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In Detroit 2008 there was shown the study of Lexus LF-A car without the roof. Lexus is popular thanks to its elegant sporty cut limousines and SUVs, their reliability and possibility to choose hybrid drive for many models. That all is accompanied by many technical innovations, that in many ways belong to the world top. However, many find fault in typical Japanese politeness and little courage, which simply is not worn in the supersports class. A supersports car can have any technique, but without a bit of insanity it is usually not very successful. So while the current sporty model SC still looks rather like a sporty sedan, the model LF-A in many ways approaches to the etalon of European insanity, which is no doubt Lamborghini.
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The general problem of Asian cars distributed to Europe was until not long ago the design, not corresponding to European measures. They were simply too boring cars, not distinct, technically usually very good, but not inviting emotions. It is the cause of their low success in the area of more sporty cars. They simply must have some go. The showcase of not understanding this is in fact the Lexus SC model, which looks rather like a cross of Mercedes, Porsche and Ferrari, than having its own personal style, worthy of a sports car in the European meaning.
This should change the LF-A model, which is in many ways inspired no doubt in Lamborghini. According to Japanese conservatism it is probably a good step forward and shows, what is the result of enveloping Lamborghini into more neutral coating. It could satisfy those, who find Lambo too eccentric, but Ferrari or Porsche too polite. The inspiration in Lamborghini is clear for example in the front part in the form of air intake bleeds divided into three distinct holes, side bleeds, rear lamps arrangement with air outlets beneath covered by distinct grids, the exhaust placement in the middle, and one could continue.
The design envelopes the technique and it is in many ways very different from Lamborghini. How the constructors managed to envelope a different technique into the coat of polite Lamborghini Murcielágo?
Lamborghini has low front thanks to placing the engine behind. Lexus LF-A has it in the front, but behind the front axle. The radiators, there are two of them, are placed in the back and the air flows to them through the bleeds by the rear wheels. The car also uses the transaxle construction, so the engine is in the front, but the transmission combined with differential and rear driven axle is at the back in front of the rear wheels. The gear box is controlled by paddles under the steering wheel, so the high middle tunnel also typical for Lamborghini is not decorated by the gear stick. The engine is a V10 with given volume of a bit less than 5 litres. It reaches the power of over 368 kW (500 PS) and the car thanks to it reaches the maximum speed over 320 km/h. The acceleration and weight is still not known.
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