Lexus LS TMG revealed

There was no lack of conviction on the part of Toyota; it was serious about winning F1. Part of the massive effort was focused on a design and engineering facility in Cologne, Germany called TMG - Toyota Motorsport GmbH.

Here, they built a complex with not one but two wind tunnels expressly to refine their F1 car's aerodynamics. They built engine and chassis dynamometers, rooms full of computer milling machines to fabricate special parts, a pair of carbon fibre ovens to bake F1 parts, rooms full of design computers and much more. Up to 800 people were employed at TMG in its heyday.

TMG has gone a fair way towards its goal with the first car to benefit being the Lexus LS 460 - normally a limousine but in TMG guise, a fire breathing sports saloon with no less than 478kW and 710Nm output from its supercharged 5.0-litre petrol V8 engine. The engine is lifted from ISF and the LS600h and redlines at 9000rpm.

The matte gold TMG Lexus "prototype'' has a six-speed dual-clutch manumatic transmission and huge carbon ceramic brakes from the LFA with six piston Brembo calipers.

Despite weighing in over two tonnes, it has been tested at 320kmh and puts away a 0-100kmh sprint in the 4.0 second bracket.

The underpinnings are all upgraded to near sports sedan racing spec' and a flat under tray is used in conjunction with a front air splitter and rear diffuser for better aerodynamics. All the aero parts on the test car we saw were in carbon fibre.

It rolls on 20-inch wheels with 335 tyres.

A big bore exhaust system is fitted that gives a full bodied V8 rumble - most un-Lexus-like.

Though the car is only a prototype Toyota and Lexus are seriously evaluating the possibilities of a specialised TMG brand to capture a new market and to enhance its sporty kudos.

TMG is also developing an entry level rally car based on the new Toyota Yaris that is designed as a lead-in to mainstream rallying for novice rally drivers.