The Lexus LFA is not just a brilliant sports car, but it is also a masterclass in engineering and a beautiful piece of art. If engineering ever becomes a recognized art form, the LFA – along with the Millau Viaduct in France and the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland – would be among the top 10 ever designed.

Development for the LFA wasn’t easy. By now, everyone knows the story. Toyota engineered and designed the car over six years, and just as it was almost finished, an engineer asked if the body would be better if it was made of carbon fiber. The car got a redesign and took another four years before the production version was shown at the 2010 Frankfurt Motor Show. Famously, Toyota sold the LFA at an eye-watering $375,000 and lost money on every single one of the 500 produced. While the LFA was considered a commercial flop, its popularity has increased over the last few years to such an extent that second-hand cars sell for double or even more than the original MSRP.

So, while it is highly unlikely that most motoring enthusiasts will drive – let alone see – an LFA, we can still dream about it and listen to its glorious engine sound on the internet. Here are 10 reasons why the Lexus LFA is the single most underrated supercar ever made.

10 The LFA Is An F-Only Model

Front 3/4 view of a white LFA
favcars.com

Unlike other F-models or F-Performance models within the Lexus line-up, the LFA was a model all on its own. There was no LFA 350 or LFA 250h like with the IS, GS, or NX – it was just the LFA. The closest to a single trim performance model Lexus has come since the LFA is the LC 500 – and that model has a hybrid version in the form of the LC 500h.

White 2011 Lexus LFA side view
Via: Lexus

The LFA is unique, one of a kind, exclusive, and exceptional. There is nothing like it and thanks to the current automotive climate, there will probably be nothing like it again. While the LFA may cost an insane amount of money, it is worth every penny.

9 The Car Is Entirely Bespoke

Lexus-LFA-2011
via NetCarShow

In addition to being an F-only model, the LFA is entirely bespoke. The chassis and drivetrain were not based on any existing platform and most of the components used in the car were specifically designed for the LFA. Existing parts used in other performance Toyotas were modified, strengthened, and lightened to keep the overall weight down.

Rear 3/4 view of the LFA in yellow
favcars.com

Many who have had the honor of driving an LFA have stated that while the car itself and the engine are magnificent, the only issue is the gearbox. While it was sufficient when the car was in production, against today’s standards, it is clunky and slow. This does not necessarily bother drivers, as the mechanical sound of the car changing gears is satisfying to listen to.

Related: These Are The Best Features Of The 2011 Lexus LFA

8 The 9400-RPM Screaming V10

Lexus LFA Engine
via Unsplash

The single most important part of the Lexus LFA – the point around which the rest of the car gravitates and makes all issues the car may have irrelevant – is the engine. As with everything else in the car, the engine is bespoke and is only found in the LFA.

Lexus-LFA-2011
via Lexus

It is a 4.8-liter naturally aspirated V10, which produces 553 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque. Lexus chose a V10 over a V8 as it can rev higher and over a V12 due to its lower reciprocating mass. Thanks to the over-engineering, the V10 in the LFA was the size of the company’s 5.0-liter V8 and weighed less than their own 3.5-liter V6.

Related: Reasons Why Lexus Should Bring Back The LFA

7 Styled By Math

Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition
Lexus

Thanks to the use of exotic materials within the construction of the car, the LFA’s center of mass is extremely low. This translates to exquisite handling, great acceleration, and better fuel economy. Most of the monocoque structure is made of CFRP (carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic), with aluminum used in the front and rear subframes.

Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition
Lexus

The exterior panels are all made of carbon fiber and the styling follows the ‘form follows function’ ethos, meaning that the aesthetics take second place to aerodynamics and operation. Every vent on the car does a job and nothing is there for the sake of style, yet the LFA is a gorgeous car.

6 The Tachometer Couldn’t Keep Up

Lexus LFA instrument dial
Via Pinterest

With the instant engine response from 10 individual throttle bodies, the screaming V10 revs from idle to its 9,000 rpm redline in 0.6 seconds. During testing, the analog dials used in cars during that time were too slow to keep up with the engine.

Lexus LFA
via Lexus

Lexus then decided to make the tachometer digital – one of the first in a supercar – which could update as the engine revved. This worked surprisingly well, and Lexus has employed this type of tachometer in most of their range.

5 Each LFA Is Unique Thanks To The Personalization Options

Front 3/4 view of a blue LFA, near an industrial area
Lexus

The LFA, being a bespoke car, was built according to how the customer wanted it. Lexus offered many different options to choose from – especially since it started from $375,000. With the number of options, Toyota calculated that there were approximately 30 billion different combinations of options.

Rear 3/4 view of a blue LFA near the Sydney Opera, rear wing up
Lexus

These options included the exterior and interior color schemes, the color of the brake calipers, the color and types of seats, the color and type of leather on the steering wheel, etc. With the multitude of options – all of which cost extra – the price for an LFA could easily reach over $400,000.

Related: Lexus LFA: Costs, Facts, And Figures

4 It Took 10 Years To Develop

Lexus LFA Featured
via: Lexus

Everyone knows the story. Lexus started development on their supercar in the late 1990s and showcased the first concept – called the LF-A – at the 2005 North American Motor Show. After the show, Toyota engineers were busy redesigning the aluminum tub and exterior panels into CFRP monocoque and carbon-fiber panels, so the next concept debuted alongside the IS F in 2007.

via Carscoops

Finally, the production-ready LFA – without the hyphen – was unveiled at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. It was the last car to be shown on the first day and caused quite a lot of excitement. When the LFA eventually reached reviewers, everyone praised it for its do-everything versatility and the way it drove both in cities and on a racetrack.

3 You Could Have It With A Massive Wing

Lexus LFA
Via: Netcarshows

In 2010, Lexus announced a track-focused version of the LFA, which could still be optioned even after the normal car was delivered. Lexus called it the LFA Nürburgring Package as a reference to the LFA race cars which raced at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring.

2012-Lexus-LFA-Nürburgring-Edition-1
Via Lexus USA Newsroom

This package included a 10 hp boost over the standard LFA and the transmission was recalibrated to shift 0.05 seconds faster. Owners also got a body kit which included a large front splitter, front canards, high-performance tires, stiffer and adjustable suspension, and a huge, fixed rear wing.

Related: Simply Stunning: Low Mileage 2012 Lexus LFA Limited Edition With Nurburgring Package

2 The Interior Is Unique

Lexus LFA Interior
pressroom.lexus.com

The interior is almost entirely unique to the LFA – bar the infotainment system. The seats were designed for the car, as was the steering wheel – which keeps the basic Lexus style, but with improvements. Even the indicator stalks were especially made for the LFA.

Lexus-LFA-2011
via NetCarShow

The car does not have a traditional gear selector either on the center console or on the column. Instead, the driver uses the shift paddles to select drive, reverse and neutral. Reportedly, doing a three-point turn takes quite a lot of inputs and is an extensive process.

1 It Makes The Best Sound Of Any Car Ever Made

Lexus LFA on Track
via netcarshow

The engine’s intake and exhaust manifolds were meticulously designed to make the car sound like an older Formula One car – almost revving as high as one. Toyota’s engineers aimed for the exhaust note to sound like the ‘roar of an angel’. A US television program even used the LFA’s exhaust note to shatter a champagne glass through resonance frequency.

Lexus-LFA-2011
via NetCarShow

Many companies have claimed to make the best-sounding car in the world. Where some have come close, none have elicited the same level of passion and soul as the LFA. While some meticulously engineered cars can lack character, the Lexus LFA floods the interior and everything around it in pure automotive ecstasy.