Step aside NFT bros, cars are the new futureproof investment as this Lexus LFA sells for double its original price

It’s time for the NFT and crypto bros to take a back seat as enthusiast cars appear to be the new futureproof investment. Don’t believe us? Take a look at this Lexus LFA that recently sold for double its original selling price.

When new, Toyota’s ultra-exotic supercar of the time started at around USD 375,000 (~RM 1.64 million) around 2010 but could easily hit the USD 400,000 (~RM 1.75 million) mark as buyers ticked every box on the order sheet.

Just a couple of days before 2022 concluded, a listing on Bring a Trailer (BaT) saw a low-mileage LFA sold for USD 775,000 (~RM 3.4 million), or over double the original price in just a decade.

The volatility of fintech has numerous times proven unsuccessful in the long term but if you’re looking for something to invest money in, exotic cars may have just stolen that spot.

They’re showing no signs of slowing down and continue to appreciate in value. Even if they do, you’ll still end up with a cool car to drive. Kind of win-win in a way.

Also Read: Why Toyota's GR Yaris is the most exciting car from Toyota since the Lexus LFA

This particular unit in a scintillating scarlet shade of Pearl Red, one of five in the USA, and is a 2012 model with the serial production number of #427 of 500. Reports show it delivered new to Lexus of Mobile, Alabama and remained with its first owner until the owning dealer on BaT bought it in 2022.

Lexus roped in Yamaha to help develop the iconic, screaming 4.8-liter 1LR-GUE V10 that was as exotic as it got at the time. Titanium valves and connecting rods, forged pistons, individual throttle bodies, dry-sump lubrication and dual VVT-I got it to a stratospheric 9,000 rpm but not before delivering a rated output of 552 PS and 480 Nm of torque.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through an Aisin six-speed single-clutch automated sequential transmission with a Torsen limited-slip differential to prevent wheelspin.

Other notable features include extensive use of carbon fibre for the bodywork mated to a carbon-fibre reinforced polymer chassis with aluminium front and rear subframes. Kengo Matsumoto is the man responsible for said bodywork.

Also Read: Here are 5 cars that sound better than modern F1 cars

The distinctive triple central exhaust outlets emit that banshee-like wail and this model also packs a speed-sensitive rear wing, side air intakes, a vented hood, and bi-xenon HID headlights.

It rolls on forged 20-inch BBS wheels wrapped in 265/35 front and 305/30 rear Bridgestone Potenza tyres that hide Lexus-branded Brembo brake calipers finished in black clamping on carbon-ceramic rotors.

Also Read: 10th anniversary of Hiromu Naruse's death; Japan's Master Test Driver

Being more of a grand tourer, the interior is just as eloquent as the exterior. The lucky owner will find 10-way power-adjustable seats with black leather upholstery, carbon-fibre trim, red floor mats, a Mark Levinson 12-speaker surround-sound system, a DVD/CD changer, Bluetooth connectivity, voice command, navigation and a hill-assist system.

Sitting front and centre behind the flat-bottom steering wheel with column-mounted paddle shifters is that famed digital tachometre reading up to 10,000 rpm.

You might have heard the story of how the LFA’s engine revved so fast a traditional analogue tachometre wouldn’t have been able to keep pace. Hence, they had to use a digital analogue tacho.

The correct term though is “engine pickup speed” and it translates into “the rate at which an unloaded internal combustion engine gains rpm.”

Lexus calculated that the LFA’s engine could go from idle to 9,000 rpm in just 0.6-seconds, a pick-up speed of 15,000 rpm per second. Not many have challenged that fact since.

Since then, only Swedish hypercar-maker Koenigsegg has reignited the topic with its thunderous 5.1-litre V8 powering the Jesko. Internal data placed its average pick-up speed at 31,700 rpm per second and a peak pick-up speed of an unbelievable 46,000 rpm per second. It’s incredible to think that it took around a decade for a carmaker to beat that number.

The lucky owner is awaiting delivery of the car and can expect a set of keys in a presentation box to mark the first time he starts the supercar.