Lexus to Lease LFAs to Thwart Speculators

Like it, hate it, or somewhere in between, the Lexus LFA has no doubt caused a big stir since arriving on the automotive scene. It has been expected for a long time, with multiple concepts heralding the arrival of the production vehicle.

It is nice, but $375,000 nice? No - I think self-imposed 500 unit run by Lexus had more to do with the limited amount of people interested - we'll see how quickly the 500 unit run sells out. Regardless, with an anticipated vehicle like the LFA there is bound to be some speculators looking to make a profit.

The way Lexus is planning the launch, no LFA will be built unless it is ordered specifically. Brian Smith, vice president of sales and dealer development for Lexus, says that each LFA will be leased for two-years, in a bid to thwart speculators.

Apparently, lessees will then have the ability to purchase the LFA at the end of the two-year period. So if a customer doesn't want the LFA, they will be able to return it? There are a lot of questions, like how much the "lease" will cost.

Never of heard anything like this- it is certainly a very different method. Lexus' reasoning is that they want "people out driving the car and not just parking it in a museum or selling it at an inflated price." We'll see how it works out - the Lexus LFA starts production in December 2010 and goes on sale in January 2011.