Why did the Lexus LFA fail?
The Lexus LFA, a high-performance sports car produced by Lexus, did not achieve the sales success that was initially anticipated. There are several factors that contributed to its relative lack of commercial success:
1. High Price: The LFA had a base price of $375,000, which was considered quite high compared to its competitors at the time. This steep price tag made it less accessible to potential buyers and limited its market appeal.
2. Limited Production: Lexus only produced a total of 500 LFAs, making it a highly exclusive and rare vehicle. While exclusivity can be a selling point for some luxury cars, the limited production numbers may have also limited the number of potential buyers.
3. Market Competition: The LFA faced tough competition from other high-performance sports cars, such as the Ford GT, Ferrari, and Nissan GT-R. These competitors offered similar performance capabilities at a lower price point, making them more attractive options for buyers.
4. Timing: The LFA’s release was delayed multiple times, which affected its relevance in the market. By the time it was finally released in December 2010, it faced competition from newer and more advanced models from other manufacturers. This may have impacted its sales performance.
5. Perception and Marketing: Some critics argue that Lexus struggled to effectively market the LFA and create a strong brand image around it. The car’s design and styling, while appreciated by enthusiasts, may not have resonated with a wider audience. Additionally, the perception of Lexus as a luxury brand rather than a high-performance sports car brand may have influenced buyer preferences.
It’s important to note that while the LFA did not achieve commercial success in terms of sales volume, it is still highly regarded by automotive enthusiasts and experts for its engineering prowess, performance capabilities, and unique design.
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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.
Are 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.
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 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.
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.
How much is an LFA today?
A: The average price of a Lexus LFA is $909,293.
Why is LFA so rare?
Only 50 units were intended for production, but 64 were ultimately assembled, making it a very rare sight. Both the standard LFA and Nurburgring came with an automated manual produced by Toyota subsidiary Aisin. The Motomachi plant ground to a screeching halt in December 2012, with Lexus producing 500 units in total.
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.
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.
Did Toyota lose money on the LFA?
End of Production
LFA production ran for two years from December 2010 until December 2012. Despite the car’s high price, Toyota lost a considerable sum of money on the LFA programme and a handful of unsold units were still hanging around some ten years after production ended.
