Jalopnik
Hoping to put the Man back in the American LeMans series, Lexus released pictures of their new Panoz-fighting Lexus 350 GT2. Powered by a V6 that should generate more than 470 horsepower, the new Lexus hopes to compete with the likes of the M3, Viper Competition Coupe, Ferrari F430 GT and eventually the upcoming Aston Martin Vantage GT2.
According to the team owner, Lexus was originally planning to enter the GT2 class in 2006. The first race for the Lexus will be the Twelve Hours of Sebring this March 15-18th. Let's just hope they don't drain the battery trying to synch their blackberry's phonebook with the bluetooth memory module. [World Car Fans]
Comments
ALMS, ALMS for an old ex-leper!
WHAT??? This car has been discussed for the past, oh, five years in ALMS circles. By all accounts, the plug had been pulled. Do you mean the program is actually back on?
Wow, this GT2 number is pretty wild. Into watersports and everything.
And why are they not using the IS-F with is mighty V8 for the racecar?
Anyone, Anyone?
Bueller, Bueller?
@jakay11: They'd have to pit every 9 seconds for fuel.
The sedan racing with the GTs? Again? Who's running the car? And why is IMSA allowing a sedan into the class that has no problems? They should be thinking about getting P1s and GT1s, not... this.
There was once a rumor PTG might take over the project, but they ended up taking the Panoz deal instead. Of course, now I have a feeling it's actually another Dana Brewer ripoff.
Maybe it could do a test run at a LeMons.
@ash78: Good one!
"...hopes to compete..." Correctly stated. I see this car having a hard time competing with the 430 and the Porsches. We shall see... On the other hand, I am glad to see more interest in the ALMS, one of my favorites.
Please let this be real, and not another rumor like the last 3 or 4 times ive seen something about this.
Here's an old article that talks about what "may" have happened to the program when it first was canned.
It'd be cool if this car came back...
[www.speedarena.com]
I call bullshit on this ALMS speculation. This linked article was pretty slim on facts, erroneously calling it an IS-F in the headline. The quotes mentioned in the original article were from 2005, and aren't even related to this car!! Who else thinks this is more likely to be a Grand-Am Series car (where M3s actually race, Matt)? Perhaps SPEED World Challenge?
It is an IS F, it isn't this picture, and it's for Germany, not North America. Apparently, Lexus is announcing Friday at the Tokyo Autosalon they're joining the DTM.
This is in fact the new Lexus DTM car, the Lexus car that was set to enter ALMS was taken over by TRD and thus moth-balled because Toyota sucks.
Start a discussion:
Login with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?