This time, the Wow! factor doesn't come from a Lexus car
Konichiwa from Japan again! All Lexus is delighted to bring you more pictures from Lexus Yokohamatotsuka, courtesy of a reader in Japan. In Part 1 of this series, we saw the Lexus HS 250h, the highly successful hybrid which is sold only in Japan.
Today, in Part 2 we bring you a Lexus equally as special. But it's not a Lexus as how we've come to know; no, this is the Lexus F Sport Road Bike, that retails at US$10,000, or RM41,430! Next time you see a brand new Perodua Myvi on the road, think about it for a second: This bike costs as much as the popular Malaysian hatchback.
Why does this bike cost an arm and a leg? The first clue comes from Lexus' supercar, the highly-revered Lexus LFA. Let's take a closer look.
Aside from its blistering performance, unimpeachable craftsmanship and limited run to 500 units, part of the reason why the Lexus LFA can command a US$375,000 price tag is because of its Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic (CFRP) construction. CFRP is highly favoured due to its lightness and tensile strength but it is also ludicrously expensive, so most manufacturers shy away from it.
Lexus manufactured their own loom, one of two in the world that exists, to weave every component in the Lexus LFA that required CFRP. But that leaves the question, when the Lexus LFA has finished its planned production run of 499 units, what else can the loom be used to make? This is the answer:
The Lexus F Sport Road Bike uses a CFRP main frame construction to keep it unbelievably light. I'm told by the reader who sent me these stunning pictures, the bike can be lifted with just two fingers, no bull. Lexus, though, didn't disclose its official weight but the sales consultant mentioned it is 'slightly lighter' than the specialised bikes used in Tour de France.
They did, however, disclose some rather interesting details about the bike.
Firstly, the same highly-skilled takumi that are handpicked to manufacture the Lexus LFA also manufacture the Lexus F Sport Road Bike. That means craftsmen who are inclined to pore over every single detail involved in the bike's construction several hundred times over until it can readily qualify as meeting the highest standards Lexus is known for. And in order to ensure quality isn't compromised, the Lexus F Sport Road Bike is made in the same factory as the Lexus LFA.
Secondly, the Lexus F Sport Road Bike has a 22-speed gear that uses an electronic shifting mechanism that allows for swift and accurate gear changes on almost any terrain.
Thirdly, just like the Lexus LFA, the Lexus F Sport Road Bike isn't meant for mass circulation. Its production run is even more strictly controlled than the Lexus LFA.
Lexus will only commit to 100 units of the Lexus F Sport Road Bike to be manufactured. The highly limited edition run means that Lexus dealers worldwide will have the option to buy only one unit of the road bike at most, at the customer's request.
Just 100 units? Sure, why not? The Lexus F Sport Road Bike wasn't meant to debut Lexus foray into bicycle production. It was conceived to strengthen the Lexus brand image by showcasing the ingenuity and collaboration between engineers and designers, using materials that normally would appear only in its most sought-after models.
Keeping things beautifully simple, the Lexus F Sport Road Bike is only available in two colours: Black as seen in the Lexus Yokohamatotsuka showroom or white, like below:
What matters most about the Lexus F Sport Road Bike is that regardless if it's a supercar, family saloon car, an eco-friendly hybrid vehicle, a large V8 SUV or a road bike, the common theme that runs between the output of any Lexus factory has been and will always be the commitment to the Relentless Pursuit of Perfection.
On a more practical note though, would you spend US$10,000 on a bicycle? Especially when that doesn't include the helmet? Tell me what you think.
If you're in the Yokohama neighbourhhood, do drop by at the Lexus Yokohamatotsuka dealership, which is located at:
140-4, Kagetori-cho
Totsuka-ku
Yokohama-shi
Tel: +8145-853 2811
Cheers!
All Lexus
No comments:
Post a Comment