Engine The Lexus LFA is powered by a 72-degree bank angle
V10 engine equipped with
Dual VVT-i carrying the
1LR-GUE designation with a maximum output of delivered at 8,700 rpm. It was developed in partnership with
Yamaha Motor Company, incorporating engine technologies such as a cylinder head derived from racing applications, as well as acoustic engineering from
Yamaha. Its maximum torque output of arrives at 6,800 rpm, 90 percent of which is available from 3,700 rpm. The engine
redlines at 9,000 rpm, but with a fuel cutoff set at 9,500 rpm, and is constructed using forged aluminum pistons, forged titanium
connecting rods, and solid titanium valves. The V-angle of the LFA's V-10 engine is set to 72-degrees, which allows for even firing from the pistons without the use of a split-journal crankshaft, thus improving engine efficiency as well as lowering the overall weight.
Dry sump lubrication prevents engine oil starvation through high-speed corners and lowers the engine's
center of mass. Air is fed directly from beneath the hood through a visible slit passing into a dual-stage variable
intake manifold and then into ten individual
throttle bodies before finally exiting from a dual-stage titanium muffler. The LFA's engineers selected a V10 engine over an equivalent displacement V8 engine for its ability to rev higher, The engine reportedly weighs less than the manufacturer's own 3.5-litre
2GR-FE V6 engine. Engineers attempted to make the engine sound like that of a Formula One car with high revs, while at the same time maintaining reliability and vibration control. Along with other manufacturers such as
Ferrari, Toyota had produced its own F1 engines and chassis designs. and a US television spot later used the engine sound to shatter a champagne glass via
resonance frequency. The powerplant gives the LFA a
weight-to-power ratio of 2.67 kg/hp and enables it to reach a top speed of around . Unlike the
IS F's
2UR-GSE engine, Yamaha co-developed the entire engine, and not just the cylinder heads. The engine exceeds
Euro V emissions. The engine is installed with a front mid-engine placement. According to Chief Engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi a front engine layout was selected instead of a mid engine layout as it is inherently more forgiving dynamically, affording less experienced drivers a wider safety net.
Transmission The gearbox built by
Aisin is a six-speed single-clutch
automated manual transmission actuated with paddle-shifters. Lexus initially sought to use a
dual-clutch transmission, but decided that the shift feel was
too smooth. Instead, they opted for an automated
sequential gearbox, a system previously developed for the
Toyota MR2 by Norwegian technology company Kongsberg Devotek (now
Semcon). While much of the software and
control system was kept, Devotek adapted the mechanics and hydraulics to match the increased performance demands of the LFA.
Chassis The Lexus LFA's frame is made from an in-house designed and manufactured
carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) centre
monocoque with aluminium front and rear
subframes. The subframes, which can be removed and replaced minimising potential repair costs, are joined to the monocoque using a newly developed aluminum flanged collar designed to create a stronger joint. According to the manufacturer, the quality of the CFRP material matches that of aeronautical grades and is woven by a laser monitored circular loom, one of only two in the world. Manufacturer data indicates that the use of CFRP saves over equivalent aluminum materials. An
electric power steering rack with a 14.3:1 gear ratio is used. The front suspension utilises a double-wishbone arrangement and there is a multi-link arrangement at the rear with coil-over dampers at all wheels. The
dampers are a monotube design, each with a remote fluid reservoir that includes an expanding and contracting
bellows: a purely mechanical system. The LFA further features six-piston front and four-piston rear
Brembo monobloc
brake calipers with front and rear carbon ceramic discs controlled by Toyota's
Electronically Controlled Brake-by-wire system. Forged 20-inch
BBS wheels fitted with front and rear
Bridgestone next-generation Potenza tyres are standard. The fuel tank straddles the exhaust system keeping weight centered along the left-right axis. The engine is connected to the transaxle via a rigid carbon-fibre torque tube which the exhaust system runs directly below. Compared to the prior 2007–2008 concepts, the production model is nearly longer, with identical width, height, and nearly same wheelbase dimensions. The LFA's body features sharp edges and cutoffs for improved aerodynamic performance, made possible by the carbon fiber body. With the wing retracted the LFA's body has a drag coefficient of . The LFA body was offered with a choice of 28 standard exterior colours, Two
octaves of engine sound are channeled into the cabin via twin ducts which connect the firewall with the intake manifold, with the sound tuned in the manner of an
Ovation guitar. Custom-made
Tumi suitcases are designed for the LFA interior, with a two-piece set made from carbon-fibre style materials and inscribed with the
VIN; a smaller "concourse" case is for track days and short trips, while a larger "coastal" case is for longer trips. ==Tokyo Motor Show Edition==