Ever since the very beginning of Toyota's long history, the Japanese car manufacturer has always been highly regarded for putting out reliable and practical vehicles in the form of spacious sedans, city-perfect hatches and well-built SUVs.

In the past, Toyota has also made slightly riskier moves with the release of sportier models such as the Toyota Supra or the 86, but the list ends there. That's because Toyota's subsidiary brand, Lexus, is the one in charge of releasing more luxurious and higher-performance vehicles. In fact, from December 2010 to 2012 (for the 2011 and 2013 model years), Lexus produced the only supercar to ever emerge from its factories: the LFA.

With a $400,000 original price tag and plenty of performance to go along with it, the LFA was a certified sports car that could hold its own against other heavy-hitters in the segment. But unfortunately, the LFAs production run was short-lived, and It's already been a decade since the last one was made. Let's go over a few reasons why Toyota and Lexus should bring back the LFA.

Related: Supercar Icons: Lexus LFA vs Koenigsegg CCX

The Original LFA Is Legendary, With A V10 That Sounds Like Heaven

Lexus LFA Engine
Lexus

To be blunt, the Lexus LFA is, quite simply, a masterpiece. Powered by a specially-made NA V10 capable of putting out 553 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, the LFA can go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.6 seconds and do a top speed of 202 mph. Despite these great numbers, it wasn't those or even the LFAs exterior looks that gave it the iconic status it holds today; the credit for that goes to the sound of the engine, which makes the LFA one of - if not the best sounding vehicle to date.

From the get-go, Toyota contacted Yamaha to co-develop the engine in order to produce the best sounding engine possible, and boy did they manage just that. With a tri-tip exhaust system that was also co-developed with Yamaha's music division, the sound of the Lexus LFA can be described as nothing less than magnificent, and even one of its own engineers described it as the roar of an angel. With a redline set at 9000 RPM and even-firing pistons, it genuinely sounds like a race car.

Related: Supercar Icons: Ferrari Enzo Vs Lexus LFA

A New LFA Could Be Toyota's Second Chance At The Supercar Segment

Lexus LFA
via Lexus

The whole reasoning behind the creation of the original LFA was the fact that Toyota wanted to carve a niche for themselves in the international supercar segment, bringing to the table typical aspects of the Japanese automotive industry that weren't common in most supercars at the time. Even though Toyota and Lexus managed to do this to perfection, fabricating a truly competitive and unique supercar in the LFA, there was just one huge problem: pricing. With a price tag close to $400,000 with reasonable options, the Lexus LFA was simply too expensive; especially when you take into account the prices of its closest competitors. The LFA cost almost double that of the Ferrari 599 or the Lamborghini Gallardo, and that meant that most people weren't willing to pay extra for a vehicle that was the first supercar in Toyota's history.

If Lexus were to bring back the LFA from scratch, they'd have to find a way to make it reasonably priced while also providing it with the performance and styling fitting of a true supercar; they should also make sure to pair the new LFA to a great-sounding engine and exhaust system, staying true to what made the original LFA so fabulous. None of this is simple to execute, but then again, it isn't easy to jump into the supercar segment successfully anyway.

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Toyota Already Brought Back The Supra, So Lexus Should Do The Same With The LFA

Lexus LFA Nurburgring - Front Quarter
Via Lexus

In 2019 for the 2020 model year, Toyota made a great decision when they decided to bring back the Toyota Supra, which was completely new and co-developed with BMW. Even though many were skeptical in terms of specs at the beginning, the new Supra quickly won over the hearts of many and is now quite successful in terms of sales. Toyota should take advantage of the fact that people are willing to spend good money on a sports car with their badge, even when that isn't something they're known for as a brand. This new view under which Toyota is seen may not last forever, so now is as good a time as any to take the risk with the Lexus LFA.

To summarize, the original Lexus LFA is a truly amazing piece of machinery that doesn't deserve the fate that was dealt to it. Maybe Toyota has given up on its dreams to form a part of the supercar segment permanently, but if by some chance they didn't, now is the time to act and raise a new LFA to glory.