Lexus LFA chassis and bodywork are constructed using advanced Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP)

Lexus LFA chassis Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP)

Lexus has finally unveiled the Lexus LFA at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. According to Chief Engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi, the LFA is a thoroughbred supercar to deliver a supreme driving experience.

The Lexus LFA chassis and bodywork are constructed using advanced Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) technology instead of aluminum to keep the weight to an absolute minimum. The CFRP is four times the strength of aluminum thus gives the LFA an exceptionally stiff and strong structure and 100 kg lighter if using an equivalent aluminum body. 65% of the body is of CFRP in white while 35% used for the remaining parts.

The Lexus LFA supercar is powered by a bespoke naturally aspirated mid-front 4.8-liter V10 engine to produce 552 bhp with 9,000 rpm red line and 480 Nm of torque at 6,800 rpm, 90% is available from 3,700 rpm all the way to the 9,000 rpm red line. The figures above made possible thanks to the Dual VVT-I technology, equal length exhaust manifolds and high-volume and 12-hole fuel injectors. The supercar sprints from 0 to 62 mph in just 3.7 seconds with the top speed of 202 mph.

The LFA has a power to weight ratio of 373 bhp per tonne with the kerb weight of 1,480 kg, a specific output of 115 bhp per liter, 12:1 compression ratio, low friction internals and optimised intake and exhaust flow. The engine was developed by Toyota Motor Corporation in collaboration with Yamaha.

The engine is mated to a purpose-designed six-speed Automated Sequential Gearbox (ASG) that drives the rear wheels via a limited slip differential. The gearbox is contained in a transaxle mounted over the rear axle to help achieve the optimum 48:52 front-to-rear weight distribution.

The ASG is operated by paddle shifts mounted on the steering wheel and is engineered for fast shifts where an upshift is in 0.2 seconds only. There are four driving modes available, Auto, Sport, Normal and Wet, that can be activated by a selector dial on the dashboard. Each mode has specific programme, and engine and brake control logic systems.

The supercar acoustics, induction system and exhaust notes have been specially tuned. The sound is referred as “Octave Harmony” which is inspired by the sound of a Formula 1 engine at full revs.

The LFA uses Carbon Ceramic Material (CCM) brake discs which is lighter than steel and gives fade-free performance in all conditions. The front discs measured at 390 mm diameter and 34 mm thick gripped by 6-piston aluminum callipers while the rear discs measured at 306 mm diameter, 28 mm thick and gripped with 4-pot callipers. All uses micron pad made exclusively for use with CCM brakes.

The car suspension system consists of bespoke aluminum wishbone front/multilink rear design and aluminum monotube dampers used by LFA race car in the Nurburgring 24-hour race. The LFA stands on 20-inch forged aluminum BBS wheels wrapped with Bridgestone tires measuring at 265/35ZR20 at the front and 305/20ZR20 at the rear.

At the exterior, the cart features aerodynamics that achieve drivetrain cooling and superb high-speed handling and stability. Extensive wind tunnel testing helped produced a drag coefficient of 0.31. Airflow is precisely controlled over, under and around the LFA. Downforce is generated by a carbon fiber rear diffuser, flat underbody and an active rear wing complete with a gurney flap on the leading edge. The door mirrors are shaped to channel air over the car’s shoulder into the rear intakes.

The car is fitted with a race-tuned steering that comes with an innovative column-assist Electric Power Steering. The carbon fiber steering wheel has a flat bottom section and comes with the engine starter button and instrument information selector switch.

Inside, the Lexus LFA features a low-slung cabin that is divided into 3 zones, the mechanical zone (the skeleton of the car’s construction), the human zone (2 seats placed right at the center of the car) and the driving zone that features high-tech instrumentation.

The cabin is hand-built with driver focused ergonomics, leather and Alcantara seats, matt and gloss carbon fiber trim, aluminum forged floor-hinged brake and throttle pedals. Other features include LCD display panel with a TFT and a motor-drive movable ring featuring a single circular dial with a central tachometer with an LCD needle. The dial also shows a digital speedometer and gear indicator, transmission mode, vehicle control data and trip information displays.

The car safety features include central carbon fiber reinforced plastic, crash box fitted at the front and the rear, strong and rigid carbon fiber members and door structures comprising an aluminum inner panel and a Glass reinforced Sheet Moulding Compound (G-SMC) outer skin, Lexus’s Vehicle Dynamic Integrated Management (VDIM) system which coordinates the smooth operation of the ABS, vehicle stability and traction control systems, two-stage adaptive airbags and seatbelt airbags for driver and passenger and a driver’s knee bag.

The Lexus LFA supercar will be hand-assembled at the Motomachi plant in Toyota City and only 500 units will be built at a maximum rate of 20 per month. Each V10 engine will be assembled by a single engineer. The UK launch price is at €368,000 (approximately £336,000). Owners can also choose to personalise their cars including 30 different paint finishes and certain standard equipment can also be removed such as the audio system to reduce the weight.

Source: http://www.revmods.com/