That SOUND... (Lexus LFA)

I paid scant attention to the Lexus LFA supercar when it came out, including the "brand halo" TV commercials they ran in 2011 (the ones that reprised the old Memorex "shatter stemware" ads.)   I never even bothered to check the specs.  The last one was built and delivered in 2012.  The LFA is a complicated, expensive car ($375,000), no better and maybe worse in some respects than a Ferrari 458 Italia or a McLaren MP4-12C.

 But what a sound!  And what a look!  Came across this video only because I was looking for good in-car video of Autobahn Country Club.  The video isn't good, but the audio is fine.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bFcjy9p7bU

And here's a Jay Leno Garage video that's good visual HD but misses the audio mark.  Jay seems to prefer twin clutches; I could live without them if that's the LFA's major engineering "failure."  But an all-black, fully leather-wrapped wheel, with Alcantara seats to match, please.  Those would go fine with a stealthy matte black exterior.  My only problem then would be the $375K...

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/video/lexus-lfa-spyder/1419672/

It is interesting that, with a "clean screen" design, laid down in and for a new century, Toyota selected a mid-front engine, rear-wheel drive (only) arrangement.  The LFA is a complicated technological tour de force, as are recent AWD supercar configurations from Europe.  It would fascinating to learn why Toyota's engineers chose a "back to the future" layout.  Whatever their reasons, they did a lovely car.

Off topic: if a manufacturer can document a claim that their supercar laps the Old Nurburgring in 7 minutes and a few seconds, in showroom specification, as the Corvette ZR1 and the Lexus LFA have done, that's good enough for me.  The performance stats in a road test data panel are unimportant in comparison.  If a car can handle the Nurburgring, it can handle anything drivers are likely to throw at it on track days.