AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語
  • STANDINGS
No Result
View All Result
AutoGear

Toyota’s Bizarre V-10 Experiment—Why the Legendary LFA Engine Sounded Ridiculous in a Regular Car

Carl Harrison by Carl Harrison
February 4, 2025
in Latest News
Reading Time: 5 mins read
0
Toyota’s Bizarre V-10 Experiment—Why the Legendary LFA Engine Sounded Ridiculous in a Regular Car

Toyota’s Lexus LFA V-10 is widely regarded as one of the greatest-sounding engines in automotive history—a high-revving, naturally aspirated masterpiece co-developed with Yamaha. But did you know that Toyota once tried to transplant that glorious scream into an everyday car?

It turns out, the experiment was a complete disaster—and according to Toyota engineers, it was downright comical.


Toyota’s Hilarious Attempt to Make a Regular Car Sound Like an LFA

Assistant Manager Shinichi Sano of Lexus’ Vehicle Performance Development Department No. 1 recently revealed that Toyota engineers once attempted to recreate the LFA’s sound in a normal road car.

The result?

“A fast sound, with too much acoustic pressure, will only make a slow car seem even slower.”

In other words, trying to replicate a 9,000 RPM V-10 howl in a car that couldn’t match the LFA’s blistering performance just made it sound comically out of place.

“We realized that the LFA’s tone and acoustic pressure only fit because they are backed up by its acceleration.”

It’s an important lesson in sound design—an engine’s noise isn’t just about volume and tone, but also how it matches the vehicle’s actual performance. Imagine hearing a Formula 1-style scream from a Toyota Camry at a red light—it would sound utterly ridiculous.

While Toyota engineers never released a recording of their failed experiment, we can only imagine how bizarre it must have been to hear an LFA roar from something like a Corolla or RAV4.


Other Sound Experiments That Didn’t Go As Planned

The LFA wasn’t the only sound-engineering experiment gone wrong at Toyota.

At one point, engineers attempted to make a three-cylinder engine sound like a four-cylinder—a move likely aimed at making smaller performance cars feel more muscular.

The problem?

“The three-cylinder and four-cylinder sounds interfered with each other to produce something you couldn’t even call a sound.”

Rather than sounding more powerful, the mix ended up being a chaotic mess, proving that engine acoustics aren’t as simple as flipping a switch.


Toyota’s Next-Gen Performance Engines—No More Faking It

Toyota’s next wave of performance cars is shaping up to be more about authentic sound rather than artificial enhancements.

🔥 A New 2.0-Liter Turbocharged Monster

  • Toyota is currently developing a G20E 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, rumored to replace the 1.5-liter G16E used in the GR Yaris and GR Corolla.
  • This new unit will produce over 400 horsepower, making it 100 HP stronger than its three-cylinder predecessor.
  • It was spotted inside the mid-engine GR Yaris Concept M at the Tokyo Auto Salon, fueling speculation that it could power the reborn Celica or MR2.

🔊 Lexus’ V-8 Beast Is Coming

  • The rumored Lexus LFR (spotted testing recently) will reportedly use a brawny, naturally aspirated V-8.
  • Toyota insiders suggest it will be the street-legal equivalent of Toyota’s GT3 race car.
  • Unlike previous attempts to “fake” engine sounds, Toyota now insists that a car should sound like what it is—not something else.

“It would be strange to hear a car with an eight-cylinder engine sounding like a three-cylinder machine, and vice versa,” said Yusuke Nakayama, another Lexus engineer.

Toyota has learned its lesson—authenticity matters.


Final Thoughts: A Lesson in Automotive Acoustics

Toyota’s failed attempts to force unnatural engine sounds onto vehicles serve as a reminder that sound is just as much about performance as it is about acoustics.

The LFA’s V-10 scream was legendary—but only because the car’s acceleration, power, and high-revving nature backed it up. Trying to force that same sound into a family sedan or an SUV was never going to work.

Thankfully, Toyota’s next generation of performance cars seems to be embracing authenticity, ensuring that each vehicle sounds like exactly what it is—nothing more, nothing less.

One thing’s for sure: Toyota’s future lineup won’t be making any “comically fast” sounds in slow cars anytime soon.

Share212Tweet133Send

Related Posts

Ícones europeus da estrada e dos ralis chegam ao Gran Turismo 7 
Latest News

European icons of the road and rally arrive in Gran Turismo 7.

Sony and Polyphony Digital announced the arrival of a new free update for Gran Turismo 7, exclusive to PlayStation, which...

by Virgilio Machado
June 28, 2025
Renault junta 125 anos de história no setor automóvel num espaço museológico
Latest News

Renault brings together 125 years of history in the automotive sector in a museum space.

Renault has decided to gather its exceptional collection of historical vehicles, works of art, and archival documents in a new...

by Virgilio Machado
June 28, 2025
Chinesa Geely ‘pesca’ na Volvo novo responsável na Europa
Latest News

Chinese Geely ‘fishes’ a new head for Volvo in Europe.

The Chinese Geely Holding, the main owner of Volvo Cars, Lotus, and other car brands, has appointed a new chairman...

by Virgilio Machado
June 27, 2025
Mercedes-AMG One único em Portugal já foi entregue
Latest News

Mercedes recalls 219 units of the AMG-One due to fire risk.

One of the most coveted cars from Mercedes-Benz, the AMG-One, a hypercar costing over three million euros, is currently undergoing...

by Virgilio Machado
June 27, 2025

Recent News

Bubba Wallace Battles Playoff Peril After Brutal Crash: Harvick’s Challenge Looms

Bubba Wallace Battles Playoff Peril After Brutal Crash: Harvick’s Challenge Looms

June 29, 2025
Joey Logano Reigns in Rain-Drenched NASCAR Atlanta Showdown

Joey Logano Reigns in Rain-Drenched NASCAR Atlanta Showdown

June 29, 2025
Joey Logano Leads Drama: NASCAR Atlanta Race Red-Flagged Amid Rain Chaos

Joey Logano Leads Drama: NASCAR Atlanta Race Red-Flagged Amid Rain Chaos

June 29, 2025
Max Verstappen shatters “Drive to Survive” villain persona in jaw-dropping revelation

Max Verstappen shatters “Drive to Survive” villain persona in jaw-dropping revelation

June 29, 2025

Newsletter

  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • TECHNICAL INFORMATION
  • EDITORIAL STATUS
  • TERMS AND CONDITIONS

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • AutoGear TV
  • Sustainable Mobility
  • Motorsports
    • Circuits
    • Rally
    • Rally raid
    • WEC
  • English
    • Português
    • Italiano
    • Français
    • Español
    • English
    • Deutsch
    • 日本語

© 2023 AutoGear - Todos os direitos reservados AutoGear.