Lexus LF-A Production Prototype Shows Bigger Retractable Rear Wing at Nurburgring

The Lexus LF-A is nearing its production-version public debut at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show.

Spy pictures (and now a video) taken at the Nurburgring's Nordschleife reveal the rear diffuser back on the car. Secondly when the production car was last spied in 2007 the rear wing was visible but smaller than the one seen here. Also Lexus seems to have redesigned the air scoops that sit on the upper rear quarter panel behind the door windows. These were covered up in yesterday's photos. Lastly the side mirrors sport a new sharper shape.

Toyota is really getting serious with the LF-A (which may not be called that in final production). These and other previous spy pictures prove that development has now been accelerated to meet the speculated release date of 2011.

Rival Honda has frozen its new generation NSX due to the bad economic climate. Therefore the LF-A will have the Nissan GT-R as the only fellow Japanese to compete against. The two will be contrasted by the fact that the LF-A has a V10 engine with over 500hp (368kW) while the GT-R uses a 3.8-litre twin turbo V6 for its 485hp (357kW).

Update with Video (18th May 2009).