Almost every week a new set of spy photographs emerge showing either the upcoming Lexus LF-A or the Acura NSX in some stage of testing or development. We have watched as both cars have been videotaped under various conditions, and rumors continue to circulate as to just how high these cars will be priced once they hit the market. The consensus seems to suggest that pricing will be north of $150k pricing both the LF-A and NSX into super car territory.
Although it is easy to write off both the LF-A and NSX when the premise of a high six digit price tag is brought to the table, there is a case to be made for the Japanese super car, one that I don't think the Italians - specifically Ferrari and Lamborghini - should write off. The fact is the original NSX did everything a Ferrari of the day could in terms of performance, but the NSX was also reliable and could be driven as a daily just like a Honda Accord.
Just as Lexus shook the luxury car establishment, Acura did the same with the super car establishment when the original NSX rolled into dealer showrooms. Whether you love or hate Lexus and Acura, I don't think the current state of super cars would be what it is if it weren't for the benchmarks made by the original NSX.
So the million dollar question is this, will the Lexus LF-A and Acura NSX turn the super car world upside down when these cars hit our shores?
Targeted at the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo LP56--4, the LF-A and NSX seem poised to shake up the whole super car establishment and steal away buyers from the Italians. Granted one could argue that Ferrari and Lamborghini already sell every car they produce often with long waiting lists, but if buyers start leaving those waiting lists for the Japanese offerings an upset could be in the making.
With that said I will acknowledge the fact that the Italians do have a long history and heritage to fall back on, but the same could be said of Mercedes-Benz in 1989 when Lexus came onto the scene.
In the end time will tell how much impact the LF-A and NSX will have on Ferrari and Lamborghini, but if the past is any indicator of the future, I would say we are in for an exciting new round of innovation and technology as the Japanese push the Italians into high gear to produce the next round of super cars.
Will Lexus and Acura upset the super car establishment?
And more importantly than that, which super car would you want to own? Would you buy Italian with either the Ferrari F430 or Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, or do you go Japanese in choosing the Lexus LF-A or Acura NSX?
Japanese technology versus Italian heritage, and you decide the winner.