[table:49558cc624][row:49558cc624][col:49558cc624]Toyota has secretly approved plans to put its sensational 200-mph Lexus LF-A supercar in the market, according to a report in Tokyo.

Japan's media are reporting that Toyota will launch a luxury sports car for the Lexus brand embracing F1 technology in fall 2008. The reports also say Toyota is pitching hard to bring the Japanese F1 Grand Prix to its newly refurbished Fuji Speedway track, which will help the company drive home the car's F1 connection.

The supersleek LF-A, as shown in 2005, had a 5.0-liter, front-mounted V10. The LF-A sticker was expected to be just under $170,000, a bargain by supercar standards. In January 2007 a new LF-A concept was revealed at the North American Auto Show in Detroit. Lexus claimed that the engine displacement would be less than 5.0L and have over 400Hp.

The LF-A is set to pace the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix at the Fuji Speedway, coinciding with the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show. The pace car's engine will be a 4.8L V10, but changes are expected to be made. The car could be called the GT450, GT480 or GT500 based on the final engine displacement selected.

[col:49558cc624]
Lexus GT Spy Shot

05 Lexus LF-A

06 LF-A Conv

07 Lexus LF-A[/table:49558cc624]

 

The LF-A is scheduled to run as the pace car at the 2007 Japanese Grand Prix. Should be around November of 2007.