10
■
■Driving position adjustment
1 Insert the key into the ignition switch
and then turn the key to the “ACC”
position.
2 Use the seat adjustment switches (A)
to move the driver seat. You should
be able to fully depress the brake
pedal with your knees slightly bent.
3 Adjust the height of the seat and the
position of the steering wheel. You
should be able to grip the top of the steering wheel with your elbows slightly bent
and your back at a comfortable angle.
4 If necessary, readjust the seat position.
5 Adjust the mirrors to ensure that you have a good view of the area behind the
vehicle.
■
■Starting the engine
1 With the brake pedal depressed, turn the key to the “ON” position.
2 Pull both paddle shift switches at the same time to select Neutral.
3 Press the “ENGINE START” switch to start the engine.
(A)
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Ideal driving position
An ideal driving position allows for smooth operational inputs and also helps to
reduce injuries in the event of a collision. Although the driving position employed by
racing drivers in competition offers maximum car control, it is not always practical for
use on public roads.
While the ideal driving position will vary depending on individual requirements and
driving conditions, please observe the following points in order to ensure a safe and
comfortable driving position:
■
■Seat slide adjustment
When sliding your seat back and forth, aim for a position that allows you to fully
depress the brake pedal with your knees slightly bent. Also, to ensure that you have
enough leverage to depress the brake pedal, make sure that your back rests firmly
against the seatback.
If your leg is fully extended to depress the brake pedal and a collision occurs, your
knee will not be able to help absorb any impact force. Instead, the full force of the
impact will be transferred to your lower back, possibly resulting in spinal injuries.
■
■Seat angle adjustment
When adjusting the seatback, aim for an angle that allows you to rest your back firmly
against the seatback with your hands gripping the top of the steering wheel and your
elbows slightly bent. Resting your back firmly against the seatback offers better body
support.
To maintain an adequate level of support, it is essential to make sure that your arms are
not over-reaching to touch the top of the steering wheel. Sitting too far away will force
you to lean forward when turning, compromising the support offered by the seatback.
Finally, make sure that the seatback is not reclined excessively, as this may result in
your body slipping under the seat belt in the event of a collision.
The seats in the LFA employ a racing bucket seat-inspired design and frames made
from CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastics) to ensure a highly rigid and supportive
construction.
To ensure that the seats are used to their maximum potential, always maintain an
appropriate driving position.
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Steering
■
■Suspension
The LFA is equipped with a double wishbone front suspension and multi-link rear
suspension.
The front suspension features two independent lower arms that shorten the offset of
the virtual kingpin axis from the wheel centerline along with a slightly negative kingpin
offset in order to ensure ample stability under braking. Furthermore, the low offset
between the kingpin axis and wheel centerline allows for excellent road compliance
and outstanding stability.
Ground contact patch kingpin offset
Wheel centerline
Kingpin offset
Virtual kingpin axis
Regarding suspension adjustments:
The LFA is equipped with adjustable coil spring perches in order to allow for
any fine tuning needed to keep the geometry optimized at all times. Each LFA is
shipped from the factory with the suspension adjusted to the optimal settings.
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Checking the engine
Components expected to operate at high speeds have been made as light and
precise as possible, realizing a superfast engine capable of revving from idle to 9,000
rpm in only 0.6 seconds.
In order to ensure adequate lubrication under high G-loads, a dry sump lubrication
system has been adopted.
The engine oil is cooled by a liquid-cooled oil cooler located in the valley between
each bank of cylinders and an air-cooled oil cooler housed within the front overhang.
In addition, two high-per formance radiators have been housed within the rear
overhang for an optimal front-rear weight balance.
A TFT LCD panel has been adopted to accurately transmit various information from
the engine to the driver. An analog-style digital tachometer displays engine speed
while other real-time engine information is displayed digitally for both superior visual
clarity and response.
An acrylic lens with a metal ring is positioned at the center of the meter to clearly
display the primary instruments and to create a three-dimensional appearance.
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■
■Engine oil pressure gauge
The engine oil pressure gauge displays the engine oil pressure from 0 to 800
kPa. The rapid response of the TFT LCD panel allows for the fluctuations in engine
oil pressure that occur with engine speed to be displayed instantly. The engine oil
pressure is also affected by other factors such as engine oil type, temperature and
deterioration. If the engine oil pressure is too low, the master warning light comes on
and the “Engine oil pressure low” warning message is displayed. Checking the engine
oil pressure regularly aids understanding of the condition of the engine and engine oil.
During high-speed driving: approximately 400
to 800 kPa
(changes depending on driving conditions)
[Outside air temperature approximately 68°F
(20°C)]
When oil pressure is insufficient
An oil pressure sensor is installed near the oil filter.
The oil pressure measurements are processed by the ECU and displayed by the
engine oil pressure gauge.
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■
■Maintaining the genuine leather areas
The leather areas throughout the interior are colored with water-soluble dyes and
feature a light pigmentation applied to the outer surface.
The leather is dyed to the desired hue from its original color of grey and then
imbedded with pigments to increase its durability. As a natural material, the leather is
supple and comfortable, breathable and moisture permeable.
■
■Daily maintenance
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner and then wipe with a soft, dry cloth. For
cleaning, follow the procedure below:
1 Wipe off any excess dirt and dust with a soft cloth dampened with diluted detergent.
Use a diluted water solution of approximately 5% neutral wool detergent.
2 Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly wipe off all remaining
traces of detergent.
3 Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remaining moisture. Allow
the leather to dry in a shaded and ventilated area.
Do not use any protective agents (coatings etc). Doing so may cause the instrument panel
to reflect onto the windshield, obstructing the front view.
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Refer to the following points in order to preserve the performance and appearance
of the LFA during long-term storage. These points are only guidelines. To ensure that
appropriate steps are taken in consideration of the storage duration and environment,
consult your Lexus dealer in advance.
■
■Storage environment
A dry, covered, flat location away from natural elements such as wind, rain and direct
sunlight is ideal.
Exposure to the elements can cause corrosion and scratches, while long-term
exposure to direct sunlight can cause the interior and exterior finish to fade or become
discolored. Additionally, as moisture from the ground may cause corrosion even if the
vehicle is stored in a covered location, a dry place is ideal.
■
■Cleaning
As dirt becomes harder to remove with time, both the vehicle’s interior and exterior
should be cleaned before the vehicle is put into long-term storage.
■
■Tires
Inflate the tires to approximately 44 psi (300 kPa, 3.0 kgf/cm2 or,bar,) and use wheel
chocks to prevent the vehicle from moving.
In order to help reduce flat spots from occurring during storage, regularly rotate the
tires so that the same point is n’ot always resting on the ground. Additionally, if the
tires develop flat spots during the storage interval, drive the vehicle slowly until any flat
spot-induced vibrations are no longer felt before resuming normal use.
■
■Parking brake
Use wheel chocks to prevent the vehicle from moving as it should be stored with the
parking brake disengaged.
Advice for long-term storage