Every new auction website that pops up these days needs to ensure that their starting lineup can attract serious attention (and bidding action). When the UK-based site Collecting Cars expanded to the United States earlier this summer, an impressive slate of cars quickly crossed the block and now, that streak continues with a museum-mileage 2012 Lexus LFA for sale out of Chicago, Illinois, still wearing plastic coverings on most of the supercar's interior.
A New Supercar And Design Language From Lexus
The LFA represented a massive leap forward from Lexus, not to mention Toyota, as a concept-car-turned-supercar that would establish a new design language and ethos that arguably led to today's products, a decade later, like the GR Supra and range of F Sport performance products.
But none can touch the LFA from an angular stylistic perspective, while the limited number of only 500 ever built should cement the long-term collectability—this car, number 376 off the line and with only 177 miles on the odometer, might just remain the most pristine of all.
Built Around A 9,000-RPM Even-Firing V10
The LFA's heart and soul lurks under the hood, where a screaming even-firing V10 can rev up to 9,000 rpm in only six-tenths of a second, necessitating a digital tachometer because no analog rev counter could hope to keep up.
The 4.8-liter engine routes 553 hp (Collecting Cars uses the UK rating of 560) and 354 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels through an Aisin six-speed automatic with paddle shifters—all of which resting within a car-fiber tub (unfortunately, the whole car still does tip the scales above 3,500 pounds).
Regardless, the LFA proved capable of a 0-60 time of only 3.6 seconds. The best part, without a doubt, is the V10's sound, courtesy of a dual-stage instake manifold, ten individual throttle bodies, and a titanium muffler.
Bright Red And Carbon Fiber Interior Still Wrapped In Plastic
On the interior, the bright red and black leather surfaces, as well as the extensive carbon fiber trim, all look as pristine as should be expected of a car that's only been driven 177 miles. Wearing McLaren dealer plates, it seems likely this LFA was traded in against a new British supercar, so hopefully the winning bidder enjoys this ten-year-old classic and racks up some mileage rather than parking it in a collection or museum, which seems most likely. Expect bidding to climb steadily after sitting at $0 at the time of this writing.
Sources: collectingcars.com and usnews.com.