TTAC Celebrates Lexus LFA Week, And You Go Behind The Scenes

by Bertel Schmitt

Published: July 8th, 2012

ttac celebrates lexus lfa week and you go behind the scenes

This coming week is LFA Week. From Monday, July 9 through Friday, July 13, TTAC will run a five-part series documenting the production of the Lexus LFA. Readers of TTAC will receive unprecedented access to the LFA Works in Motomachi. You will receive a behind-the-scene look, exclusive, never before published proprietary pictures, and a glimpse into the future. Here is a preview:

This is not one of those “sponsored content” promotions. It would be silly: The production of the LFA is limited to 500, all are spoken for. Even if you would pay the $375,000 the car costs, you would be turned down. (There’s always eBay.) When this year ends, the production of the LFA will end with it.

During LFA Week, LFA Chief Engineer Haruhiko Tanahashi and his deputy Chiharu Tamura will show you how the LFA is made, from the first strips of carbon fiber to the test drive. You will see the mysterious circular loom up-close, and you will see what is made in that loom. You will get a peek into Tanahashi’s diary. You will go on the track with test driver Nobuaki Amano.

Monday, July 9: From A Bar To Bar None. How the LFA really was born, how it got is name, and how Tanahashi nearly had a heart attack when he was told to make it out of carbon fiber.

Tuesday, July 10: In The Clean Room. We don protective clothing, we get vacuumed from top to bottom and enter the clean room where the LFA is made from the strongest and most expensive type of carbon fiber available.

Wednesday, July 11: Call Me Names. During a short bus ride, Chief Engineer Tanahashi tells how the LFA really got its name and what LFA really means. Also: What the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane and the Lexus LFA have in common (a muffler.)

Thursday, July 12: Balance Of Power. We watch the V10 engine go into the LFA, we hear about balance, and we show you how 50 years from now, the history of each of the 500 LFAs can be traced to two little rooms in Motomachi.

Friday, July 13: Exam Week. We go on the test track with test driver Nobuaki Amano. And we examine Chief Engineer Tanahashi about how the LFA influences future car, and what will come after the LFA.

#BertelSchmitt #Japan #LexusLFA #LFAWeek

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.

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2 of 44 comments

Daiheadjai on Jul 09, 2012

There will always be critics. Toyota generally gets the brunt of the flaming from the "enthusiasts" First "they're boring" for making reliable appliances that the rest of the world (who don't prioritize driving like we do) buy. Then, when they make something that is a marvel of engineering, "it's too expensive" I'm sure there'd be critics even if Toyota makes a $20,000.00, 1,000hp Every-wheel-drive, 2,000lb manual wagon with a turbodiesel engine.

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WildcatMatt on Jul 18, 2012

Could I make a minor suggestion about the TTAC watermark? Adding a white drop shadow to it would help keep the black portion from disappearing into dark portions of the picture and stand out a little more.

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