While Toyota was once a car maker known for its coupes and two-door sportscars, it seems that the Japanese auto giant is clawing its way back to the territory it once owned through its luxury vehicle division, Lexus.
According to CAR, Lexus will launch an LFA Tokyo Motor Show Edition at this autumn’s 2011 Japanese show and, in addition to that, a Supra replacement is expected for the coming years. Although officially, a Supra replacement is denied, unofficial project is underway to replace the RWD coupe and some insiders predict a 2014 launch.
Beside this, a second front-drive luxury hybrid coupe is also tipped to be in the works from Lexus, adopting much of its underpinnings from the CT200h.
Known as the Lexus LFA Tokyo Edition, the special-edition supercar will bring an M3-esque exposed carbon roof and (still hydraulically adjustable) carbon rear spoiler and other touches to differentiate it from the ‘regular’ LFA. Presumably this just means the weave is exposed, as the LFA is already made from carbonfibre.
The same report indicates that while a spider roadster was planned and its carbonfibre construction meant the open-top LFA was nearly as rigid as the coupe, CAR’s sources in Japan have confirmed the roadster LFA has been canned owing to the economic uncertainty in markets around the world.
The LFA Tokyo will cost about €40k more than a ‘regular’ Lexus LFA, according to the latest reports.
Source: CAR
