Lexus LF-A

It's been a long time coming, but we'll soon be able to see just what the Lexus LF-A can do! First seen at the Detroit Motor Show in 2005, the on-off supercar has been a long time in gestation, but before roadgoing versions hit showrooms next year, Lexus will enter two racing cars in the Nurburgring 24hr race on May 23/24th.

Details of the supercar are still being kept under wraps but the racers will get 5.0-litre V10 engine with in excess of 500bhp, which drives the rear wheels through a paddle-shift sequential manual transmission.

Lexus says that the entry of the car in the 24hr race "forms part of an on-going R&D process." The race version packs the usual safety requirements, such as a roll cage, but apart from a huge rear wing and other aero tweaks, the LF-A is hardly changed from the road-going car.