Lexus LFA - $350k - by invitation only

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/108609/lexus-350000-sports-car?mod=family-autos

Lexus's $350,000 Sports Car
by Lee Hawkins
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
provided by


In an effort to create exclusivity, buyers of Lexus's LFA "supercar" must be approved by the brand; those who don't plan to flaunt the car need not apply


The $350,000 Lexus LFA was one of the most buzz-generating vehicles at the ultra-luxury "Gallery" exhibit during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this week. Coined the "two-seat supercar" by Lexus, the vehicle sits at the top of Lexus's "F" portfolio, its line of high-end sports performance vehicles.

But simply having the $350,000 to buy one of the 500 LFAs Lexus plans to produce won't be enough: Buyers must be tapped by the company to be owners. People selected to purchase the car will be based on factors such as the other cars they own, where they live, and how often and where they drive. Potential buyers must apply through an authorized Lexus distributor.


Lexus first introduced the LFA as a concept car at the 2005 Detroit auto show. LFA deliveries will start in early 2011, and only 20 of the hand-built cars will be produced each month, up to the maximum quantity of 500. Production starts in December at Toyota's Motomachi plant in Japan, and buyers can customize their cars with various colors and wheel designs, among other options.

On the road, the LFA will be able to accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.6 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph, thanks in part to its 10 cylinder, 552-horsepower engine. The car is also made of strong yet lightweight carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer, which makes it about 220 pounds lighter than an equivalent aluminum design.

But in the end, the car's success may hinge on its exclusive ordering process and scarcity -- a tactic meant to boost the carmaker's image with the monied ultra-luxury set. While Lexus has built a respected reputation in the mainstream luxury market, the company has yet to successfully penetrate the ultra-luxury and performance car sector and compete with brands like Porsche and Lamborghini.

"We want people who will drive the car, who will be seen in the car," said Paul Williamson, national manager at Lexus College, Toyota's dealer training school. "We want it to be seen on the right roads, in front of the right restaurants and not just being enjoyed by one individual in their private garage."

Mr. Williamson said Lexus expects to sell about a third of the 500 vehicles in the United States.

 

Interesting buzz tactic by Lexus. Wonder how many egos will be duped into forking over $350k?

 

Probably 500.

 

Maybe in time. The real question is whether or not they can get 501+ applicants. I say no.

 

Is it legal to discriminate in this fashion?

 

Ferrari did it with the Enzo no?

 

This is nauseating. Let's see, how can we use marketing to compensate for our ordinary looking $350,000 coupe that can almost run with a Porsche 911 Turbo...

 

I read all 138 in Japan are already spoken for. I must say, while it's performance is not groundbreaking it does look cool and is different. I like it alot more then the GT-R. Just needs to be $100,000 less.

 

like soo many other products...

 

Apply to have the right to buy an overwrought, overpriced, over-hyped, heritage challenged Toyota?

Good luck with that plan.

 

In this price range, its a joke to compare this to a carrera gt.

 

I actually think this car will do very well in America, Lexus has great brand loyalty and a lot of mid life crisis types will be enticed by a "supercar" that drives like their LS460.

side note, I was at a Lexus dealer recently, there is not a single Lexus product I would spend my money on. It's amazing how generic their products are, but apparently that sells....

 

+1, my mom has a '99 ES300, it's not too bad, but very plain, it some power but no flair. And it's beige. I'm pretty sure hers is the lowest mileage '99 ES300 out there. It just hit 50,000 miles when we took it to Georgia.

On Top Gear, when they drove it, they said, Lexus is losing money selling it, even at such a high price.

 

they're all beige...or silver...or gray. does your mom not drive much or just forgets she owns such a boring car?

I'm sure they are losing money when you factor in development costs, but the R&D pays off in the long run.

 

Her work is inside the neighborhood (she's a teacher), it's around a 5 mile drive.

True about the R&D, let's just hope Lexus changes for the good.

 

I have owned quite a few Lexus SUV's, and like the brand, but I would not pay 100K for that car let alone 350K, and whoever does is really desperate for attention.

 

Hmmm, what is that funny taste? Oh...oh dear, I think I have just vomited in my own mouth.

 

When you look under the hood, do all the components still say "Toyota" on them?

 

Millions and millions spent on development.

Maybe they should have tossed a $20 to a exterior designer.

 

I agree. If this looked as good as an 8C they'd have a chance at 200K.

Looking as it does at 350K IMO they don't.

 

is it that soft???

 

A lexus dealer told me that in Jpn theres more demand than the allocation for the country.

 

"To no one's surprise, in the three months that have passed since the official introduction of the LFA at the Tokyo Motor Show in October 2009, the number of formal expressions of interest in purchasing the $375,000 V10 supercar is already far greater than the limited production run of only 500 examples, Toyota's subsidiary announced today."
http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2010/01/lexus-lfa-early-customer-interest.html

Exclusivity has more to do with the price than the looks. A Veyron doesn't look like a $1.7M car, nor the Reventon a €1.2M car, to me. But to the people who do like the looks and can afford them, the price is worth it if they like everything else.

 

Most reviews comparing it to a 599 say the Lexus is sharper, more nimble, and handles better. A few have compared the driving involvement to that of the Scuderia.

 

IIRC, one thing that made it so expensive and took so long to create was that they developed every single part from scratch (for whatever reason).