LFA's Ring Result Confirmed: 7:14.64 (Video Proof Encl.)

Bertel Schmitt
by Bertel Schmitt

After checking the telemetry, and posing for a group shot, it’s official: The Lexus Nürburgring-enhanced LFA did the now common 20.6 kilometer “sport auto” lap of the Nürburgring Nordschleife in seven minutes, 14.64 seconds. That’s a hair better than the Donkervoort D8 RS, which completed the same course in 7:14.89 – 5 years ago. It is also the best time amongst the bona-fide production models. Better than the Nissan GT-R (7 min 24 sec), better than the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 (7 minutes 19 sec), better than the Porsche 911 GT2 RS (7 minutes 18 seconds).

Still, it doesn’t take the Lexus all the way to the top of the production league. In front of it are three more “production” cars. Two Radicals (6:48 and 6:55) and one Gumpert Apollo that had rounded the Ring in 7:11.57. All not necessarily mass market cars, but the LFA isn’t either:

Of the plain vanilla LFA, only 500 are built. The record breaking LFA with the Nürburgring package is produced 50 times. However, it is street legal, even under strict German rules. The red “Überführungsnummer” (dealer or temporary tag) from Cologne (denoted by the “K” in front) attests to that.

Be it as it may, it is a great win, and it will most likely lead to increased tinkering, especially in Zuffenhausen. Being passed by a car nobody ever heard of is one thing. But by a Lexus?

“Ja, was bilden die sich denn ein, die Japaner!”

PS: Bloggers, please don’t try to impress your readers with “bridge to gantry.” As the authority on the topic, bridgetogantry.com, explains:

“After exiting the carpark at ‘C’ on the map above, drive under the Bridge (Antoniusbuche) at ‘B’. From here it’s 19.1km to the Gantry.”

Bridge to gantry is for tourist days. The full lap is 20.6 kilometers. And here is the video of the full 20.6 kilometers.

Bertel Schmitt
Bertel Schmitt

Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.

More by Bertel Schmitt

Comments
Join the conversation
4 of 33 comments
  • Mattfarah Mattfarah on Sep 07, 2011

    Everyone here keeps bitching about the price of the car, but does anyone here have the coin or the desire to actually buy one? I know two LF-A owners in Los Angeles and another one in New York, and I can tell you that all three of them are totally thrilled with their cars. One owner has nearly 10,000 miles on his LF-A and likes it so much he offered it up to us to use on The Car Show when a press car wasn't available. So it seems that the people with the money and desire to buy these cars are considering them money well spent.

    • See 1 previous
    • Stuki Stuki on Sep 07, 2011

      @Quentin I was thinking along those lines as well. If the LFA is as trouble free as a "regular" Lexus, instead of as trouble prone as a "regular" supercar, this thing is indeed a huge branding success for Lexus; similar to what the NSX was for Honda back when. A somewhat less extravagant LFB, for, say, 911 money would be a good next step. The overriding force in high ticket cars, is that more and more profits are coming from people with almost unlimited budgets; derived not from frugality or cleverness, but rather from membership in a preselected in-crowd, like bankers, Russian pipeliners and Arab sheiks. Hence being able to upsell existing customers into exotica, is becoming relatively more important than winning another sale to a retired doctor, who spends 5 years shopping the internet for the best price and deal for his "achievable dream car." As anyone in sales will tell you, a rich client is all well; and a sucker as well; but a rich sucker, now that's where the real money is made.

  • Westsdierider74 Westsdierider74 on Sep 07, 2011

    How it an LFA even considered a production car? There hasn't even been 500 made yet

  • Dartdude The bottom line is that in the new America coming the elites don't want you and me to own cars. They are going to make building cars so expensive that the will only be for the very rich and connected. You will eat bugs and ride the bus and live in a 500sq-ft. apartment and like it. HUD wants to quit giving federal for any development for single family homes and don't be surprised that FHA aren't going to give loans for single family homes in the very near future.
  • Ravenuer The rear view of the Eldo coupe makes it look fat!
  • FreedMike This is before Cadillac styling went full scale nutty...and not particularly attractive, in my opinion.
  • JTiberius1701 Middle of April here in NE Ohio. And that can still be shaky. Also on my Fiesta ST, I use Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires for the winter and Bridgestone Potenza for my summer tires. No issues at all.
  • TCowner We've had a 64.5 Mustang in the family for the past 40 years. It is all original, Rangoon Red coupe with 289 (one of the first instead of the 260), Rally Pac, 4-speed, factory air, every option. Always gets smiles and thumbs ups.
Next