Why was the Lexus LFA discontinued?
The Lexus LFA, a high-performance supercar produced by Toyota's luxury division, was discontinued in 2012 after a limited production run of just 500 units. The reasons behind the LFA's discontinuation are multifaceted, involving a combination of factors related to its high development costs, limited market appeal, and Lexus' strategic shift in the supercar segment.
High Development Costs
The Lexus LFA was an ambitious and technologically advanced project that required significant investment from Toyota. The car's development took over a decade and cost an estimated $375 million, making it one of the most expensive production vehicles ever created. This substantial investment was driven by the LFA's advanced carbon-fiber construction, high-revving V10 engine, and meticulous attention to detail in its design and engineering.
Limited Market Appeal
Despite its impressive performance and engineering, the Lexus LFA faced challenges in finding a broad market appeal. The car's high price tag of around $375,000 put it out of reach for most luxury car buyers, and its highly specialized, track-focused nature limited its appeal to a niche group of enthusiasts. Additionally, the LFA competed in a crowded supercar market dominated by established brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Porsche, making it difficult for Lexus to gain a significant foothold.
Lexus' Strategic Shift
In the years following the LFA's introduction, Lexus began to shift its focus towards more mainstream luxury models, such as the ES, RX, and NX. This strategic shift away from high-performance, low-volume supercars like the LFA was likely a contributing factor to the model's discontinuation. Lexus likely determined that the resources and investment required to sustain the LFA's production were better allocated towards developing more profitable and higher-volume luxury vehicles.
Conclusion
The discontinuation of the Lexus LFA was the result of a combination of factors, including its high development costs, limited market appeal, and Lexus' strategic shift towards more mainstream luxury models. While the LFA was a technological tour de force and a testament to Lexus' engineering prowess, its specialized nature and high price tag ultimately made it a challenging proposition for the brand to sustain in the long term.
How many Lexus LFA still exist?
In 2017. the company announced that there were 12 of them left. That announcement started a sales boom that saw 3 examples sold in that year, two more in 2018, and three more in 2019. So, at current count, there are still four, brand-new examples of the Lexus LFA sitting in showrooms across the country.
How many Lexus LFAs exist?
Lexus built the LFA from 2010 though 2012 and produced a total of 500 examples. 450 of them were the standard car while 50 of them came with the Nurburgring package that added an extra 10 ponies, a bit of carbon fiber, and some gearbox tweaks.
What is the fastest Lexus besides LFA?
Fastest 2024 Lexus Models
| 0-60 mph time | Top Speed | |
|---|---|---|
| RC F Track Edition | 3.96 seconds | 168 MPH |
| RC F | 4.2 seconds | 168 MPH |
| IS500 | 4.4 seconds | 149 MPH |
| LC500 | 4.4 seconds | 168 MPH |
What is the replacement for Lexus LFA?
LFR
Lexus LFA Successor, Possibly Called LFR, Spied Testing at the Nürburgring. Toyota's GR GT3 concept looks to be inching closer to production in new spy photos that show the sports coupe testing rear-wing setups. Toyota's GR GT3 concept car could enter production as a Lexus LFA successor and carry the moniker LFR.
How much is the LFA worth now?
A: The average price of a Lexus LFA is $933,320.
Why did Lexus LFA fail?
With its price set over $375,000 initially, and its current average price of $807,512, the LFA ended up preventing most of its audience from even considering purchase. Coupled with the poor timing of its release, competitors like the Nissan GT-R R35 had already claimed its place as a top Japanese supercar.
Why is the Lexus LFA so rare?
Why It Was Only in Production for Two Years. Lexus built just 500 examples of the LFA—436 “regular” models and 64 Nurburgring Package variants—between 2010 and 2012, 190 of which were for the US market. The decision to keep the production run so low appears to have been intentional.
What is the fastest Lexus car?
Engineers at Lexus have mastered luxury automobiles to bring you the Lexus F Sport range by putting emphasis on intensity, speed, elegance, power, and style. The Lexus LC 500, Lexus RC F and the all-new 2023 Lexus IS 500 F are the three fastest cars Lexus provides.
Why did they discontinue Lexus LFA?
The LFA was shown as the final vehicle of the press conference, following the LF-Ch hybrid concept. The production announcement for the LFA marked the 20th anniversary of the launch of Lexus. Given the high cost of construction and development, analysts did not expect LFA sales to be profitable.
How much does a LFA go for?
How much is the used Lexus LFA? There are 1 used Lexus LFA vehicles for sale near you, with an average cost of $849,950. Prices for a used Lexus LFA range from a high of $849,950 to a low of $849,950. Remember that mileage and condition can affect price.
