Lexus Delivers Last US Model of Its LFA Supercar

WATERTOWN, Mass., Feb. 1, 2013 — After two years of production, Lexus has assembled all 500 units of its limited-run LFA supercar, and the final U.S. model is being delivered this week. The first dedicated exotic sports car from the luxury automaker, the Lexus LFA was hand-built in Japan, with each U.S. model making a transpacific trip to Long Beach, Calif., in a bespoke shipping container. Once stateside, each vehicle was inspected with care for imperfections before embarking on its final journey to a Lexus LFA dealership.

While the final Lexus LFA produced for American buyers is marked LFA #499 of 500, the first model delivered to the United States, known as LFA #003, is still making news. Competing against 19 of the top performance models on the market at Car and Driver magazine's annual Lightning Lap event, the LFA #003 recently posted a best-in-class 2:55.1 lap time on the 4.1-mile Grand West Course at Virginia International Raceway. With its 553-horsepower V10 engine and advanced carbon-fiber chassis, the Lexus LFA was able to outperform renowned European sports cars like the Porsche 911 Carrera S, Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG Black Series and BMW M6.

"We take great pride in having one of only 173 LFAs produced for the U.S. market available at our dealership because it gives Boston drivers a chance to check out this incredible machine in person," said Vincent Liuzzi, general manager of Lexus of Watertown, a Greater Boston Lexus dealer. "The LFA shows Lexus' dedication to building exciting vehicles, an effort that is expanding across the lineup with models like the new Lexus IS."

The redesigned 2014 Lexus IS debuted at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month with an F SPORT trim, which not only borrows a Y-spoke wheel design from the LFA, but also a similar sport steering wheel and an LFA-inspired instrument cluster that features a moving center ring. Those upgrades are paired with tangible improvements in driving dynamics as well, with the electric power steering and front and rear suspensions tuned for tighter handling.

Sporty touches aren't exclusive to the F SPORT trim, though, with sweeping changes across the IS lineup adding a dose of aggression. Lexus' entry-level compact sedan has received the brand's new signature spindle grille, which is accentuated by sharper design lines and a new headlight cluster underlined by L-shaped LED daytime running lights. The new IS is also the first Lexus model to use G-force Artificial Intelligence (G-AI) control when engaged in Sport mode, ensuring the ideal gear and downshift pattern during cornering.

"Lexus is designing every offering in its lineup to appeal to a buyer's sense of driving fun, whether it is a gateway luxury model like the IS or an exotic car like the LFA," added Liuzzi. "Of course, the automaker is also maintaining its reputation for quality and reliability in the process, so each vehicle remains a wise long-term purchase despite the instant gratification that it provides."

About Lexus of Watertown:
Lexus of Watertown is a recipient of multiple Elite of Lexus awards, given annually to dealerships that showcase overall excellence. They have a wide selection of new and certified pre-owned Lexus models, in addition to an exemplary service department that keeps customers coming back. Easily accessible from MetroWest, the North Shore and the South Shore, Lexus of Watertown is just minutes off the Mass Pike between Route 128 and Route 93. For more information, visit them online at www.lexusofwatertown.com, call them at 888-667-9785, like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LexusWatertown, or stop by their showroom at 330 Arsenal Street in Watertown, Mass.