Lexus has only made one supercar, which is in part why the LFA is so beloved and in turn quite collectable. Production was also capped at a mere 500 units globally, guaranteeing scarcity and further increasing desirability. Now number 389 is crossing the auction block this weekend and is estimated to bring in at least three quarters of a million dollars.
A 1998 RUF BTR will also auction this weekend.
Wearing the optional Starlight Black over Camel Yellow, this is a strikingly sophisticated example which has been painstakingly preserved. The current owner virtually hasn’t driven it, a mere 1,468 miles showing on the odometer. In essence, whoever becomes the second owner of this Lexus LFA will be getting a brand new supercar made over a decade ago.
Some might dismiss the LFA as simply a novelty, and while to a degree it is the supercar is also a genuine performance powerhouse. After a long development process, the Lexus was built using a carbon fiber monocoque, similar to what many racecars use, with aluminum front and rear subframes added.
Mounted mid-ship, the 1LR-GUE 4.8-liter V10 engine developed with Yamaha provides a solid 552-horsepower and 354 lb.-ft. of torque. Like the structure of the LFA, the engine is incredibly lightweight, being built out of aluminum, magnesium, and titanium alloys, making those power figures all the more impressive. In fact, curb weight comes in at under 3,300 lbs.
A six-speed automated sequential manual transmission helps keep the driver fully engaged and in control of performance. And this supercar delivers big with a claimed 0-62 time of 3.7 seconds and a top speed of 202 mph.
Handling is superb, although some wouldn’t think a supercar with double wishbone front suspension and a multilink rear configuration would be. Lexus added remote-reservoir KYB dampers to enhance performance considerably. A brake-by-wire system using Brembo six-piston front and four-piston rear calipers, plus carbon ceramic discs, also provides the driver with excellent control.
The interior brims with technological advancements many marveled at when the LFA was released, including seatbelt airbags and a digital tachometer which changes colors depending on the driving mode engaged. It also couches the driver and passenger in the level of luxury one would expect from a Lexus performance vehicle.
This particular 2012 Lexus LFA will be crossing the block during Broad Arrow Auctions’ The Amelia Auction 2024. With these coming on the market only occasionally, interest is naturally strong, so expect the estimated final bid of $750,000 to $850,000 to be quite accurate.
See the lot listing for yourself here.
Images via Broad Arrow Auctions
Shawn Henry