SPY PHOTOS: Lexus LF-A and Small SUV

Lexus LF-A

Toyota has repeatedly been testing the new Lexus high performance two-seater LF-A sports car at Nürburgring. With this new model Lexus is aiming to compete with the likes of Audi’s new R8, the upcoming Nissan GT-R and of course Porsche’s 911.

These latest photos are again and still showing a disguised prototype, two of which we have stripped off its plastic panel by computer to show what might be underneath. On the remaining shots the retractable rear wing has popped up due to the prototype’s high speed testing on the race track. The most eye catching item at the rear end though is the triangular design of the three exhaust pipes and the two ovals for the cooling system of the 500+ HP mid-mounted V10 engine.

Possibly Toyota/Lexus will release the new model at the next Tokyo Motor Show in fall 2007 to go on sale in spring 2008. It is expected to cost over 100.000 US$ just like the Audi R8.

Lexus SUV

According to insider information Lexus is furthermore about to develop a small luxury SUV based on Toyota’s RAV 4, and is set to enter the market against the successful – and just recently facelifted - BMW X3.

The Lexus SUV is said to be powered for the US market by a 3,5 litre V6 engine, for Europe an additional V6 2,5 litre Diesel engine is in the pipeline.

There are no prototype shots yet, but our computer generated image suggests how this new model could look like upon its release.