Lexus LF-A could cost $200,000+

That is an EXCELLENT plan that way they won't sell ANY OF THEM and we won't have to LOOK at the UGLY things! YEA! Everyone wins!

James

 

Wow. That is a bad mistake for Lexus. It looks like a great car but Jesus, at 200 large... they are on crack.

 

LMAO!

 

I can give you an example of how this happened before: Acura NSX. Far superior to the Ferrari 348 when introduced, and priced much better (sorry 348 lovers, but it's true and I can't think of any reviews I read at the time that disagreed). Still, at the time it was an uber-expensive car for a Japanese company, and even with Honda's racing heritage, which is the Japanese Ferrari to many with Mr. Honda very passionate about racing like Enzo, it failed to sell in the volumes Acura hoped. People who spend that type of coin want the cache and history of a marque like Ferrari or Lamborghini. I do think they will sell some of those cars even at such a price, and I am sure it will be an exceptional performer, but at that price point, many will exclude it, just like they will reject the new ZR-1 because it's a Chevy.

 

Great post!

 

The ZR-1, however, already has a target market willing to buy up every last one that Chevy makes. Also, it obliterates anything else at its price point. At least the NSX was priced better than its competition- this Lexus, however, is priced higher than a Gallardo. And there's no way it's going to do any better than possibly edge out the 430/Gallardo in the numbers. I'm not aware of any precedent for how crazy of this is for Lexus. Also, it looks like a Hot Wheels: Clearly a "supercar," but bland and more than a little bit ugly.

 

Could this also be a hint of the next Supra?

 

200,000dollars LMAO good luck with that lexus.

 

Well... if it really has the numbers... it might sell. Remember that the GTR obliterates regular Ferraris and most PCars on tracks. The Lexus can be even better.
However if performance is too close to the Ferrari it will be an expensive halo product that no-one buys.

 

We'll have to see who it competes. I don't believe, but it must be somewhat fast enough for bystanders to claim it can achieve 7:25 at the 'Ring. It'll be entered into the 24 Hours of Nurburgring as well.

 

Lexus is just throwing a number out there to gauge reaction. Sure they want to charge $200K + for it, but I don't think they're 100% positive what this car will sell at, so why not throw a number out there to see what people say and react based on that.

 

I thought Toyota was waiting to win their first F1 Race prior to introducing this car, I guess they got tired.

 

Crazy. I would never pay anywhere close to that for a Lexus. I'm not entirely sure other people would be willing either. When deciding between, for example, a Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Lexus, I'm certain the person who chooses the Lexus must be crazy. I actually own a Lexus and it depresses me that I made such a poor car decision. It's the most boring, uninspiring automobile I've ever owned or even driven. I feel sorry for my previous car that I traded-in, since it has to live with the fact that it was exchanged for a Lexus. I do not know if I could maintain my sanity if I ever saw a Lexus that cost over $200k in my garage. I'd always think, "that could be an F430, or a Gallardo, or, or, or..."

 

If they make few enough, they will sell them. There are probably at least several hundred die-hard Lexus enthusiasts who would ante up $200k+/- for one of these cars, and a few hundred more people with the quantity of disposable income sufficient for them not to care about $200k, and just wanting to have the latest thing.

But if they want to do a multi-year multi-thousand production run of these cars, I think it will flop just like it does for every other high-end car from a medium-end manufacturer. It happened with the previous ZR-1, it happened with the NSX. You can even get a Veyron for around sticker, and deals abound on Gallardos, SL's, Murcies and such - and those cars have BIG brand names behind them. The Lexus will tank if they make them for more than 2-3 years and if they make more than a couple thousand at most. It seems most of the auto manufacturers have realized this, which is why Ford kept the production #'s low on the Ford GT, and Chevy isn't going to make too many ZR-1's, and also why Lambo changes up their cars every few years now vs. every 10 years before.

 

The NSX was not a flop! Honda only expected to sell a few hundred per year, which is why it stayed in production so long.

And as far as the ZR-1. . . demand died off after the first year or so, but I don't believe it was considered a flop or a failure by any means. But I don't really remember much about that.

I do agree though that they'll prolly have to keep the numbers down. But I'd imagine they'll produce as many as they can sell. They only stopped making Ford GT's because so many were sitting on lots. Had they all been sold at the time Ford would have definitely pumped more of the out in '06.

 

Are they nuts!

 

The ZR1 and NSX were not "flops" by any means.

 

LOL - it's like this LS600 L V12 Hybrid thing that they have for $115k that gets like 19 mpg in the city. I've seen a grand total of ONE here in the Land of The Ancient, a place where S600s, LS430s, Bentley GTs, and Maser QPs are a dime a dozen. The mileage sucks on that car for being a hybrid.

The LS has gone insane with their pricing over the past few years. Lexus is apparently further slipping into insanity with their future supercar. The LS used to compete with the E Class, now they're going after the S class buyers. Shame.

RMX

 

yep, that's what I was thinking... about the overpriced LS600h .. !

I also thought of the SC430, which has changed so much compared to the SC300 from yesteryear.

Also, the SC430 seemed like a legitimate competitor to the SLK when it came out, but mainly because of the hard-top roof. But now that everyone has a hard-top convertible, the SC430 stands by itself: an overpriced GT? sports car? 2+2? (all questionable!) ... with no real competitor... just overpriced, that's all.

So, I think that the LF-A pricing suggestion is too high, and I don't know what their target market is really... Ferrari's new California will sell to those who couldn't get an F430, as a gift to themselves or the significant others... so maybe the LF-A is for those who couldn't buy the Ferrari California?

If your significant other wanted a Ferrari California, and you couldn't get your hands on it... would you consider getting the LF-A instead?

 

I think many might be. People are willing to buy a XLR-V for $100,000 which is the kind of money that can buy a M6.

 

That's true, but cross-shopping Cadillac and BMW is not that uncommon. I don't think people would be as willing to do the same with Lexus and Ferrari/Lamborghini.

 

$200k for a Toyota? LMAO.

 

LF-A or GT-R + Modena Spider.... hmmmm~


Lexus should put a Hybrid badge on the LF-A, and I am sure all the Hollywood celebrities and Al Gore will snatch them up.