Lexus LFA: The new rising star

Will they? Won't they? The Lexus LFA story seems to have been dragging on for longer than Lexus has existed. Well, since 2005 to be exact, which is when Toyota's posh side unveiled the first concept in Detroit.

But making us wait until the end of 2009 for a production version would be the same as telling your five-year-old son on Christmas morning he can only open the presents after lunch. It's torture.

Anyway, it’s out in the open now and the result is more special than we could ever expect from a company whose target market is the unemployed, or pensioners.

When wheels went to the Nürburgring earlier this year, we witnessed Lexus’s V10 demolishing every single one of the 250-odd race cars entered in the 24-hour endurance event, at least in the decibel race. Only F1 cars can match the sonic zing of its engine.

But that aural sensation for regular drivers will cost them over $550,000, or just more than Dh2 million. So it’s more expensive than Lamborghini’s Murcielago SV. But can Lexus convince us that the LFA is worth the millions?

Actually, I’m pretty much convinced already. The car’s technical details are enough to embarrass Gordon Murray.

First off, the thing is mostly weaved out of carbon fibre reinforced plastic, including the chassis. And since the material is four-times stronger than aluminium, it makes for an exceptionally stiff structure while saving around 100kg.

Then you have the heart, which is a normally-aspirated 4.8-litre V10, developing 552bhp and wailing all the way to 9,000rpm. You may think the 480Nm of torque is a bit low, but when you consider that redline and and the six-speed sequential gearbox, it’s just all the more reason to keep the engine singing its highest note.

The tranny drives the rear wheels through a limited slip differential, mounted in a transaxle configuration which keeps the weight distribution at 48:52 front to rear. Up-shifts take just 0.2 seconds through steering wheel mounted paddles, while four different driving modes ensure usability on and off the track, including in the wet through a specialized programme selected by a dash dial.

Dry sump lubrication keeps the LFA on the top tier of the supercar world and also results in a low-mounted engine – which is about the size of a regular V8, but weighs as much as a V6 - for the optimal centre of gravity. A 1,480kg weight equals 373bhp per tonne and more impressively, 115bhp per litre.

Stopping this demonstration of Japanese technical genius is a task handed to carbon ceramic brakes; 390mm in diameter at the front gripped by six-piston aluminium calipers and and 360mm at the back. Top speed is 202mph, so you’ll thank Lexus for these bits when you’re shedding speed like a wet cocker spaniel sheds hair.

Of course, having fine-tuned the LFA at the ‘Ring means the suspension is pretty trick too, using a similar set-up to the car running at that twice-around-the-clock race we mentioned earlier. Finishing the chassis off are 20in forged aluminium BBS wheels shod with Bridgestone tubes.

Looks are always subjective, but you can’t deny the LFA isn’t the most extreme Japanese interpretation of the ultimate supercar. But does it look like two million dirhams?

With 0-100kph dispatched in 3.7sec and the rest of the technical genius hiding underneath, who cares if they drape it in Corolla metal.