Lexus LFA Production Ends, With a Promise

[Jason.MZW20]

Originally Posted by Jegan_V

1. As much as I like this idea, Lexus has tried this long ago. The early ES, SC and IS all had manuals and they're all extremely rare. To the degree that they're all 95% autos.

2. I agree.

3. I'd go further, go back to the straight 6, the creamy smooth straight 6 are more fitting of a luxury brand than V6s.

4. Agree, if Hyundai could get this right on a Genesis there's no reason why a ES should be so flobbery.

5. Indeed, the F badge should mean something rather than being seen as a way to charge a lot more for minor improvements. BMW's M is what the Lexus F should strive to be rather than just the expensive TRD.

1. Manual transmissions are often sought out by young male buyers in performance vehicles. BMW caters to this enthusiast crowd here in the U.S. by having M/T M vehicles where they don't in the Euro Zone. Porsche also developed a 7-speed manual for the 911, which can't go unnoticed. Lexus should just bridge the divide and go dual clutch. Automated manuals are more engaging even if they lack the 3rd pedal; power isn't going through a fluid coupling torque converter.

2. Hybrids are here to stay. You may be surprised to see a supercapacitor/ultracapacitor KERS type system boost performance in a real way by charging the capacitors via regenerative braking (though I'd also like to see some creativity in the exhaust heat scavenging area so charging isn't limited to braking). These types of systems are already used in racing.

3. Toyota's inline-6 is dead. It's too long and its design is uncompromising. In other words, you can't fit an inline-6 in any vehicle. V6s are compact enough that a complete redesign of the chassis isn't needed. That's just the way it is. Cars are expensive to build.

4. Agree 100%

5. An IS-F coupe would be much better, as would an LF-LC in F trim. IS-F should have a supercharged, dual injection V6 with 425+hp, while the LFLC-F should have a supercharged V8 with 550+hp. The lighter V6 in the IS-F will help handling by getting that heavy V8 off of the front axle. Also, all F models should be FMR (front, mid-engined RWD).

[silver04rollas]

Yeah, Porsche has been keeping manual transmissions from dying through coming up with a 7 speed manual innovative design.

Now, Chevrolet will be putting a 7 speed manual in the next generation Corvettes as well. This way, atleast a few brands like BMW, Porsche and Chevrolet are keeping the manuals from dying.

Originally Posted by Jason.MZW20

1. Manual transmissions are often sought out by young male buyers in performance vehicles. BMW caters to this enthusiast crowd here in the U.S. by having M/T M vehicles where they don't in the Euro Zone. Porsche also developed a 7-speed manual for the 911, which can't go unnoticed. Lexus should just bridge the divide and go dual clutch. Automated manuals are more engaging even if they lack the 3rd pedal; power isn't going through a fluid coupling torque converter.

2. Hybrids are here to stay. You may be surprised to see a supercapacitor/ultracapacitor KERS type system boost performance in a real way by charging the capacitors via regenerative braking (though I'd also like to see some creativity in the exhaust heat scavenging area so charging isn't limited to braking). These types of systems are already used in racing.

3. Toyota's inline-6 is dead. It's too long and its design is uncompromising. In other words, you can't fit an inline-6 in any vehicle. V6s are compact enough that a complete redesign of the chassis isn't needed. That's just the way it is. Cars are expensive to build.

4. Agree 100%

5. An IS-F coupe would be much better, as would an LF-LC in F trim. IS-F should have a supercharged, dual injection V6 with 425+hp, while the LFLC-F should have a supercharged V8 with 550+hp. The lighter V6 in the IS-F will help handling by getting that heavy V8 off of the front axle. Also, all F models should be FMR (front, mid-engined RWD).