/15/2011
Case in point, I wish Lexus had allowed you guys at Insideline to use LFA's real launch control system, which already has first gear preselected at the time of launch plus it manages traction while retaining the revs over 4000 rpm.
You guys should check the Lexus produced video in which Scott Pruett uses the real launch control in Lexus LFA and you will see for yourself with Video VBOX satellite data that he ripped a 0 - 60 mph in only 3.2 seconds (with roll out).
330cizhp says:
02:11 PM, 05/15/2011
Despite what you guys at Insideline believed was 'launch control' for LFA, it was NOT. You guys never really used the real LFA 'launch control' since Lexus never allowed you to use it. They told you to use neutral-drop technique, which has lag time of engaging the first gear going from neutral to 1st gear.
The real LFA launch control pre-engages 1st gear and then revs rise up to 4000 rpm and as soon as 'launch' appears in the tachometer, the LFA launches on a proper dry surface like bat out of hell since the computer manages traction and never lets the revs drop below 3700 rpm before they quickly sore back up to 9500 rpm.
Scott Pruett in my video of 'Driver Development Program' that Lexus produced did a demonstration of the real launch control with VBOX video data in the corner. He ripped a 0 - 60 mph in only 3.5 seconds (3.2 seconds with 1 foot roll out) so the proof is there.
rivernile says:
04:57 PM, 05/10/2011
I wish I had the chance behind the wheel of this baby!
So, what was the outcome of the "drag race" against the 911 GT2 RS? And how about the "challenge" to the Nissan GTR? These are facts that IL readers want to know.
raylo993 says:
10:13 PM, 05/09/2011
For almost $400K they charge per car, you think at least Lexus could hire some better car designers...this thing looks ugly in pics, hope it fares better in real form. Hate those head lights. Like the sounds it makes though.
objectiveview says:
08:27 PM, 05/09/2011
How much tread and brakes were left guys? Bet you couldn't even faze those brakes.
higcorners says:
08:23 AM, 05/09/2011
The F1 sound is so awesome.