Lexus Nuaero Concept Study - With Video

While no one would blame you if you thought that Nuaero was some sort of attempt to reintroduce the Batmobile as a Lexus, fact is that the concept study is the work of Royal College of Art’s graduate Jon Radbrink, who created the futuristic Lexus as part of his final project at the Vehicle Design course. The Lexus Nuaero is supposed to be a mid-size luxury car with an overall length of 4,730 mm or 186-in and a wheelbase of 3,300 mm. The width is 1,999 mm and the height is 1,245 mm. Radbrink supports that the Nuaero was designed to use lightweight materials helping keep its weight just over 800 kg (1,763 lbs) or roughly the same as the diminutive Smart Fortwo. -Continued

Although definitely unique, the Nuareo’s design is more about aerodynamics than looks. “My Lexus Nuaero concept proposes a new design language to communicate ecological efficiency through an architecture inspired by aerodynamics. I’ve been looking at different basic principles and ideas about aerodynamic efficiency and then combined them into a unique vehicle architecture. Usually aerodynamics is a final stage in car design, so this project kind of started where most projects finish,” said Radbrink.

One of the most distinctive features of the Nuaero is the flowing catamaran underbody that ends in a massive venturi tunnel between the rear wheels. According to Radbrink, the catamaran-style underbody was made possible thanks to the in-wheel electric motors that power the car and the hub-center steering.

Inside the Nuaero proposes a spacious interior centered around a multi-point touch screen dashboard where the driver can re-arrange the controls and information to his personal preferences.

If you like using your feet as well as your hands when driving, then you may not be fond of Radbrink’s idea of concentrating all the controls on the steering wheel. “Since the car is powered by electrical motors, there is no transmission and you brake intuitively by pushing the steering wheel away from your body,” said Radbrink. No pedals; no transmissions; no oil leaks; no rattling gasoline engines; those futurists sure know how to take the fun out driving…

Source: Jon Radbrink , Via: Dezeen

Lexus LF-A V10 Concept to Take part in Nurburgring 24h Race!

Toyota’s premium mark Lexus has announced that its LF-A super car concept will participate at the 36th annual Nürburgring 24 Hour endurance race that will be run from May 22-25 at the famous circuit in Germany. Since the LF-A is not a thoroughbred race car, it will only feature the necessary safety modifications to meet racing regulations, including a roll cage and fuel tank. -Continued

The Japanese carmaker supports in its official release that the knowledge gained from the endurance race will be fed back to engineering teams to assist with further development of the LF-A. The concept sportscar was originally shown in 2005 and it's powered by a front mounted 500+ Hp V10 engine.

Detroit Show: Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Update – Now, With Press Release

Lexus finally decided to add a press release to the official image gallery of its Detroit Show LF-A Roadster concept that we first showed you earlier today (click here for the high-resolution pictures). As anticipated, the Roadster is equipped with the same 500 plus horsepower 5.0-liter V10 engine unit as the LF-A Coupe which was unveiled in 2007. Apart from the removal of the roof and the structural reinforcements, the Roadster configuration also adds a speed adaptive rear wing. -Details after the jump

Press Release - Click here for the image gallery

Lexus LF-A Takes on Roadster Form – An Open Version of the Supercar Concept Revealed

January 13, 2008 - Detroit, MI - The engineers and designers at Lexus continue to use their groundbreaking LF-A premium sports car concept as a medium for expressing their ideas about what a high-performance sporting vehicle not only can be, but should be. In this latest expression of the LF-A, they have removed the car's top to create a high-performance roadster.

The LF-A Roadster is based on the sturdy yet lightweight carbon-fiber and aluminum body used for the LF-A coupe, which helps maintain the structure's strength and rigidity even without a top.

Like its coupe counterpart, the LF-A Roadster is powered by a high-revving V10 engine that approaches 5.0 liters in displacement. The V10, capable of more than 500 horsepower and test-track speeds greater than 200 mph, is mounted in front of the passenger compartment but behind the front-axle centerline in what the LF-A's engineers refer to as a "front-mid" configuration.

The engine is connected via a torque tube and propeller shaft to a transaxle that is controlled by paddle shifters. The torque tube is a structural member that adds rigidity to the drivetrain and chassis while also reducing vibration.

Styling is rooted in the Lexus L-Finesse design philosophy, conferring the LF-A Roadster's front end with a compact, low-profile, aerodynamic shape. Like its coupe counterpart, the LF-A Roadster stands just 48 inches tall, but the Roadster configuration adds a speed adaptive rear wing.

The rear is marked by a pair of wrap-around, arrowhead-shaped taillights that bracket a pair of large grilles. These grilles vent the heated air from the car's two rear-mounted radiators into the LF-A Roadster's aerodynamic wake. The radiators are fed cool air by two large intake ducts mounted just above the rear wheel wells. This aft radiator positioning not only allowed the designers to keep the car's front profile low and tight but also aided the LF-A's chassis engineers in their search for optimal weight distribution.

Helping to provide balance and scale to the design, which features an overall length of 175.6 inches and a wheelbase of 102.6 inches, are high-performance tires on turbine-styled alloy wheels. The front tires are 265/35R20s, while the rears are 305/30R20s. Like the LF-A coupe, the brakes consist of 14.2-inch cross-drilled, vented discs up front, and 13.6-inch cross-drilled, vented discs at the rear. The front brake calipers are six-piston units and the rear calipers use four pistons each.

An "F" logo, located on each front fender of the Roadster, indicates the vehicle's status as a part of the new "F" marque. The name is derived from the original "F" designation for the first Lexus LS prototype. That vehicle was internally coded "Circle-F," with the "F" standing for "flagship." The Circle-F designation further evolved into the code name Flagship One, or F1, and the first F1 concept developed into Lexus' first vehicle, the LS. Since then, the "F" code has come to signify a special vehicle program within Lexus that falls outside the normal engineering and development process. In addition, Fuji Speedway is the IS F's home circuit, and the shape of the F-logo was inspired by many of the track's turns. The all-new Lexus IS F sport sedan is the first production vehicle to carry the F marque.

Lexus LF-A Roadster Concept Preliminary Specifications

Body Type: Two seat roadster

Powertrain

Type: Front-mid-engine, rear-mid-transaxle

Engine: V10 (under 5.0-liters)

Transmission: SMT (sequential manual transmission)

Horsepower: More than 500

Top Speed: More than 200 mph

Tire Size
Front: 265/35R20

Rear: 305/30R20

Dimensions (inches)
Overall Length: 175.6

Overall Width: 74.6

Overall Height: 48.0

Wheelbase: 102.6

Detroit Show: 2008 Lexus LF-A Roadster High-Res Image Gallery

Lexus surprised us today by unveiling a roadster version of last year’s LF-A sports car concept. However, while the Japanese carmaker liberated the high-resolution image gallery of the LF-A Roadster early this morning, we’re still waiting for the official press release. Most probably, the roadster will feature the same running gear as the coupe – a front-mounted 500 HP 5.0-liter V10 powering the rear wheels. We’ll have more on Lexus’ latest concept later on the day, but for the time being follow the jump to check out our high-res image gallery. -Continued

Lexus LF-Xh: Tokyo Show Concept Foretells 2009 RX

These are the first official images of the Lexus LF-Xh Concept that will make its world premiere at the Tokyo Show on October 24. The hybrid SUV concept will act as a teaser for the next-generation Lexus RX which is expected to be launched sometime in 2009. Though the LF-Xh features a cleaner and crispier exterior design than the current RX model, overall the styling seems somewhat generic. As for the futuristic interior, forget about it; it’s pure concept. There are no apparent surprises in the tech-department, with the LF-Xh featuring Lexus’ all-wheel drive system backed by a V6 gasoline engine and a high-output electric motor hybrid system. -More images after the jump

Press Release

LF-Xh (Global unveiling)

A specialty SUV based on the Lexus design philosophy of L-finesse and equipped with an advanced hybrid system

• The combination of a powerful body and elegant interior gives this next-generation SUV a dynamic look and feel.
• Application of "Lexus Hybrid Drive", which features a sophisticated fusion of superior environmental and power performance, seeks to achieve outstanding driving performance, quiet operation, high fuel efficiency and low emissions.
• All-wheel drive is backed by a V6 gasoline engine and high-output electric motor hybrid system.

Total length: 4,800mm
Total width: 1,895mm
Total height: 1,650mm
Wheelbase: 2,850mm