Lexus to lease, not sell, LFAs to foil speculators

2010 Lexus LFA

By Brian Potter
November 25, 2009 1:00 AM
Filed Under: Corporate/Financial, Industry, Lexus, Supercars

In an effort to cut off speculators when the Lexus LFA launches in January 2011, Lexus will only offer the $375,000 limited-edition hypercar via two-year leases, according to Brian Smith, vice president of sales for Toyota Motor Sales Lexus division. As a result, Lexus remains the owner of all 150 of the 500 units during that period slated for the U.S.

In a statement to Automotive News, Smith said, "If someone buys it the first month and then decides to sell it, that could be damaging for the ownership experience. If it is not controlled and hits the speculation market, all bets are off."

Based on dealer orders only, the LFA will be built over a two-year period starting in December 2010. It is powered by a 4.8-liter V10 producing 412kW (560hp) at 8,700rpm while peak torque is 480Nm at 6,800rpm. Going to the rear wheels, the LFA uses a 6-speed ASG transmission, 0-100 km/h is 3.7 seconds and the top speed is 325km/h (202mph).

Lexus wants to maximize the customer's purchase experience by asserting the same price, at least for the first two years. The customers can opt to purchase the cars outright afterwards. Smith emphasizes, "You can personalize it right down to the stitching in the car. We want people out driving the car and not just parking it in a museum or selling it at an inflated price."

A dedicated team of 15 Lexus employees will be extensively trained as customer liasons. Positioned in California, Chicago, New Jersey and Atlanta, the LFA specialists will meet with prospective clients starting in March 2010. Additionally, Lexus HQ will provide specially hired technicians to perform service at any dealer, therefore, taking the burden of investment for special tools and training off the dealerships. Customers can also take delivery at any dealer of their choice.

Source: autonews.com (sub req)

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Tags: Lexus LF-A, 2010 Lexus LF-A

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Comments

dbehmoaras

November 25, 2009 1:08 AM

How to get a small amount of cars to a lot of people. This is both smart and stupid.

autoficianado

November 25, 2009 1:27 AM

I think Toyota/Lexus is afraid no one will buy this overpriced celica. Leasing always gets you lower payments. How much do you think depreciation in the first 2 years will be ?

Edison

November 25, 2009 7:32 AM

Zero. This car is limited production (500 units, I think) and will likely have no problems selling.

McNamara68

November 25, 2009 10:51 AM

doesn't answer the question of depreciation.

benz_man

November 25, 2009 6:49 PM

To write a lease you must first "assume" depreciation over the lease period so you can charge the lessee that amount over that period of time. So, how much will a $375,000 limited-edition Lexus depreciate over two years?

9TNine

November 25, 2009 1:27 AM

haha... Speculators...?? you wish!

nickmini

November 25, 2009 1:30 AM

Zero down leasing with 60 days return like GM? Counts me in :D.

jerry05cod4

November 25, 2009 2:15 AM

great idea... and this car won't depreciate it will appreciate in value, doesn't matter if you think it's worth it or not, all units will be sold.

autoficianado

November 25, 2009 2:46 AM

It had better be a limited production run if you want it to appreciate. For the money they are asking you could have a Bentley, a Rolls, a Lamborghini, a Ferrari, a McLaren, an Aston Martin, a Mercedes Benz Black series, SLS or Brabus/Karlsonn tuned version, a Pagani Zonda, an Alpina tuned BMW etc... The list goes on and on but if I had this kind of money to spend it wouldn't be on a Toyota.

Edited by user on November 25, 2009 at 2:56 AM

Aluraeo

November 25, 2009 3:15 AM

Regardless of branding if this car performs as promised it would outrun all the cars you mentioned in terms of handling. Jap car companies do come out with gems once in a while capable of beating their arguably more "prestigious" counterparts.

Edison

November 25, 2009 7:28 AM

I wouldn't count on that. I think it will be outshined on the track and straights by Ferrari's 458 Italia and McLaren's MP4-12C. Just looking at the numbers. Both cars are lighter, more powerful, have Dual-Clutch gearboxes, and the Ferrari has a torque vectoring e-diff and active aero. All this at a lower price (for the Ferrari anyway). What's really amazing is how the Ferrari manages to be lighter with aluminum rather than super expensive carbon fiber and the engine manages to be more powerful with less-displacement and no turbo (not saying that the LF-A has a turbo or anything either). That being said, I love the interior of the LF-A.

eddie

November 25, 2009 3:35 AM

Give me a Lamborghini 560 or 640 instead!

eddie

November 25, 2009 3:43 AM

The rear looks great, but the front has too many broken lines. Maybe a dark color would make a difference.

eddie

November 25, 2009 3:47 AM

In order to come out with a NEW car in this supercar segment, you have to blow off the socks off the competition.(like the Nissan GTR did in the less than $100,000 range) This car does not do that.

termigni

November 25, 2009 2:32 PM

and how do you know it won't blow their socks off?

Xanavi23

November 25, 2009 6:10 AM

Its a very good car and while i understand Lexus' motives behind this, i can't say i like the idea. Despite a price tag too high, people want own this car, not have it on loan as some prestige auto owners hold on to supercars like this for many many years.

isaacarus

November 25, 2009 6:48 AM

well thats why the options there to purchase it outright after 2 years.

what would be clever with this car would be to have an un-renewable 2 year lease. would work in that its leased for 2 years, goes back to toyota, with no option for lessee to purchase the car. goes back to toyota, the car gets a really good refurb, i.e full engine rebuild, repaint and remove dents etc, re-upholster to customer specs and then the car is re-leased. cycle repeats, everyone gets to try the car as it would be "new".

reckon that would be cool!

Xanavi23

November 25, 2009 8:17 AM

Good eye isaacarus, that was stupid of me, with leases you can buy it after two years and given lease rates are generally cheaper than finance counterparts you shouldnt get hit too bad on the monthly(if there is one) payment or the buy back price.

BavarianMS

November 25, 2009 7:04 AM

what a pathetic way to gain attention.

November 25, 2009 10:47 AM

i don't see how this will 'foil speculators'. many collectors / dealers have their car sit in garages for years anyways. sure it will stop flippers from turning them around in first 2 years. but two years later it will start all over again.

scratchy996

November 25, 2009 1:41 PM

can't wait to see a f458 vs LFA test. i bet the cheaper Ferrari will win.

kuklukklak

November 25, 2009 1:42 PM

Nice move to deal with poor forcasted sales. LOL. At this price, I would have a Merc SLS and an Audi R8 or Porsche 911. This thing is boring from head to toe. The only thing make it special is this is the first supercar attempt from a family car company. LOL

ifudge

November 25, 2009 2:00 PM

This will be true test of Lexus's status. It's one thing to sell Audi/BMW/Mercedes-Benz priced saloons and the awful SC is the only model repping your 2 door coupe sports segment, then to try something like this is either truly courageous or truly stupid.

dnipete

November 25, 2009 4:27 PM

Can't wait for the die cast model in black matte for this car. Great 1st attempt for a supercar from Lexus!

khd

November 25, 2009 7:19 PM

its prob just a ploy to make make sure no rival manufacs get their spanners on it anytime soon...

scratchy996

November 26, 2009 1:11 AM

to do what ?

Xanavi23

November 26, 2009 10:37 PM

I imagine he meant so that it would be harder for them to test with for future products, you know use as a testing benchmarker. ild guess thats what he meant.

kuklukklak

November 25, 2009 7:38 PM

I missed 1 point: the interior looks fantastic. But supercar is not about interior anw. :))

AlpinaRacerX

November 25, 2009 9:50 PM

Awesome car! But I'm wondering if some potential buyers will not buy the LFA with this lease-only strategy, since leasing isn't always the best financial option for people with their own business(es)...just wondering about that.

adz612

November 26, 2009 3:10 AM

i really wonder who's stupid enough to buy a $375k toyota

BavarianMS

November 26, 2009 4:08 AM

Exactly, lets cut to the crap. Their is a countless amount of better cars at that price range.

dnipete

November 26, 2009 4:38 AM

Those stupid enough to buy overhyped, overpriced unrelible European cars! Ironically, if this is such a crappy car, why even bother to comment?

Andy_Turbo

November 26, 2009 6:05 PM

I would buy this car over a so called lamborghini with "audi-fied"/ "volkswagon-ified" engine parts!!!!!!! an rs6 has the same v10 as the gallardo. to me the europeans have lost a big part of their heritage and this car is unique and special in every way. i hope to see these selling for 1M+ in the next 10 years

CarFan56

November 26, 2009 6:48 PM

These will not drastically increase in value. It is a Lexus, not a high end British, German, or Italian car.

Shark

November 26, 2009 7:16 PM

LOL! Yet another Lame Failed Attempt "LFA" by Toyota, they know no one in their right mind will spend that kind of $ when they can get a Ferrari or future McLaren with a long history building high performance cars and legends with lasting value. Just look at the failure by Toyota in F1, and it has spilled in to this car after so many years of prototypes which will barely compete with Ferrari and McLaren. At this price you would expect it to blow away the competition and based on its specs and what they did in F1 it definitely will not, what a joke!!

eddie

November 26, 2009 8:10 PM

Remember how the Datsun(nissan) 240Z knocked the socks off the auto world, the Nissan GTR was a new standard for sportcars less than $80,000 and will the NEW super expensive LFA do what the previous 2 examples have done to the autoworld!

eddie

November 26, 2009 8:13 PM

Andy Turbo would you buy a Ferrari or a Maserati made by Fiat. VW/Audi is the largest car manufacturer in the world. Just think of all the R & D it owns as it owns Bentley, Bugati, Porsche, and Lamborghini

GHERNAS

November 27, 2009 6:21 PM

In of the day still Lexus not a Ferrari!! Same story of NSX Japanese car !! remember the speculation will make the names

GHERNAS

November 27, 2009 6:22 PM

i will never buy such a car

zeniac

November 27, 2009 11:14 PM

A beauty

GTurbo

November 30, 2009 4:09 PM

Exactly two decades this year, Lexus has made serious inroads to match global industry best. This is ambition on a higher level and I applaud Lexus's quantum leap in product development strategy. Risky, but entrepeneurs exist on risk-taking initiatives. The leasing programme is a clever marketing ploy designed to whet appetites before considering actual ownership proposition. By 2011, leasees would have spread the word about the car's driving credentials and even about it's GFV (Guaranteed Future Value). Either way, Lexus have announced themselves on the supercar rostrum!

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