The drivers cockpit is divided into operational and display zones. Even in this industry, there are those most cherished of cars. Naruse had died, but the automaker had little else to offer because it said the. The car in question looks to be the same vehicle pictured here that was just spotted on the ring by our spy photographer. Test drivers write that theres a lot to like about lexus first exotic sports car, but unfortunately there are also quite a few areas where the 2012 lexus lfa doesnt do well. The supercar crashed a few kilometers from the nurburgring test track, killing the driver. According to reports, toyotas chief test driver, 67yearold hiromu naruse, has died in a crash on highway 410 near the famed nurburgring race track in germany. The incredible, tragic life of toyotas most important test driver.
An extended look into my first test drive in the lexus lfa, hearing that glorious na v10 screaming away, and my first initial impressions and. Lexus lfa was tested during the summer months in very wet conditions, but the track test even in the wet as well as daily city road driving warranted enough positive impressions for the magazine to award lexus lfa the win. Jun 24, 2010 the test driver was behind the wheel of the lexus lfa nurburgring edition when the car crashed into a bmw 3 series, which was also a test vehicle. Jan 24, 2019 the lexus lfa nurburgring package is the last hurrah of a truly special car, the first and, so far, only supercar built by lexus. Among them, unquestionably, is the ultraexclusive lexus lfa supercar, which only a handful of journalists have ever driven. But under all that rawness is an unmistakable layer of smoothness and refinement that you would only expect from a lexus. Unconfirmed reports say hiromu naruse, a toyota employee since 1967, was at the wheel of the test car when it collided with a bmw on the streets outside the. For starters, the heart of the matter, the v10 engine that was designed just for the lfa, is incredible. Please if you have the money to get a supercar please just test drive one before criticizing it. See instrumented test results and photos, and read about the 2012 lexus lfa at car and driver. Lexus has been working on the lexus lfa supercar for more than a decade. They even raced it in the nurburgring 24hour in 2008 and 2009.
In honor of these wins, lexus produced the lfa nurburgring package, which test driver, akira lida, used to lap the nordschleife in 7. A picture tweeted by a lexus race driver has sparked rumours that the lfa supercar could be heading for a new chapter in endurance racing. Jun 28, 2010 bmw said on monday that an employee driving a 3 series sedan in a crash in germany that killed toyotas chief test driver was not speeding. Toyotas chief test driver, hiromu naruse, has been killed in a crash while testing the companys upcoming 2012 lexus lfa supercar in germany. Chief testdriver hiromu naruse strongly believed that great cars are developed through road racing, the ultimate facility being germanys world famous 12. Oct 12, 2009 the lfa is lexuss long awaited first supercar. From a performance standpoint, the lfa earns recognition for its strong v8 engine, which was derived from toyotas nowdefunct formula 1 efforts.
It is a lighter, more agile and, overall, faster version of the oh. Kyle busch loses license for 128 mph lexus lfa speeding. Toyotas chief test driver, hiromu naruse, has been killed in a crash while testing the companys upcoming 2012 lexus lfa supercar. There are currently 2 lexus lfa cars as well as thousands of other iconic classic and collectors cars for sale on classic driver. After nearly 10 years of research, development and testing at challenging worldclass tracks like fuji and germanys nurburgring, the f division presented lexuss first supercar the lfa. Used 2012 lexus lfa engine the heart of every lexus lfa is a naturally aspirated v10 engine that makes a robust 552 horsepower.
With the focus firmly on the driver and a highly controlled driving experience, the lfa is the perfect blend of practicality and luxury. Meticulously finished, the cockpit is a tribute to the skills of the craftspeople who build it by hand. The test driver was behind the wheel of the lexus lfa nurburgring edition when the car crashed into a bmw 3 series, which was also a test vehicle. Akio was similarly enthralled by this challenging loop of 170 corners around the natural. We uncover the fascinating development story behind the lexus lfa. The incredible, tragic life of toyotas most important test. Hiromu naruse, naruse hiromu 1944 23 june 2010 was the japanese chief test driver, chief test engineer of toyota motor corporation and chief of the gazoo racing team. Lexus lfa test driver killed in crash in germany motortrend. Lexus lfa test driver killed 8th generation honda civic forum. Nascars kyle busch busted for going 128 mph in this car. Jun 23, 2010 toyotas chief test driver, hiromu naruse, was killed today when the lexus lfa nurburgring edition he was driving was hit headon by a bmw on a rural road in the vicinity of the nordschleife. Bmw says its driver in lexus lfa crash was not speeding the.
Wed like to keep you updated on our latest news, offers and events. Awesome sound the gauge overlay is a little off, there must have been something the chasecam. The test driver, hiromu naruse, who had played a part in toyota sports cars since the 2000gt in 1970, was driving a lexus lfa supercar last week near the nurburgring racetrack when he crashed into the bmw. We will send these communications by email, phone, sms or post. Lexus race driver teases lfa racer on twitter lexus. A lexus lfa nurburgring edition test drive ended up in tragedy. While it was in the country, the total number of lfas in new zealand was a grand total of two. Mar 26, 2010 see instrumented test results and photos, and read about the 2012 lexus lfa at car and driver. Forza horizon 4s lexus lfa is here its our first forza horizon 4 lexus car.
Lexus gave kyle busch the opportunity for a demonstration drive and he obviously chose to test those capabilities. The driver s cockpit is divided into operational and display zones. And with the addition of the new rc f track edition that touts a bestinclass powertoweight ratio and seamlessly accelerates from 060 mph in a mere 3. Lexus says theyve done this so a driver doesnt have to search for them.
Six years in the making, and subject to a major rethink mid development, the lfa faces a fair amount of expectation. Be assured that lexus uk will only share your personal information with companies. And though this is hardly the time for levity and so help me, i will ban the first person to crack. Vehicle type frontengine, rearwheeldrive, 2passenger, 2door coupe. In some ways its brilliant and in other ways curious. Lexus lfa test driver killed 8th generation honda civic. The incredible, tragic life of toyotas most important. The chief test driver engineer hiromu naruse, who coached the 2010 lfa race team, died in a tragic accident on 23 june 2010 testing the nurburgring edition of the lexus lfa on the roads local to the nordschleife in germany. Lexus builds the ultimate luxury carsupercar in a limited edition of 500 vehicles, all of which are sold before.
The 2012 lexus lfa is a new 2seat, frontengine, rearwheeldrive exotic sports car built in limited quantities by toyotas luxury division. The lexus lfa nurburgring package is the last hurrah of a truly special car, the first and, so far, only supercar built by lexus. The interior of the lfa features a geometrical form that highlights the central spine of the car. Naruse had been a test driver for the toyota team for 47 years 19632010. Seven unsold lexus lfas sitting at dealerships unsold lexus. Lexus says the lfa is its best example of what it calls the lfinesse design language. The lexus lfa test numbers also reflect the implications of testing in the wet conditions. May 20, 2010 2012 lexus lfa test drive lexus builds the ultimate luxury carsupercar in a limited edition of 500 vehicles, all of which are sold before production has begun. The lfa is a lustworthy automobile of the highest technical prowess, crafted by engineers with just as much passion and soul and driving enthusiasm as anybody named giuseppe or nigel engineers. Lexus lfa test driver killed in collision outside nurburgring test track a report out of germany says that a collision involving an lfa prototype has killed a veteran toyota test driver.
The upper zone houses the instrument panel and 7 on board high resolution multimedia display while a layered center console integrates lexus display audio controller. The lexus lfa is a true supercar, and one that we were honoured to host in our showroom earlier this year for the lexus summer of performance while it was on loan from lexus asia pacific. A bright orange lexus lfa nurburgring edition driven by two toyota test drivers has collided with a bmw on germanys 410 highway near eifel, a town close to. It was midmorning on june 23, 2010, and toyotas most senior test driver had just completed another lap of the nurburgring in a lexus lfa.
He was also noted as the chief test driver of the lexus lfa supercar. Six years in the making, and subject to a major rethink mid development, the lfa faces. Apr 05, 2011 lexus has been working on the lexus lfa supercar for more than a decade. Seven unsold lexus lfas sitting at dealerships unsold. Were trying out the new fh4 lexus lfa and fh4 customization and testing the fh4 lexus lfa v10 sound. According to various reports, the toyota chief test driver was involved into a serious crash while driving the lexus lfa, which resulted in his death. Jun 23, 2010 german newspaper rheinzeitung is reporting that the lexus lfa nurburgring edition featured yesterday has been involved in a serious crash with another car details are still emerging and nothing has been confirmed, but its believed that toyota chief test driver hiromu naruse was behind the wheel, and that both the driver and passenger in the lfa were killed. The incredible, tragic life of toyotas most important test driver test driver hiromu naruse was a legend who influenced half a century of toyota history. To fulfil your test drive request your details will be passed to your nominated lexus centre who will be in contact to arrange. Apr 15, 20 the lfa is a lustworthy automobile of the highest technical prowess, crafted by engineers with just as much passion and soul and driving enthusiasm as anybody named giuseppe or nigel engineers.
Kyle busch loses license for 128 mph lexus lfa speeding offence. Bmw says its driver in lexus lfa crash was not speeding. Of note is that peak power comes at 8,700 rpm, 300 below the lfas. Pushing performance to new extremes, the rc f now features the most powerful lexus v8 to date. Aug 05, 2017 the incredible, tragic life of toyotas most important test driver test driver hiromu naruse was a legend who influenced half a century of toyota history. A bright orange lexus lfa nurburgring edition driven by two toyota test drivers has collided with a bmw on germanys 410 highway near eifel, a town close to the nurburgring. The 67yearold toyota chief test driver hiromu naruse was driving a lexus lfa nurburgring edition prototype on a road near the nurburgring race track when he suddenly veered into oncoming traffic. The lfa weighs around 3,300 pounds, which is fairly light, and lexus claims the car can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in just 3. According to yearend sales numbers, lexus sold three lfas in 2017 and two more in 2018, bringing the remaining tally still left unsold down to seven cars. Akira iida, who has raced for lexus and toyota for the past 10 years, posted this picture of what appears to be an lfa prepared for endurance racing on his twitter feed last week, accompanied with the message next. But during our time with the lfa, a lexus pr executive noted that we had whipped the poor car. While the two bmw test drivers survived the crash, the yetunnamed toyota driver died behind the wheel of the recently spied lfa nurburgring edition he was driving.