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...but that has not stopped Lexus from shipping the great-looking machine to Melbourne.
The LF-A is the latest in a string of future cars that the Toyota group has shown at the Exhibition Centre.
“We always try to either show prototype vehicles or something which illustrates future potential — we believe it gives an insight into the direction the brand is heading,” says the company’s sales and marketing chief in Australia, Dave Buttner.
“It gives some credibility to what we are trying to do as a manufacturer.”
Buttner has no update on final production plans for the LF-A, either as a supercar coupe or roadster, despite the car competing last year as a prototype at the classic Nurburgring 24-hour race.
But Lexus has released details of the vehicle, starting with a carbon-fibre and aluminium body fitted with a 5-litre V10 engine.
The powerplant is installed ahead of the cockpit to give a 50:50 weight distribution, which Lexus says is essential with 360kW to feed to the rear wheels and a top speed of more than 330km/h.
The engine is connected by a torque tube and propeller shaft to a rear-mounted transaxle gearbox controlled by paddle shifters.
The car’s styling draws from the Lexus L-Finesse design philosophy, with a compact, low-profile and aerodynamic front end. Like its coupe counterpart, the Roadster is just 1220mm high.
While the LF-A will star under lights, Lexus is also expecting plenty of interest in the all-new RX350 SUV which will share its stand with the concept car.
It is a clear evolution of the previous RX, which has done well in Australia as a regular petrol-powered car and also as a petrol-electric hybrid, but with some important upgrades.
It continues with all-wheel drive and gets a 3.5-litre V6 with 220kW, as well as all the usual Lexus luxury stuff.
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