Lexus LFA to compete in Nürburgring 24 Hours

The Lexus LFA is heading back to Nürburgring this May, the place where it clocked plenty of testing miles in pre-production form. This time, the mission is to challenge for glory in the famed 24 hours endurance race.

It will be the first time the production LFA enters a competition. However, the car isn’t a stranger to the Nürburgring 24 Hours as development versions of Lexus’ supercar were entered in two previous occasions to help hone performance and handling. Toyota president Akio Toyoda took his turn behind the wheel in those outings.

Gazoo Racing will prepare two LFAs for the race. Led by top Toyota test driver Hiromu Naruse, the team will include four Japanese and three German drivers who between them have outstanding GT and endurance racing experience.

Takayuki Kinoshita is a six-time winner of the Super Taikyu Endurance Series and is the most experienced Japanese driver in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Akira Ida was overall winner of the Tokachi 24 Hours in 1995 and 2007, and both Juichi Wakisaka and Kazuya Oshima race in Super GT.

The Germans are Armin Hahne, winner of the Spa 24 Hours in 1982 and 1983; Jochen Krumbach, who finished second overall in the 2008 Nürburgring 24 Hours; and Andre Lotterer, reigning Super GT 500 champion. Sepang Super GT regulars will recognise Lotterer as the man who drives for championship winning Team Petronas Tom’s.

The Lexus LFA is powered by a 552 bhp mid-mounted V10 engine, and is capable of 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and a top speed beyond 320 km/h. More images after the jump.

Lexus LFA to compete in Nürburgring 24 Hours

The Lexus LFA is heading back to Nürburgring this May, the place where it clocked plenty of testing miles in pre-production form. This time, the mission is to challenge for glory in the famed 24 hours endurance race.

It will be the first time the production LFA enters a competition. However, the car isn’t a stranger to the Nürburgring 24 Hours as development versions of Lexus’ supercar were entered in two previous occasions to help hone performance and handling. Toyota president Akio Toyoda took his turn behind the wheel in those outings.

Gazoo Racing will prepare two LFAs for the race. Led by top Toyota test driver Hiromu Naruse, the team will include four Japanese and three German drivers who between them have outstanding GT and endurance racing experience.

Takayuki Kinoshita is a six-time winner of the Super Taikyu Endurance Series and is the most experienced Japanese driver in the Nürburgring 24 Hours. Akira Ida was overall winner of the Tokachi 24 Hours in 1995 and 2007, and both Juichi Wakisaka and Kazuya Oshima race in Super GT.

The Germans are Armin Hahne, winner of the Spa 24 Hours in 1982 and 1983; Jochen Krumbach, who finished second overall in the 2008 Nürburgring 24 Hours; and Andre Lotterer, reigning Super GT 500 champion. Sepang Super GT regulars will recognise Lotterer as the man who drives for championship winning Team Petronas Tom’s.

The Lexus LFA is powered by a 552 bhp mid-mounted V10 engine, and is capable of 0-100 km/h in 3.7 seconds and a top speed beyond 320 km/h. More images after the jump.

Lexus launch LS 460 Sport and latest LS 460L

Hours ago Lexus Malaysia launched the latest LS 460 range, which has just gone through a mid life minor model change. Two variants are available in Malaysia – the LS 460L and the new LS 460 Sport. The former is the long wheelbase variant of Lexus’ limo while the Sport is the short wheelbase version.

The LS 460L used to be offered in an ultra-luxurious four-seat configuration, but Lexus now only brings in the five-seater, which can also function as a four-seater if you fold down the thick rear centre armrest with plenty of buttons to control the entertainment system (9-inch LCD screen and DVD player) and air-con. As before, LS owners get to enjoy semi-aniline leather ottoman seats with lumbar support massager. Business-class style “butterfly” headrests are new.

The abovementioned goodies are not available in the Sport, but the cheaper short wheelbase car gets sport tuning for the air suspension, 19-inch forged aluminium rims with wider tyres (18-inch on LS 460L), Brembo brakes and exterior touches such as an aerokit and a grille with less chrome. The Sport is for the LS owner who self drives, so it comes with sports seats with more support and shift paddles for the eight-speed auto gearbox.

Whichever you choose, the LS is brilliantly refined and luxurious, from the 4.6-litre Dual-VVT-i V8 engine with 380 bhp/493 Nm to the Mark Levinson 7.1 audio system with 19 speakers and 15-channel amplifier. The LS 460L is priced at RM829,448 while the LS 460 Sport will cost you RM719,448. Should you still want a four-seat LS 460L, special orders can be placed.

Lexus Malaysia sold over 300 cars in 2009, 226 of them being the RX350. The brand has a new centre in Penang, with another one in Johor Bahru coming up later this year. Its Klang Valley 3S Centre is located in Mutiara Damansara, PJ.

More pictures of the changes after the jump. Note: the shiny wood trim belongs to the LS 460L while the matt finish wood with tan leather trim is from the Sport.