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A Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition prototype has reportedly collided with a BMW sedan nearthe Nürburgring circuit in Germany. TheJapanesesports car appears to be the same vehicle spotted recently driving on and around the famed test track.
Multiple reports out of Germany are indicating that both the driver and passenger of the LFA have been killed, while the BMW’s occupants sustained unspecified injuries believed to be life-threatening.
Germany’s newspapers have identified one of the LFA’s occupants as 67-year-old Toyota chief test driver and Gazoo Racing head Hiromu Naruse. Pictured at left next to the GRMN Sports Hybrid Concept at last year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, Naruse is one of the most respected test drivers in Japan and has been with the company since 1963. It is believed Naruse has had more miles on the Nürburgring than any other Japanese driver in history and is intimately familiar with the area around the track.
We have contacted Lexus USA for an official statement, and it is still collecting details. Until official word arrives from Japan, the German reports regarding passengers and their conditions have not been confirmed by the automaker.
Stay plugged to this channel for more updates as we get them.
For on-scene images, click on to Rhein-Zeitung HERE.
CLICK HERE for a video from the crash scene.
While I admit I was sorely tempted to spew a bit of poor taste humor about Toyotas and steering, it’s indeed a sad day when someone as storied as Hiromu Naruse passes away. While it’s all speculation at this point on the actual cause of this tragic accident, what IS known is that the automotive world lost a key figure in Naruse, whose knowledge and experience played a significant role in the rise and dominance of Toyota in the world of automobiles. My prayers on a quick and complete recovery for the two test drivers in the BMW.RIP Hiromu Naruse.
Shocking!By the looks of the crash site, it appears that it was a relatively high speed head on collision. I doubt that it was caused by such an esteemed test driver, and I think it is more likely that is was caused by the driver of the BMW. Looking at that road, with guardrails on either side, they didn’t have much room to avoid each other. This is really terrible, but it says something about the LFA’s safety, though it was only a test mule. For a company such as Lexus, I would think safety would be a high priority, and something associated with the brand, but I assume they didn’t put as much focus on it for the LFA.Either way, I hope the occupants of the BMW are ok, as they could shed some light on the situation. Its sad to see good drivers go, though…