Reasons for the Lexus LFA’s Lack of Success
The Lexus LFA, despite being hailed as one of Toyota’s greatest sports cars, faced challenges in the market that led to its lack of success. Several factors contributed to this outcome:
1. High Price Tag:
– The LFA was priced at a bold $375,000, which was considered extremely high for a manufacturer known for building sensible cars.
– In 2011, the LFA hit the market with a $400,000 price tag, almost double the price of a Ferrari 599, making it significantly more expensive than its competitors.
2. Limited Production and Exclusivity:
– The car was super exclusive, with only 500 examples ever made, which may have limited its appeal to a broader market.
– Lexus allotted a specific number of LFAs to their worldwide regions, with the USA having an allotment of 173, of which only 20 remained as of January 2011, contributing to its exclusivity.
3. Perception and Brand Image:
– The LFA was too rare to change anyone’s perception of Lexus and too expensive to appeal to anyone besides car enthusiasts, which may have limited its market appeal.
– The high price and exclusivity of the LFA may have been incongruent with the perception of Lexus as a manufacturer of sensible cars, potentially impacting its market reception.
4. Delayed Release and Outdated Features:
– The LFA faced delays in its development, spending a significant amount of time in the production phase, which may have led to it being outdated in some aspects upon its release.
– The car would have been relevant when it was scheduled to release, but with the revision, it fell behind, potentially impacting its competitiveness in the market.
5. Market Competition:
– The high price of the LFA made it less competitive compared to other supercars, such as the Ford GT and the Ferrari 599, which were considered more appealing options in the same price range .
In conclusion, the combination of a high price tag, limited production, brand perception, delayed release, and market competition contributed to the lack of success of the Lexus LFA in the market.
If you have any more questions or need further information, feel free to ask!
Contents
Why did Lexus discontinue the LFA?
To put it rather bluntly: The LFA was discontinued because it didn’t sell well enough. When they were new, the LFA’s supercar performance had a price to match. Per Motorweek, the LFA they tested had a price tag of $376,500. That is more than 10 times the cost of the current Lexus UX SUV.
Is Lexus LFA reliable?
The car is very reliable, as you would expect from Lexus. I have never had any major issues with it. It’s just that the rarity of the car requires specifically trained technicians to work on it for the service.
Was Lexus LFA successful?
Despite its engineering success, the LFA faced challenges, including a long development period, dated transmission, and high price, resulting in slower sales and ultimately making it a flagship failure for Lexus.
Why no one bought Lexus LFA?
The Lexus LFA was a two-door sports car that was as immensely stylish as it was powerful. It had a lot of potentials but it was simply too expensive. Toyota famously lost money on each and every one of the 500 LFAs it made despite selling them for an eye-watering $375,000 each.
How did Lexus lose money on the LFA?
The LFA had a starting price of $375,000, and even at that price, Lexus was losing money on each one that they sold because of the amount of money that went into the research and development for it. Once all 500 Lexus LFAs were sold Lexus never made another one.
How much is an LFA today?
A: The average price of a Lexus LFA is $909,293.
Is the LFA unreliable?
The car is very reliable, as you would expect from Lexus. I have never had any major issues with it. It’s just that the rarity of the car requires specifically trained technicians to work on it for the service.
What makes Lexus LFA so expensive?
With a production run of just 500 units over two years, the Lexus LFA is an extremely exclusive piece of automotive history. One of them (chassis number 184 of 500) recently traded hands via Bring a Trailer. The winning bid was a whopping $808,000 USD, or approximately $997,000 CAD at the current exchange rate.
Why is the LFA so special?
The LFA’s body features sharp edges and cutoffs for improved aerodynamic performance, made possible by the carbon fiber body. The body was designed with an emphasis on downforce. There are air scoops located over the rear fenders which feed the aft-mounted radiators and help cool the brakes.
Why are LFAs so rare?
Why It Was Only in Production for Two Years. Lexus built just 500 examples of the LFA—436 “regular” models and 64 Nurburgring Package variants—between 2010 and 2012, 190 of which were for the US market. The decision to keep the production run so low appears to have been intentional.
