Going Platinum: The $80,000 Tomica Nissan Fairlady Z432
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/toys/" rel="tag">Toys/Games</a></p><a href="http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2010/03/09/still-cheaper-than-the-real-thing-platinum-tomica-nissan-fairlady-z432/"><img hspace="0" vspace="4" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/platinumtomicaz.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
In honor of <a href="http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/tomica/index.htm">Tomica's</a> <a href="http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/tomica/40th/main.htm">40th anniversary</a>, jeweler Ginza Tanaka has produced a one-of-a-kind replica of the toymaker's <a href="http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/tomica/history/tomica/1970/index.htm">die-cast 1970 Nissan Fairlady Z432</a> (the Z432 was a Japan-only model powered by the same S20 inline-6 used in the C10 Skyline GT-R). Unlike anything Tomica sells to the public, "toy" is made of platinum - including its exquisitely-detailed box. If it were to be made available for purchase (it isn't), it's estimated worth is around $80,000. <a href="http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2010/03/09/still-cheaper-than-the-real-thing-platinum-tomica-nissan-fairlady-z432/">Japanese Nostalgic Car</a> jokes in its headline that even at that price, it's still less than what one would pay for a <em>real</em> Z432, given their <a href="http://www.zhome.com/History/432Z.htm">rarity</a> and desirability (a total of 420 cars were produced between 1969 and 1973). As for this platinum bauble? It's being publicly shown at the Hong Kong International Jewelery Show this month, after which it heads back to Japan for next month's Osaka Tomica Fair. <br />
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[Source: <a href="http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2010/03/09/still-cheaper-than-the-real-thing-platinum-tomica-nissan-fairlady-z432/">Japanese Nostalgic Car</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/11/going-platinum-the-80-000-tomica-nissan-fairlady-z432/">Going Platinum: The $80,000 Tomica Nissan Fairlady Z432</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://japanesenostalgiccar.com/blog/2010/03/09/still-cheaper-than-the-real-thing-platinum-tomica-nissan-fairlady-z432/>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/11/going-platinum-the-80-000-tomica-nissan-fairlady-z432/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19390936/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/11/going-platinum-the-80-000-tomica-nissan-fairlady-z432/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Honda CR-Z enjoying high early demand in home market?
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/carbuying/" rel="tag">Car Buying</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hybrids/" rel="tag">Hybrid</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/honda/" rel="tag">Honda</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/detroit-2010-2011-honda-cr-z/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/01crzdetroitlive.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>2011 Honda CR-Z - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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The new <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/tag/cr-z">Honda CR-Z</a> has only been on sale in Japan for two weeks, and already the automaker has received over 7,000 orders for the small hybrid. This represents about 60 percent of the 12,000 units that Honda anticipated to sell domestically in the hatch's first year of production. If this trend continues, Honda may have to ramp up production of the CR-Z in Japan to meet the high demand.<br />
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The CR-Z's fortunes in other markets will be every bit as interesting to watch, of course. In the United States, for example, doubters (full disclosure: ourselves included) question whether Honda's idea of a sports hybrid that takes just under 10 seconds to hit 60 miles per hour might not be what the doctor ordered, especially when paired with surprisingly disappointing fuel economy figures. Of course, that's largely just what the online enthusiast community is saying at the moment, and not necessarily any indication of the car's eventual marketplace success whatsoever. <br />
<br />
As fans of the long-gone CRX, we sincerely hope that the new CR-Z carries the torch in a way that does not appear to be conveyed by these early performance numbers. Either way, watching the CR-Z's long-term sales prospects both at home and in other markets will be far more important to the model's fortunes than an early sales boom in Japan and pre-launch online skepticism.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-2011-honda-cr-z/low/">Detroit 2010: 2011 Honda CR-Z</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-2011-honda-cr-z/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/01_crzdetroitlive_thumbna il.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-2011-honda-cr-z/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/02_crzdetroitlive_thumbna il.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-2011-honda-cr-z/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/03_crzdetroitlive_thumbna il.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-2011-honda-cr-z/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/04_crzdetroitlive_thumbna il.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/detroit-2010-2011-honda-cr-z/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/01/05_crzdetroitlive_thumbna il.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/honda-hybrid-sports-car-reportedly-in-high-demand-2010-03-11">MarketWatch</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/honda-cr-z-enjoying-high-early-demand-in-home-market/">Honda CR-Z enjoying high early demand in home market?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Fri, 12 Mar 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/honda-hybrid-sports-car-reportedly-in-high-demand-2010-03-11>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/honda-cr-z-enjoying-high-early-demand-in-home-market/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19396588/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/12/honda-cr-z-enjoying-high-early-demand-in-home-market/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Word of Lexus LFA N?¼rburgring track edition emerges from Japan
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/lexus/" rel="tag">Lexus</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/rumormill/" rel="tag">Rumormill</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/lexus-lfa-nurburgring-track-edition-first-images/"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/weblfaringed.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><sma ll>Lexus LFA N&uuml;rburgring track edition - Click above for image gallery</small></em></strong></div>
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Remember when <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/lexus/">Lexus</a> was synonymous with cushy, spongy rides that were anything but performance oriented? That all seems a distant memory since Toyota's luxury division set its sights on the likes of <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/bmw/">BMW</a> with the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/is+f">IS-F</a>, even more so with the release of the exclusive <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/lfa">LFA</a> supercar. But according to the latest, Lexus ain't done yet.<br />
<br />
Back in October when we were in Miami <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/26/2011-lexus-lfa-first-drive/">test driving the LFA</a>, we brought you <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/23/lexus-lfa-track-focused-stripped/">a report on the possibility</a> of a stripped-down, competition-focused version. Now it appears that this track edition is upon us.<br />
<br />
Apparently called the N&uuml;rburgring edition - in reference to the legendary German road course where the competition prototypes that led to the production LFA cut their proverbial teeth - this extra-special LFA will benefit from a large, fixed rear wing, a splitter up front, a stiffer (and more adjustable) suspension, lightweight alloys coated in track rubber and an extra 10 horsepower (likely resulting from a revised exhaust system).<br />
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Aside from the four paint options - which reportedly include glossy black, matte black, orange, and an unknown fourth color - that's about all we've got for now, but if your Japanese is up to snuff and you can extrapolate more from the source report, let us know in the Comments below.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/lexus-lfa-nurburgring-track-edition-first-images/low/">Lexus LFA Nurburgring track edition first images</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/lexus-lfa-nurburgring-track-edition-first-images/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/10-03-14-lexus-lfa-nurburgring-track-edition-1_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/lexus-lfa-nurburgring-track-edition-first-images/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/10-03-14-lexus-lfa-nurburgring-track-edition-3_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/lexus-lfa-nurburgring-track-edition-first-images/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/10-03-14-lexus-lfa-nurburgring-track-edition-2_thumbnail.jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br />
[Source: <a href="http://ameblo.jp/tawa/entry-10478860739.html">??¬??¯? ?µ??¹??¨??®é??[LEXUS]</a> (<a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u =http://ameblo.jp/tawa/entry-10478860739.html">transla ted</a>) via <a href="http://lexusenthusiast.com/2010/03/14/lexus-lfa-to-be-offered-in-nrburgring-track-edition/">The Lexus Enthusiast</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/15/word-of-lexus-lfa-nurburgring-track-edition-emerges-from-japan/">Word of Lexus LFA N?¼rburgring track edition emerges from Japan</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:29:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://ameblo.jp/tawa/entry-10478860739.html>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/15/word-of-lexus-lfa-nurburgring-track-edition-emerges-from-japan/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19399248/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/15/word-of-lexus-lfa-nurburgring-track-edition-emerges-from-japan/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Honda takes this whole dog thing very seriously
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/timewarp/" rel="tag">Classics</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/convertibles/" rel="tag">Convertible</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/minivans/" rel="tag">Minivan/Van</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/trucks/" rel="tag">Truck</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/etc/" rel="tag">Etc.</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/hatchbacks/" rel="tag">Hatchback</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/honda/" rel="tag">Honda</a></p><div style="text-align: left;"><em><strong><small ><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/hondas-with-dogs/#2"><img width="630" vspace="4" hspace="0" height="504" border="1" align="top" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/civicrscorgi630.jpg" alt="Honda Civic RS with a Corgi" /></a><br />
</small></strong></em></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>Hondas with dogs - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
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Honda Japan's oddly compelling and inherently fascinating <a href="http://www.honda.co.jp/dog/">Honda Dog</a> website includes useful consumer tidbits such as a visual guide to how well your poodle will fit in the CR-Z's front passenger seat. (Before you start yelling how it's the <em>only</em> passenger seat, know that <a href="http://www.honda.co.jp/dog/honda-car/cr-z2010/seat/zoom-04-01/">in Japan, the CR-Z is a 2+2</a>.) <br />
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That's not all, however. There's stuff to entertain as well, including a whole page of desktop wallpapers featuring Hondas with various dogs that you can find below. Seriously. Vintage stuff, too. Civic RS with a Corgi? <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/hondas-with-dogs/#4">Prelude with a Doberman</a>? All present and accounted for. Check out a few samples in the gallery below, and head to the <a href="http://www.honda.co.jp/dog/download/wallpaper/#anc_howto">Honda Dog wallpaper site</a> for even larger sizes.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hondas-with-dogs/low/">Hondas with Dogs</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hondas-with-dogs/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/civicrs01-1280-1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Honda Civic RS" title="Honda Civic RS" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hondas-with-dogs/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/city02-1280-1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Honda City Cabriolet" title="Honda City Cabriolet" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hondas-with-dogs/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/2008-prelude-01-1280-1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Honda Prelude" title="Honda Prelude" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hondas-with-dogs/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/2008-s600-03-1280-1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Honda S600 Coupe" title="Honda S600 Coupe" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/hondas-with-dogs/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/s800m01-1280-1024_thumbnail.jpg" alt="Honda S800 Cabriolet" title="Honda S800 Cabriolet" /></a></div><br />
[Source: <a href="http://www.honda.co.jp/dog/">Honda Dog</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/16/honda-takes-this-whole-dog-thing-very-seriously/">Honda takes this whole dog thing very seriously</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:59:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.honda.co.jp/dog/download/wallpaper/#anc_howto>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/16/honda-takes-this-whole-dog-thing-very-seriously/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19401328/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/16/honda-takes-this-whole-dog-thing-very-seriously/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Report: Detroit automakers head to Congress to talk Japanese, Korean currency manipulation
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/government-legal/" rel="tag">Government/Legal</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/chrysler/" rel="tag">Chrysler</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/ford/" rel="tag">Ford</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/gm/" rel="tag">GM</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/earnings-financials/" rel="tag">Earnings/Financials</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/south-korea/" rel="tag">South Korea</a></p><p><a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20100317/AUTO01/3170400/1148/rss25"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/1000yennatsumesosekiopt.j pg" alt="" /></a><br /> <br /> We can't even pretend to know the first thing about currency manipulation, so we won't bother trying to explain how artificially depreciated currency can help imports into the U.S. market. But <a href="http://www.americanmanufacturing .org/issues/currency/">American manufacturing groups</a> have long accused the governments of China, Japan and South Korea of manipulating their currency to gain an bigger foothold in the U.S. market, and domestic automakers say Japan and South Korea in particular have been artificially depreciating their currency <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2005/12/08/uaws-view-of-the-auto-industrys-uneven-playing-field/">for years</a>. Earlier this month, The American Automotive Policy Council, which represents <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/gm/">General Motors</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/ford/">Ford </a>and <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/chrysler/">Chrysler</a>, met with Obama Administration auto task force head Ron Bloom about the manipulation of the Japanese yen and Korean won, and now the AAPC is talking with members of Congress.</p>
<p>A report from <em>The Detroit News</em> shows that Japan added $56 billion to a "currency interventions fund" last week - a fund that apparently has a substantial cash reserve. Further, Japanese Finance Minister Naoto Kan told the <em>Japanese Diet</em> that his government is ready to manipulate currency by depreciating the yen. The AAPC claims that the actions of the Japanese and Korean governments put American manufacturing jobs at risk, adding:<br /> </p>
<blockquote><em>"Americ an auto companies will consider intervention in foreign exchange rate markets by the Japanese government that weakens the yen as unfair competition directed at the American automotive market and American workers as the industry begins to recover from the economic recession."</em></blockquote>
<p>The DetNews claims representatives from the Japanese government were not available to comment on the group's claims. For its part, AAPC says that the goal of meeting with Congress is action:<br /> </p>
<blockquote><em>"we urge you to make clear to the governments of Japan and Korea that the U.S. Congress considers such interventions unacceptable and that any decision to proceed with or continue such interventionist policies will be strongly and directly challenged by the United States in defense of fairness and American jobs."</em></blockquote>
<p>Another area of concern for the AAPC is what they allege is the inherently closed nature of Asian auto markets. The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development claims that the two countries are currently the most closed out of the 30 markets with auto industries. The ECOD also notes that domestic automakers in those countries account for 95.5 percent of all auto sales. <br /> <br /> [Source: <a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20100317/AUTO01/3170400/1148/rss25">The Detroit News</a>]</p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/17/report-detroit-automakers-head-to-congress-to-talk-japanese-ko/">Report: Detroit automakers head to Congress to talk Japanese, Korean currency manipulation</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/17/report-detroit-automakers-head-to-congress-to-talk-japanese-ko/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19403950/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/17/report-detroit-automakers-head-to-congress-to-talk-japanese-ko/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Report: Nissan Leaf priced at U.S. $38,500+ in Japan
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/conceptcars/" rel="tag">Concept Cars</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/nissan/" rel="tag">Nissan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/electric/" rel="tag">Electric</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/gallery/nissan-leaf-test-mule-quick-spin"><img vspace="4" hspace="0" border="1" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/nissanleafla_01_opt.jpg" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><sma ll>Nissan Leaf - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></strong></em></div>
<br /> Interest in, and "<a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/09/report-nissan-has-56-000-pre-orders-for-all-electric-leaf/">pre-orders" for</a>, the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/nissan">Nissan</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/leaf">Leaf</a> remains high, but a report from the Japanese newspaper the <em>Mainichi Shimbun</em> might put a damper on things. Apparently, the price for the all-electric car in Japan will be somewhere between 3.5 million and 4 million yen, which is about $38,667 to $44,191 U.S. at today's exchange rates. Granted, even if these prices are accurate, they certainly don't automatically equal the MSRP for the U.S. market, but they are higher than what we've been expecting - i.e., <a href="http://green.autoblog.com/2010/02/22/forbes-nissan-leaf-likely-to-be-a-flop/">under $30,000 after the $7,500 federal tax credit</a>. We went and looked at the prices for a couple of other cars in Japan, to see how the Leaf's 3.5 million compares. The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/prius">Toyota Prius</a> runs between 2.0 and 3.27 million yen ($22k-36k USD). The <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/honda">Honda </a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/insight">Insight</a>? From 1.89 to 2.2 million ($21k-24.4k USD). <br /> <br /> We suspect that Nissan's going to have to do better than this to beat the <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/make/chevrolet">Chevrolet</a> <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/model/volt">Volt</a>. Yes, yes, we know the powertrains are quite different, but a lot of people are going to learn about these cars at the same time (late this year), and we believe that the pure electric will need to be quite a bit cheaper than the plug-in hybrid to hold its own.<em> </em><br /><br />Of course, all of these numbers should be taken with several grains of salt. We reached out to Nissan, and they reminded us that "the article out of Japan is speculative, and we have no comment. As you know, we have yet to disclose Nissan Leaf pricing in the U.S. or in any global market."<em> Thanks to Scott W. for the tip!</em><br /> <br /> <br /> <div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nissan-leaf-test-mule-quick-spin/low/">Quick Spin: Nissan Leaf Test Mule</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nissan-leaf-test-mule-quick-spin/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/nissanleafla_01_thumbnail .jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nissan-leaf-test-mule-quick-spin/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/nissanleafla_02_thumbnail .jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nissan-leaf-test-mule-quick-spin/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/nissanleafla_03_thumbnail .jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nissan-leaf-test-mule-quick-spin/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/nissanleafla_04_thumbnail .jpg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/nissan-leaf-test-mule-quick-spin/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/nissanleafla_05_thumbnail .jpg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><br /> [Source: <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nissan-to-sell-electric-car-for-less-than-44300-2010-03-16">The Wall Street Journal</a>]<p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/17/report-nissan-leaf-priced-at-u-s-38-500-in-japan/">Report: Nissan Leaf priced at U.S. $38,500+ in Japan</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.marketwatch.com/story/nissan-to-sell-electric-car-for-less-than-44300-2010-03-16>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/17/report-nissan-leaf-priced-at-u-s-38-500-in-japan/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19404034/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/17/report-nissan-leaf-priced-at-u-s-38-500-in-japan/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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Lease the Lexus LFA for $12,400 per month, $298,000 due at signing
 

<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/carbuying/" rel="tag">Car Buying</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/coupes/" rel="tag">Coupe</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/sports/" rel="tag">Performance</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/japan/" rel="tag">Japan</a>, <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/category/lexus/" rel="tag">Lexus</a></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-lexus-lfa/"><img hspace="0" border="1" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/03/lexuslfafd01opt.jpg" alt="" /></a>
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em><sma ll>Lease-only Lexus LFA - Click above for high-res image gallery</small></em></strong></div>
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The rich are very different from you and we, now more than ever. First off, we don't have the mental fortitude for jumping through all of the hoops that <a href="http://autoblog.com/make/lexus">Lexus</a> is making potential <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/lfa">LFA</a> customers limbo beneath. Let alone the cash. Thing is, the rigamarole involved never mattered because Lexus is only making 500 examples of the LFA and we're simply not going to lose sleep over the process it takes to park one in our garage. However, a potential LFA owner sent us a copy of his order guide, and like any good train wreck, we can't look away. Also, remember, this info ain't intended for public consumption.<br />
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For your living-vicarious pleasure, here's how it works: As reported, you cannot buy Lexus' first ever supercar. You have to <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2009/11/23/report-lexus-to-lease-not-sell-all-500-lfa-supercars-in-ord/">lease the mostly-carbon-fiber-and-unobtanium LFA</a>. That's sort of good news for the non-disgustingly wealthy, right? After all, leases are the cheap and easy way to get into a new car. Are you sitting down? The monthly lease payment on the Lexus LFA is $12.398.44. For 24 months. That's $297,562.56 worth of <em>lease</em> payments over two years, at the end of which you own <em>nothing</em>. However, Lexus is quick to point out that the LFA's MSRP is $375,000, so you're technically not paying full price. And at the end of 24 months, lessees are free to plunk down an additional $93,750 (more than the base price of a very comparable <a href="http://autoblog.com/model/gtr">Nissan GT-R</a>, we should mention) and buy their LFA outright.<br />
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Of course, you can't just waltz into your local Lexus dealership with $12,398.44 and <strike>rocket</strike> waltz out in an LFA. Lexus has to actually select you to lease its (admittedly awesome) car. Once you're chosen, you've got 10 days to drop off a $10,000 deposit at your local Lexus dealer and submit to a credit check. We should mention that this will not be the only deposit and credit check Lexus requires.<br />
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Once your credit checks out, you then have to deposit an additional $50,000. To mini-recap, that's $60,000 down on a $375,000 car. Sounds reasonable (from a detached, algebraic ratio perspective) until you remember that you're not buying the car, just leasing it. All of this will be/is happening from March-June 2010. Production of the LFA doesn't start until December. We don't know how long each car will take to build, but <strike>customers</strike> lessees will be required to go through a second credit check immediately prior to delivery. We're not entirely sure you really want to pass the second credit check. Here's why.<br />
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Remember the $12,398.44 per month lease payment we mentioned a couple paragraphs up? That's just the breakdown. All LFAs are being doled out via Lexus' 1Pay Lease Program. Meaning that to lease the LFA, you hand Lexus a check for $237,562.56, which is the full amount of the lease minus your $60,000 pair of deposits. Oh, and there's a $700 "aquisition fee." Plus tax, title, license and registration. The good news? Even though you have to lease the LFA, because of the lengthy approval/deposit process, each car is still made to order. Meaning that even though you don't own the car, you can still order it in Passionate Pink, a $3,000 option. <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/13/how-the-other-half-500-live-lexus-lfa-pricing-guide/#continued">Make the jump</a> to read the pricing guide.<br />
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<div class="postgallery"><p><s trong>Gallery: <a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-lexus-lfa/low/">First Drive: 2011 Lexus LFA</a></strong></p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-lexus-lfa/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/lexuslfafd_06_thumbnail.j pg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-lexus-lfa/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/lexuslfafd_02_thumbnail.j pg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-lexus-lfa/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/lexuslfafd_01_thumbnail.j pg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-lexus-lfa/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/lexuslfafd_07_thumbnail.j pg" alt="" title="" /></a><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/photos/first-drive-2011-lexus-lfa/low/"><img src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/lexuslfafd_03_thumbnail.j pg" alt="" title="" /></a></div><p><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/17/lexus-lfa-lease-for-12-400-per-month-298-000-due-at-signi/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Lease the Lexus LFA for $12,400 per month, $298,000 due at signing</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;backgr ound:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/17/lexus-lfa-lease-for-12-400-per-month-298-000-due-at-signi/">Lease the Lexus LFA for $12,400 per month, $298,000 due at signing</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.autoblog.com">Autoblo g</a> on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:27:00 EST. Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/17/lexus-lfa-lease-for-12-400-per-month-298-000-due-at-signi/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/forward/19403672/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.autoblog.com/2010/03/17/lexus-lfa-lease-for-12-400-per-month-298-000-due-at-signi/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>

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