oonowindoo

size don't matter. Numbers matter more

SamDoe1

I meant to say my S2000 was built in the mid 00's but I accept your fix.

Fibonacci

Not by the authors definition it wasn't. Point is it's hardly newsworthy to write off a car which hasn't been launched yet. And unless we have insiders who know what Acura has in store for release over the next few years, very presumptuous to say the least. Unless of course you like to hear the sound of your own voice blowing hot air...

srika

just one link:

Lexus Execs: New Halo Car Will Replace LFA, Brand to Implement 4-Point Plan to Lure Younger Buyers

Lexus considered it to be their halo car. Who are you talking about?

Whether it was a GOOD halo car that was beneficial to the brand, is another issue.

Fibonacci

Reread the jalopnik article, seems like you are missing the point.

R8 was the firestarter. How do we know the NSX won't be too?

Answer: we don't know yet

AZuser

In the U.S. version of that commercial/ad, the steaming kettles will be replaced with a singing Michael Bolton.

oonowindoo

I think it did what it was meant to do.

It basically showed the world if Lexus wants to, not only they could build a performance car, it would be one of the best despite its perceptions of being soft, old and boring.

Fibonacci

Fixed.


LFA certainly wasn't "better" than a Ferrari, but it was way more expensive than one. So the NSX will trump the LFA in the price department, that we probably do know.

srika

Jalopnik sucks.

I'll take what the Lexus execs say from their own mouths over some car website full of entitled car brats

Fibonacci

wasn't that the point I made originally.

srika

Was it? I'm confused then cuz you told me I missed the point, now you're saying it was the point you made (??) I'm lost.

Fibonacci

Crikey, you've been partying too much lately.

AZuser

Clarkson: "I love the LFA a lot. So much, that I recently described it as the best car I've ever driven."

Considering all the supercars' Clarkson has driven, certainly more than anyone of us here, I'd presume he knows what he's talking about.

SamDoe1

The LFA was absolutely a halo car in the same way the R8 was. It kickstarted the new design language for Lexus in both interior and exterior design. It also started an emphasis on aggressive styling on all of their products as a departure from the boring shapes of the older models.

Long story short, the LFA put Lexus on the map as a serious luxury contender and as a result they've been landing sales punches on all the Germans for the past 5 years.

oonowindoo

did not really want to get into the details... but yah LFA was NEVER about outperforming anyone. It was a showcase of engineering from engine to the chassis and technology at the time. A GTR can give it a run for its $$ at 1/3 of its price.

Can NSX be something like that? based on the engine and the materials Acura is using, it is definitely not the best Acura can offer.

oonowindoo

I would not be surprised if the new NSX is faster the LFA too, but so what? it will just be another $150k car on the market.

LFA is like the 1st/2nd gen NSX. It was never meant to be faster than Ferrari.

Fibonacci

Was not Lexus already on the map?

Show me how the LFA halo has made the luxury consuming masses run to their Lexus store over ze Germans during the past five years. Last time I checked, Lexus has been relatively flat in percentage market share. Not that I care that greatly.

It's too early, way to early to write off the NSX.

TacoBello

I take anything Jeremy Clarkson says as little more than his own personal opinion. And everyone knows- opinions are like buttholes- everyone has one.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

<p>opionions are like orgasms. I GET MINE. </p>

MeehowsBRZ

I'm 1,000% sure the NSX isn't going to get people flocking to buy RLX's and ILX's.

SamDoe1

In the same way that was Audi not already on the map?

If the R8 was the car that had people flocking to the dealership to check it out, then the LFA was the same for Lexus.

Not to mention that the design language for both the interior and exterior are straight trickle down from the LFA. Before they were all curvy and bland looking. After LFA they got straight lines and much more aggressive. Not to mention that the interiors now all look like the LFA's interior.

The Lexus of today looks the way it does because of the LFA. 99% of the car buying public doesn't give two shits about performance, they care about the looks and the toys. The LFA started all of that for Lexus.

srika

lovin' all the LFA love!!!! :gheyhug:

and..... having driven one myself at a racetrack I agree with everything Mr. Clarkson said!!!

skd2k1

iTrader: (1)

lfa is a cool car no doubt, but it doesn't have the same notoriety among non-enthusiasts like the r8. not even close.

srika

and a big factor there is price - it's out of reach for many many many people. While, you can get a used R8 V10 now in the $90's.

oonowindoo

The Non Enthusiasts will not appreciate the LFA anyways. The 1st question from them will be why is it $300k? and Lexus must be lying when they say they lose $$ on every single LFA that was sold. How can they lose $$ at $300k.

just the same way the non enthusiasts will not appreciate 1 & 2 Gen NSX. how can that car cost $100k (in 2001) with so little HP.

skd2k1

iTrader: (1)

fair point, but I'd say that price is an important factor in how effective the car is going to be at being a "halo." if it's totally unattainable...

srika

I don't doubt Lexus losing $$$$ on the LFA for one second. Remember the R&D, construction and technology in the LFA rival cars like the CGT, F50, Zonda, etc that league of carbon-fiber vehicles.

Shifting to the NSX on this, no I don't think the new NSX is Acura's answer to the LFA or anything of that sort. The new NSX is more like hey, we should probably make SOMETHING exciting, at some point. Ok let's do this.

srika

Halo car is a broad term, IMO. It's not a strict definition.

skd2k1

iTrader: (1)

agreed. hopefully this is just the beginning of more exciting things from acura! of course expectations have to be reasonable. the nsx was never a class leader in power, etc.

true

Mizouse

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

No, not really. The car can be totally unattainable to the mass and apply the halo effect on the lineup just fine.

That's the point of a Halo car.

The F-Sport line is derived from the LFA. Lexus planned it all out and executed beautifully.

Lexus has stated from a long time ago that they wanted to shift their focus to the younger buyers. They have been very successful in doing that with all the lineup changes including the F-Sport incorporate on their models.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

Hopefully, Honda can do something similar with NSX, but not sure what's in the pipeline after the NSX release.

TacoBello

TacoBello

1. Pretty sure nonenthusiasts do not buy super cars. Why would they when they can get a Camry for 30k, that will roll forever. You pretty much are forced to be an enthusiast if you choose to buy a a super car. There's no other reason to spend 150+k.

2. The price of the LFA was more than justified due to the incredibly low production models. You think a 918 is worth 1.3 million? If Porsche produced 1000 of them per month, I bet the price would drop by 500k.

TacoBello

Um, no. With only 500 LFAs produced worldwide, people were not flocking to the dealership to see one. Mostly because they couldn't. I'm sure they were largely presold before even landing at a dealership. In contrast, there are many thousands of R8s out there. Audi built close to 55,000 of them.

srika

gonna disagree to an extent on 1, there is another category of people who a) are not actually and genuinely as interested in supercars at a level where people like us are, but c) read or find out from somewhere or someone that so-and-so supercar is cool or hip to have, and d) have the money to spare for such an investment, and buy the car for these reasons alone.

good points on 2.

oonowindoo

1. Rich Asian kids in the 626 will disagree with you. All they buy is exotics.
Enthusiasts like us are the ones who can't afford those cars.

2. you missed my point.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

It was at one of the dealerships yesterday.

JS + XES

iTrader: (1)

You can tell the car is going to be fast judging by the size and material of the brake rotors.

The front tire spec is a little surprising though. 245/35/19.

Fibonacci

The LFA looks nothing like today's Lexi. Who's crack pipe are you smoking? Spindle grille, nyet. Exotic materials, nyet. What halo are you referencing? Other than spouting a bunch of hyperbole, you've shown nothing to substantiate your claims other than the TFT screen.

Show me the money. Show me the conquest sales. Show me the percentage increase versus the competition. Don't just show me sales volumes, that tells us nothing. Luxury and near luxury sales volumes are up across the board since the financial crisis other than perhaps Lincoln and Volvo. What exactly did the LFA spark for Lexus?

Anyone who is writing off the NSX pre-launch and claiming to know what's in the Acura pipeline over the next few years is talking out of their @$$ and has a hard-on for narcissistic Jalopnik writers.