Road less travelled

Is Lexus now the most exciting car manufacturer on the planet? It might have taken them 15 years to be considered worthy of mention in the same breath as Mercedes and BMW, but the success in both branding and, above all, producing genuinely outstanding motorcars, means that their place at the top table of luxury cars is well and truly established. Some even claim that 2007’s LS460 is the best car ever made.

Now they’re making inroads in the sports sector. The LF-A Roadster concept was launched to appreciative purrs in Detroit earlier this year, and there are now whispers that it will be in production sooner rather than later. Which is very, very good news. Just look at it: it’s a convertible, it’s red and it has a retractable spoiler. It’s won us over already.
Powered by a 5-litre, V10 engine – positioned behind the front axle like the Mercedes SLR – it pushes out 500bhp and propels the cherry-red dart at speeds over 320kph. The design offers a sharp face with jagged headlights, while the wrap-around rear lights compliment the ridiculously low 120cm total height. Frankly, it looks like a new age bumper car.
The car is part of the new “F” marquee that was initially given to the LS concept and means “flagship”, with the car’s F-shaped logo being inspired by the bends in the Fuji Speedway where it was tested. And you thought “heritage” was a word they invented in a stately home in Oxford.

Sadly, for the old world, Lexus might just have created a history all of their own, and left rather a lot of catching up 
to do. And at 320kph, they better get a move on.