The Lexus LF-A has lapped the famous Nurburgring in 7 minutes and 24 seconds, beating the Porsche GT2 by one second. The beastly Lexus is expected to have a 5.0 liter unit that produces 500 horsepower with a top speed of 200mph. A hybrid variant is also in the work that will use a engine similar to the LS600h.

:corn

Dayum, THAT is sexy.:jiggy

Looks like Ill be selling the bikes in 2010! :)

Thats awesome!

Looks like they started with a Supra and got this in the end..

It's a supra-S2000 crack induced lovechild, conceived in a german broomcloset.

If it really is faster than a GT2 then hats off :bow


To be anal, where did they start measuring their timed run? Every magazine or manufacturer likes to pick a different start and ending point so that it favours their time :old:r1lover

If it really is faster than a GT2 then hats off :bow

I wouldn't be surprised, the new R35 GT-R is already beating the GT2, this Lexus should be quite fast... :r1lover

:rock

that car is mean lookin:rock

I wouldn't be surprised, the new R35 GT-R is already beating the GT2, this Lexus should be quite fast... :r1lover

GT-R beat the Turbo, not the GT2 :mock

I'll believe it when AMS or Rohrl himself does a lap and it's faster.

Seriously though, magazines and manufacturers love messing about with the start/finish points on a timed ring lap.

GT-R has done an amazing job though. Interested to see how it will continue on it's life. Biggest downside is that you have to take it to the same place as the next bum in their Micra :mrgreen

GT-R beat the Turbo, not the GT2 :mock

I'll believe it when AMS or Rohrl himself does a lap and it's faster.

Seriously though, magazines and manufacturers love messing about with the start/finish points on a timed ring lap.

GT-R has done an amazing job though. Interested to see how it will continue on it's life. Biggest downside is that you have to take it to the same place as the next bum in their Micra :mrgreen

I know it beats the regular Turbo, but Porsche claimed the GT2 will go 0-60 mph in 3.6 sec, Nissan claimed the GT-R will go 3.5 sec, and Edmund Inside Line (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/) from the US, they went to Japan and did a 3.3 sec with the GT-R. Anyway, the GT2 is most likely faster in the top speed though. But wait till Nismo releases their version of GT-R, I'm sure it will beat the GT2 in every aspect. :yes The GT2 is basically a modded Turbo, so it's only fair to compare when Nismo of Nissan comes out with something... :r1lover

I know it beats the regular Turbo, but Porsche claimed the GT2 will go 0-60 mph in 3.6 sec, Nissan claimed the GT-R will go 3.5 sec, and Edmund Inside Line (http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/) from the US, they went to Japan and did a 3.3 sec with the GT-R. Anyway, the GT2 is most likely faster in the top speed though. But wait till Nismo releases their version of GT-R, I'm sure it will beat the GT2 in every aspect. :yes The GT2 is basically a modded Turbo, so it's only fair to compare when Nismo of Nissan comes out with something... :r1lover

Well if you're talking like that, I thought you meant the time it put down on the Ring. The GT-R managed to beat the Turbo there, but not the GT2.

And they've done 3.3 second launches but so far from what I've read people don't think the drivetrain can handle too many of them launches, we'll have to see.

But yeh, when Nismo releases their version of the GT-R it shouldn't even be compared to a normal Porsche, to be fair they should be looking at RUF's and that lot.

I'd still take an RT12 or RGT over any of the above, don't even care whether it's even quicker or not, I just love them that much.

An RT12 btw might be in the same league with the GT-R if they tune it up a bit, otherwise no one will have a chance against that marvel of Dr. Ruf's engineering :bow

Well if you're talking like that, I thought you meant the time it put down on the Ring. The GT-R managed to beat the Turbo there, but not the GT2.

And they've done 3.3 second launches but so far from what I've read people don't think the drivetrain can handle too many of them launches, we'll have to see.

But yeh, when Nismo releases their version of the GT-R it shouldn't even be compared to a normal Porsche, to be fair they should be looking at RUF's and that lot.

I'd still take an RT12 or RGT over any of the above, don't even care whether it's even quicker or not, I just love them that much.

An RT12 btw might be in the same league with the GT-R if they tune it up a bit, otherwise no one will have a chance against that marvel of Dr. Ruf's engineering :bow

True, I think the GT2 did the Ring in 7:32 or 7:31, pretty impressive I must say. If what you said is true about how manufacturers and magazines choose their own sections, then I'd love to see the GT-R and the GT2 in the same section.

They did the 3.3 with the built-in launch control, it wasn't the hard launches, which Edmund Inside Line only tried twice. The launch with LC shouldn't be that hard on the transmission.

Nismo is directly from Nissan, it's like AMG for MB or M for BMW, so I think it's fair to compare to a GT2, which is directly modded by Porsche themself. GT2 is not a normal Porsche by any means. Comparing to RUF, to be fair, then we should compare it with Mines' GT-R, a true tuner. :mrgreen

True, I think the GT2 did the Ring in 7:32 or 7:31, pretty impressive I must say. If what you said is true about how manufacturers and magazines choose their own sections, then I'd love to see the GT-R and the GT2 in the same section.

They did the 3.3 with the built-in launch control, it wasn't the hard launches, which Edmund Inside Line only tried twice. The launch with LC shouldn't be that hard on the transmission.

Nismo is directly from Nissan, it's like AMG for MB or M for BMW, so I think it's fair to compare to a GT2, which is directly modded by Porsche themself. GT2 is not a normal Porsche by any means. Comparing to RUF, to be fair, then we should compare it with Mines' GT-R, a true tuner. :mrgreen

Yeah in a way I suppose so, I'd love to see a Mines GT-R take on the RT12, I think they're about equal in power output?

But that Nismo is going to have more power than a GT2 I bet, and it has 4wd so most people will probably be quicker with the Nismo.

I'm sure when AMS get their hands on a GT-R they'll drag it out to the ring and do a good lap time comparo. When it comes to ring laptimes I trust AMS more than most others, also because they consistently use the same start and finish point. Some like to use the bridge as finish, others have the finish a little later etc etc it's a big mess really as most magazines won't get to have a go on a free track and make sure they do it properly.

Marvel of a machine though that GT-R, awesome price tag they put on it in the US, I really wonder what it's going to cost over here.

Yeah in a way I suppose so, I'd love to see a Mines GT-R take on the RT12, I think they're about equal in power output?

But that Nismo is going to have more power than a GT2 I bet, and it has 4wd so most people will probably be quicker with the Nismo.

I'm sure when AMS get their hands on a GT-R they'll drag it out to the ring and do a good lap time comparo. When it comes to ring laptimes I trust AMS more than most others, also because they consistently use the same start and finish point. Some like to use the bridge as finish, others have the finish a little later etc etc it's a big mess really as most magazines won't get to have a go on a free track and make sure they do it properly.

Marvel of a machine though that GT-R, awesome price tag they put on it in the US, I really wonder what it's going to cost over here.

I'm not sure how much hp the Mine's R35 GT-R is outputting, I know they started building one and did some track tests already, but they did not disclose the hp numbers. However, I read the R35 GT-R's manufacturer claimed hp is also underrated, people already took it to a dyno and got more hp than what Nissan said. Also, I know just by changing the exhaust, you gain 15 hp without tunning.

The regular Turbo is AWD too, I think they made the GT2 RWD is because Le Mans regulation does not allow AWD cars.

Yeah I'm waiting to see others take the GT-R to the Ring. Like the GT2, Walter Röhrl did a 7.31, which is faster than factory figure of 7.32.

The first R35 GT-R arrived to HK last month. The base price is HK$1,039,000.00 (approx. US$133,156.99 USD), which is a lot more expensive than the US price. The import tax here is ridiculous. :hammer

I'm not sure how much hp the Mine's R35 GT-R is outputting, I know they started building one and did some track tests already, but they did not disclose the hp numbers. However, I read the R35 GT-R's manufacturer claimed hp is also underrated, people already took it to a dyno and got more hp than what Nissan said. Also, I know just by changing the exhaust, you gain 15 hp without tunning.

The regular Turbo is AWD too, I think they made the GT2 RWD is because Le Mans regulation does not allow AWD cars.

Yeah I'm waiting to see others take the GT-R to the Ring. Like the GT2, Walter Röhrl did a 7.31, which is faster than factory figure of 7.32.

The first R35 GT-R arrived to HK last month. The base price is HK$1,039,000.00 (approx. US$133,156.99 USD), which is a lot more expensive than the US price. The import tax here is ridiculous. :hammer

Don't start to me about import tax :mrgreen

Here they're expecting a price of about $150K+ :oh

GT2's are a real work of art though, not just a Turbo without AWD and another 50hp. I think I'd rather have a higher revving GT3(RS) but that's just me. Wonder if this GT2 lives up to the reputation and nickname the 996 GT2 had... (The Widow maker)

Mine's always come up with spectacular stuff, so I'm sure this R35 will be mental as well. But that Nissan badge will be a very big problem for them unless they reduce the price by quite a bit. The expected price isn't much beneath a 911 Turbo. And even if the Nissan was faster (by very little) around the ring I think I'd still rather have the Porsche, not for the badge or anything. But because I've always loved Porsches.

GT-R has just about 0 reputation here other than amongst fans, really interested to see how it develops itself here :old

i dont think most people will ever look at the gt-r in the same sense as a porsche:fact

Don't start to me about import tax :mrgreen

Here they're expecting a price of about $150K+ :oh

GT2's are a real work of art though, not just a Turbo without AWD and another 50hp. I think I'd rather have a higher revving GT3(RS) but that's just me. Wonder if this GT2 lives up to the reputation and nickname the 996 GT2 had... (The Widow maker)

Mine's always come up with spectacular stuff, so I'm sure this R35 will be mental as well. But that Nissan badge will be a very big problem for them unless they reduce the price by quite a bit. The expected price isn't much beneath a 911 Turbo. And even if the Nissan was faster (by very little) around the ring I think I'd still rather have the Porsche, not for the badge or anything. But because I've always loved Porsches.

GT-R has just about 0 reputation here other than amongst fans, really interested to see how it develops itself here :old

Yeah I love Porsches too, between a R35 GT-R and a regular 997 Turbo, it will be a tough choice. I'd choose the GT2 over the new GT-R, however the GT2 costs HK$3,500,000 (approx. US$448,495.56) here, that's more than 3 times the price of the Nissan... :whiteflag

just to point it out, porsche has no reputation here.... other than with fans.

This GT-R tho is a big deal, it'll make a big big splash, I'm just worried about bottom end life. That's no RB series motor. It's fast out of the box, but I don't think we'll be seeing any 1000hp monsters coming off a stock bottom end like we did with the RB and JZ series motors of the 90's.

just to point it out, porsche has no reputation here.... other than with fans.

This GT-R tho is a big deal, it'll make a big big splash, I'm just worried about bottom end life. That's no RB series motor. It's fast out of the box, but I don't think we'll be seeing any 1000hp monsters coming off a stock bottom end like we did with the RB and JZ series motors of the 90's.

Porsche has no reputation? How did that happen? Did Cars/Internet/TV not get introduced there till now? :mock

no, just they're driven only by old farts who aren't interested in doing anything with them that would build a reputation. :fact

:mrgreen

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/7075/topgeargtrob8.jpg

"The GT-R hasn't just moved the goalposts, it's obliterated them. For all-round ability, I have no doubt the Nissan is the best car I have ever driven."

"The GTR turns in beautifully, whether neutral or under brakes, and grips forever. Slippery surfaces seem to bring out the best in it. Time after time I left Turner in the 911 Turbo behind as my four-wheel-drive system and traction control worked better out of wet corners. It wasn't just the fact that I could get on the power earlier. It was about confidence."

The Nissan really is something special, and you get the impression that while a master driver could wring every last ounce of performance out of the 911, your mother could do the same in the GT-R."

"Does the Nissan's ability reduce the driving pleasure? Not at all. You can turn all the systems off if you so choose, and it's still supremely well balanced, no doubt a delight for a racing driver on a track."

http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/1046/indexoz7.th.jpg (http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=indexoz7.jpg) http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4310/indexpb6.th.jpg (http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=indexpb6.jpg) http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/9858/indexcu5.th.jpg (http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=indexcu5.jpg) http://img218.imageshack.us/img218/4159/indexgn2.th.jpg (http://img218.imageshack.us/my.php?image=indexgn2.jpg)

"It is ancient. By 'ancient' I don't mean old-fashioned, other than it's strangely narrow cockpit and upright windscreen - it's ancient in its utter solidity and feeling of being honed for decades."

"Its fast, alrite - 60mph comes up in 3.5 seconds, the standing quarter in 11.7 seconds and it goes onto 197mph."

"The GT-R is all aggression on the outside. To my eye, it is a phenomenal-looking machine, distinct from everything else. Very Japanese and very hard."

"The GT-R's balance and body control is extraordinary through faster, bumpy bends that will have the 911 unsettled enough to have the driver lose confidence - not only a good driver, but a fairly regular driver like myself."

"It doesn't feel as heavy as it is..."

"Driving these two cars back to back, it's not long before you realise that the Nissan makes the Porsche seem old-fashioned. The GT-R is truly extraordinary."

"A bellow from the engine, a rush of revs, a gigantic accelerative force on my neck, bang the GT-R into fourth. A killing gear if ever there was one."

no, just they're driven only by old farts who aren't interested in doing anything with them that would build a reputation. :fact

Shame that, I'm glad that is very very different here.

GT-R's here are only known from Need for Speed and that sort of thing. You just don't see them here, the occasional one from the UK (or Gibraltar) shows itself but I've only ever seen one twice in real life so that says it all.


I'm not surprised vale that Clarkson loves it, exactly his cup of tea that sort of car. Easy and fast, that's what he loves.

Fifth Gear is back soon, I'm sure Tiff or Jason will have a crack at the GT-R, can't wait to see what they have to say about it.
I'm sure they'll be able to push that thing very hard to show us what it can do :workout

Also can't wait to see them in a GT2 btw :bow

I like Tiff's test comments more than Clarkson's... :yes

Shame that, I'm glad that is very very different here.


yea, that's what happens when you price cars that way. In order for a car to be able to actually build a grassroots reputation it's gotta be cheap enough that the smart tuners can get their claws on it, easy enough to work with that the poor guys can mess around with them on their own, and be enough of a base platform to really launch something off of.

DSM's rank very very highly in my book, Mustangs aswell.

yea, that's what happens when you price cars that way. In order for a car to be able to actually build a grassroots reputation it's gotta be cheap enough that the smart tuners can get their claws on it, easy enough to work with that the poor guys can mess around with them on their own, and be enough of a base platform to really launch something off of.

DSM's rank very very highly in my book, Mustangs aswell.


That's just over there though, things are different there to here.

Porsche's can't be cheap because of the value of the brand name.

I like Mustangs because of the potential shown by Rousch etc, but they are still quite pricey here unless you start messing with importing etc and it's still not cheap unfortunately.

yea that's just it. It all comes down to the base price. The more people that can lay hands on the car and have cash to spare, and not be worried about "wrecking the value" the faster it's gonna be.

seriously tho, all those little DSM's where world beaters. Laser, Eclipse, Talon, etc.

yea that's just it. It all comes down to the base price. The more people that can lay hands on the car and have cash to spare, and not be worried about "wrecking the value" the faster it's gonna be.

seriously tho, all those little DSM's where world beaters. Laser, Eclipse, Talon, etc.

They never really got off the ground here, still pricey.

New everything is very pricey here though. Second hand market is where it's at really.

And over here what you end up with are a hell of a lot of modified BMW's.

Most peoples car of choice here to start tuning with.

Either that or you have to go front wheel drive, but I'd rather stick a needle in my eye so that's a no for me then :nono:lol

They never really got off the ground here, still pricey.

New everything is very pricey here though. Second hand market is where it's at really.

And over here what you end up with are a hell of a lot of modified BMW's.

Most peoples car of choice here to start tuning with.

Either that or you have to go front wheel drive, but I'd rather stick a needle in my eye so that's a no for me then :nono:lol

yea, FWD is definitely not even remotely cool. I personaly don't dig AWD either, but I also don't dig driving aids, to that handily rules out everything from europe barring porsche, which are excluded based on having a pricy name tag... shame that.

Second hand market is generally where the real speed starts to come in tho. I mean it's still very very difficult to find something that'll run with a Supra or older Skyline, and they're still finding more speed, 10 years later.

Looks good :)

yea, FWD is definitely not even remotely cool. I personaly don't dig AWD either, but I also don't dig driving aids, to that handily rules out everything from europe barring porsche, which are excluded based on having a pricy name tag... shame that..

Luckily there are buttons to turn everything off though.

Not many cars these days, minus some Lotus', and some cars from smaller manufacturers that don't come with anything.

What some people I know are doing now with the arrival of the BMW 135i is get one, go get it chipped and stick an exhaust on. And ram in a Drexler mechanical LSD and you've got yourself a very good daily driver but also an extremely fun car that with the right driver could easily embarrass a lot of other cars out there.

But looking at my own budget, for which you need a microscope :lol, only thing I can see that I could set up for road (and track) would be an old E30 325i, they are cheap, very light, simple and you can get parts for that absolutely everywhere. And oh so easy to tune.

I'm getting given an old RX7, don't know what to do with it, but it's free so maybe in the near future something can be done with that :old

I'm getting given an old RX7, don't know what to do with it, but it's free so maybe in the near future something can be done with that :old

big boost, gutted and running on ethanol :fact

I'd love to get into an older viper, but reality is that until the bike projects are done, there's just no way that it's affordable, and the bike projects aren't gonna be done anytime this side of 2010.

big boost, gutted and running on ethanol :fact

I'd love to get into an older viper, but reality is that until the bike projects are done, there's just no way that it's affordable, and the bike projects aren't gonna be done anytime this side of 2010.

Love older Vipers, only ever seen one (yeah I know) and I thought it was awesome.

I'd love to get into those cars, problem is not just money. But parts, and people who know anything about those cars are nowhere to be found down here. Germany would be much better but that's still a bit of a stretch from here.

When I come into a bit more money I think I'm going to have to go with an STI, there are just so many backroads here, and a lot are in poor shape and some are just gravel. That would for sure be a hell of a good time :jiggy:jiggy

there was a nice '96(i think) viper gts here in town for sale for 30grand...i wanted it bad, but id have to sell everything i own and live like a broke ass to afford it:lol

yea, nice GTS' can be had for 30 grand, definitely on my list. I'd fooking rather have a late 90's Viper GTS than a brand new middleclassmobile.

Like I say, maybe in the next couple of years when school and bikes start wrapping up I'll be able to splurge the cash on one. Oreca still stock all kinds of goodies for these too, sway bars, pumpkins, the stuff that tremec doesn't want to admit to making anymore, etc. Diff guts are standard truck fair, million and 1 different posi systems, I'd go Torsen myself, but that's just 'cause that's what I know and like. Hennessey for 10 grand more and you've got engine oomph of heroic proportions.


but ya, reality is that in "the real world" the EVO and STi are that fastest cars out there. I mean if I had a relative who's life hung in the balance, on the other side of town, I'd much rather be in an evo than any viper/ferrari/koenigsegg/etc.

thats would be the only lexus i actually like.
that car is sexy

Cant wait to see more pics!