Toyota's chief test driver dies behind wheel of LFA in Germany

[Rashdi]

Source : Autoblog

http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/06/lfa-crash-cap-630op.jpg

We don't have much in the way of details yet, but according to a report out of Germany, Toyota's chief test driver has died in a crash on highway 410 near the Nurburgring after veering into the oncoming lane and colliding with two others test drivers driving a BMW.

While the two BMW test drivers survived the crash, the yet-unnamed Toyota driver died behind the wheel of the recently spied LFA Nurburgring Edition he was driving.

The report says that the driver of the LF-A was 67 years old and Toyota's chief test driver, which leads us to believe that he is Hiromu Naruse, In addition to being the company's chief test driver, Naruse is also Akio Toyoda's personal driver and the Godfather of the LFA.

More information should be forthcoming.

UPDATE: The two test drivers in the BMW sustained life-threatening injuries and one is in critical condition.
UPDATE 2: Video of the scene added after the jump.
UPDATE 3: Spiegel is confirming that Naruse was the driver.


http://www.rhein-zeitung.de/regionales_artikel,-BoosNuerburgring-Chef-Testingenieur-stirbt-bei-Unfall-mit-Super-Lexus-_arid,102517.html

http://gazoo.com/racing/english/grmn/meister/vol_01/img/aji_v1_01_profile_img.jpg

Allah yer7ma

[ZOSicK]

ouch that sucks .. poor souls

[Quarantine]

Damn those faulty accelerator pedals

[BLOODLINE]

My god, may he rest in peace

[KLEEMANN]

sad. but it dont look to be a huge accident more like 60-80 km/h face to face with the bimmer. it's his day.

[Splash]

that is really sad :(

I guess the launch of the car would be delayed at least 2 months till they look further into the safety measures of the LF-A, although accidents happen but Toyota spares no cost for safety tests.

[VIPER]

Ouch !!! big loss for Lexus

[Psycho]

Whose fault was it?!

That LFA looks Sexy. Hurts to watch such a car get totaled since only 500 pieces are made.

[Striker]

May his soul rest in peace.

Well, I guess Toyota really have to go through the "Pursuit of Perfection" thing...Hopefully, it will become better!

[= STINGER=]

afaaa ... E3aaawer

[VIPER]

DAMN !!! now that's scary !!!

http://www.rhein-zeitung.de/cms_media/module_img/210/105399_1_popup_Kopie_von_IMG_6777.JPG
http://www.rhein-zeitung.de/cms_media/module_img/210/105398_1_popup_Kopie_von_IMG_6775.JPG
http://www.rhein-zeitung.de/cms_media/module_img/210/105403_1_popup_Kopie_von_IMG_6781.JPG
http://www.rhein-zeitung.de/cms_media/module_img/210/105404_1_popup_Kopie_von_IMG_6783.JPG

[= STINGER=]

^^^^ uff ina scary

[BLOODLINE]

sad. but it dont look to be a huge accident more like 60-80 km/h face to face with the bimmer. it's his day.
What do you think now? :P

[NOS4EVER]

that is really sad :(

I guess the launch of the car would be delayed at least 2 months till they look further into the safety measures of the LF-A, although accidents happen but Toyota spares no cost for safety tests.

Nothing wrong with the LFA or the BMW both the compartment is intact
As you can see from the pix.

But the impact was to much for the old guy.

[KLEEMANN]

What do you think now? :P


Nothing wrong with the LFA or the BMW both the compartment is intact
As you can see from the pix.

But the impact was to much for the old guy.

What Nos said + he might not wear his seat belt and slammed his face in the windshield

[budavid]

Whose fault was it?!

That LFA looks Sexy. Hurts to watch such a car get totaled since only 500 pieces are made.
:laughing2
laish da3meen fe share3 el ma3aro'9, yobah this is a conspiracy to kill Jap's, Germans are fed up fom Japanese getting into luxury sedans market, they started dealing with it the hard way LOL.

any comments guys? perhaps lexus owners :D:D

"I hope that I ignited it this time" :bounce: