MotorMouths

The Lexus LFA delivers racecar-level thrills in a surprisingly comfortable, street-friendly car, developed in a cost-is-no-object program that lasted a decade. That, and exclusivity

The 2012 Lexus LFA is a technological tour de force that’s capable of thrilling performance. But it will be interesting to see if it can successfully command such an equally exotic asking price.

Lexus is not synonymous with driving thrills. Well, one big exception is the Lexus LFA, their 200 mile-per-hour supercar.Needless to say, the price will keep all but the super rich away from this super car.

Harness the Lexus LFA’s huge reservoir of power and handling, and it becomes the best piece you’ve ever driven. But overstep its bounds and it will slice your wrists like the freshly honed scalpel that it really is.

The LFA is beautifully weighted, a dancer on the balls of its feet, swiveling easily into tight corners. It took them a long time, but Lexus brings excitement — if only to a very few customers.

Exclusive, with stunning performance, an exotic soundtrack and price, plus an admission that each one will lose Lexus money, the LFA ticks all the boxes in the lexicon of supercar. It’s also genuinely charismatic, with a feel and spirit all its own.

The Lexus LFA firmly establishes Toyota firmly within the upper echelons of sports car manufacturers. The real payoff isn’t going to be the the incredibly rare LFA, but other future Toyota performance models.

The 2013 Lexus LFA stands out as an ultra-rare piece of precision engineering. And if that’s your thing and you can afford it, it’s worth buying even at its crazy price.

If Toyota can bring even a pinch of the LFA’s supreme performance and handling to a car that the rest of us can actually buy—like the upcoming FT-86 sports coupe, they’ll have enthusiasts beating down the doors.

The Lexus LFA feels right at home on the track. Its suspension soaks up the bumps well, and quickly hunkers back down waiting for the driver’s next command. Don’t look down at the speedometer because you’ll be surprised at how much speed this car can carry.

The Lexus LFA is a mystery wrapped in an enigma coated in carbon fiber. It’s got the potential to be many things – track toy and ultra-GT – to 500 (stupendously wealthy) people.

From both a design and engineering standpoint, the 2011 Lexus LFA is a remarkable achievement. Yet while the performance numbers are impressive, the car doesn’t have the brutality of a Lamborghini or Aston Martin – nor the over-the-top looks of a Ferrari.