The Lexus LFA has been persistently making headlines in the automotive press for the past several years, appearing publicly in camouflaged guise and giving us mere morsels of what was to come.  Speculation and wishful thinking abound, hard facts were the only things missing when it came to reporting news about the LFA. That all changed yesterday, however, as the car was officially unveiled at the 2009 Tokyo Motor Show. Everything from complete performance specs to pricing and production numbers were finally revealed, leaving enthusiasts with enough info to fuel their automotive fantasies for weeks.

A 4.8-liter V10 sits up front, sending an astounding 560 horsepower and 354 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. Helping to produce all that power is an advanced valvetrain similar to the Yamaha-designed unit found in the Lexus IS-F and a cylinder block with heavy duty internals, including titanium connecting rods and forged aluminum pistons.

Sixty-five percent of the car is slathered in lightweight carbon fiber, bringing the total vehicle weight down to just 3,263 lbs. The car achieves 0-62 mph in a scant 3.7 seconds—almost a whole second faster than the Mercedes-Benz SL63 AMG.

The LFA’s high performance credentials are enough to let it into the ultra-exclusive over-200-mph club, clocking a top speed of 201.94 mph. But straight line speed is nothing without control. A Torsen limited slip differential allows power to be sent to the wheel with the most grip in a turn, giving the car a sure-footed feel that only a limited-slip differential can offer.

A total of only 500 LFAs are to be produced between 2010 and 2013, making this Lexus a rare bird even among exotics. The limited production run means that the LFA carries hefty price tag. But just how hefty, nobody was ready for. Lexus dropped a dream-crushing bomb on unsuspecting automotive enthusiasts when they announced the LFA’s $375,000 starting price. While we can’t say we’d ever pay that much for a Lexus, we applaud the company for venturing so far upmarket. Lexus’s super car debut in Tokyo may have left some wishing for pricing closer to a Toyota rather than a Ferrari, but don’t expect the LFA to disappear from headlines any time soon.

Build your LFA today.

Whether you’re looking to finance a new luxury vehicle or just lease one, Audi is making it exceptionally easy for you either way. Right now, you can finance any 2009 Audi A4 at an incredible 0.9% APR or lease a 2010 Audi A4 2.0T Quattro Premium for only $449 per month for 36 months.

While these are both uncommonly good deals, which one is the better bargain? Well, that all depends on your own personal priorities. If you would like to eventually own the car you’re making payments on, then obviously financing is the way to go. If you enjoy driving a new car every three years or so and like to always have your vehicle under warranty, then you’d probably prefer leasing.

By leasing a car, you only make payments on what you “use up” of the car’s value plus whatever additional fees are required for finance charges or extra miles driven. Whereas with getting a loan to purchase a car, you end up paying for the entire cost of that car, plus interest based on the rate and period you agree to as well as other fees, in addition to depreciation.

However, you’ll have a state-of-the-art, German-engineered luxury car that’s 100 per cent your own to show for it when all is said and done. While on the other hand, you’ll have nothing but fond memories of your Audi once your lease is up and you have to return it to the dealership. While both of those options each have their own grim realities, let’s not forget that we’re talking about an Audi here. The value of an automobile is more than just in its monetary worth or the sum of its parts— it’s in the pleasure you get from driving it, owning it and experiencing it.

If you’d like to take advantage of these Audi offers, you should act soon. This deal ends November 2, 2009.

To many, there’s nothing like owning and driving a brand-new car.  But when the time comes for maintenance, the same vehicle which brought so much joy flips a U-turn by inspiring sudden bouts of anxiety, worries and stress.  Volkswagen’s here to alleviate all three with two words: Carefree Maintenance.

What all does the program cover?  Click here for the Carefree Maintenance Brochure.   The maintenance schedule for each of Volkswagen’s models is slightly different, though most will have a 10k, 20k and 30k service intervals since they exclusively use synthetic lubricants.

Every 2010 Volkswagen available comes with Carefree Maintenance, including a no charge Courtesy Vehicle Check (see below). Carefree Maintenance covers all regularly scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles, at no charge. Those three words are sure to make you happy.  It’s what the people want.

Volkswagen’s Courtesy Vehicle Check includes:
*Check and adjust tire pressure
*Check belts and hoses
*Check all fluids
*Check interior and exterior lights
*Clean and check wipers
*Product review

The recession is likely over, but the deals sure are not.  Nissan is currently offering 0.0% APR financing on one of the most value-oriented coupes on the market, the 2009 Nissan Altima Coupe.

Your choice of two powerplants are offered with the Altima Coupe:

2.5-liter DOHC 16-valve 4-cylinder
175 hp @ 5,600 rpm
180 lb-ft @ 3,900 rpm
23/32 cty/hwy MPG

3.5-liter DOHC 24-valve V6
270 hp @ 6,000 rpm
258 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm
20/27 cty/hwy MPG

The details of the deal are as follows: the 0.0% finanacing is good for up to 60 months.  If you need another 12 months, the APR rises slightly to 1.9% for 72 months.  This is of course for well-qualified buyers.  You can also choose to opt for $1,750 cash back, but we think the better deal would be to go for the lower financing.

To read the 4-page review on the Nissan Altima Coupe, click here.

In an honest attempt to streamline its business, General Motors has agreed to terms with China’s Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery for its Hummer brand.  The deal is reportedly worth $150 million giving an 80% stake to the Chinese company and 20% to a private investor.  The main question that many are asking is if the H2 SUT, H2 SUV, H3 SUV and H3T will continue to be manufactured in the U.S. or if the new owners will move operations to its motherland.  If we were to guess, it’d be the latter.  The lower labor rates would help to reduce the costs of manufacturing the world’s single most complex consumer product.

With the demise of Pontiac and Saturn, and the subsequent sale of Hummer, GM’s new fit & trim makeover will help it to compete with the world’s automakers.  Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC are the only brands which remain.