Last week we brought you an unconfirmed report that a Lexus LFA, equipped with the $70,000 Nürburgring Package, lapped Germany’s Nürburgring Nordschleife in 7:14. It turns out that report was false; the car actually took 7:14.64 seconds to get from bridge to gantry, documented in the video below. Nonetheless, that’s a monumentally impressive time, and Akira Iida’s skill at wrestling the car through the corners at speed is a sight to behold.
The LFA used in the record attempt was a production car, with only a roll cage added for safety. Stock tires were used, not the DOT-approved competition tires favored by other brands during record attempts (Porsche and Corvette, we’re looking at you). The Lexus LFA is now officially the fourth-fastest production car around the ‘Ring, but we’ll cut it some slack since slots 1-3 are occupied by the Radical SR8LM (not our definition of a production car), the Radical SR8 (ditto) and the Gumpert Apollo Sport (closer to a production car, but where’s your nearest Gumpert dealer?). In our book, the LFA is the fastest real production car in the world, which gives Lexus bragging rights. For now, at least.
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Source: You Tube
Kurt Ernst has been passionate about automobiles and driving nearly his entire life. His early years were shaped working in the family service station, though his real passion was auto racing. After graduating from the University of Colorado, Kurt spent a year club racing with the Sports Car Club of America, before focusing on a business career in marketing and project management. Later, his passion for writing and the automotive hobby found him freelancing for a variety of automotive news sites, including Automotive Addicts and Motor Authority, where his work was syndicated and appeared in several national publications. Recognized as an expert in the automotive field, Kurt joined Hemmings Motor News as an Associate Editor in 2013, and in the years since has progressed to Editor, Hemmings Daily; Managing Editor for Hemmings Motor News, Hemmings Classic Car, Hemmings Muscle Machines, and the Hemmings Daily; and now, Managing Editor, Hemmings Auctions. Kurt was instrumental in organizing the Hemmings Motor News Concours d’Elegance from 2013-2019, and has served as a judge at this event and The Vintage Racing Stable Concours d’Elegance. A Skip Barber Racing School graduate and prolific writer, Ernst is also skilled in copyediting, project management, brand development, and public relations.