THIS was a special night and so, the event was star-studded.

Some of the biggest names in the industry were there, not to mention that hot shots from the banking sector were also there.

Even government bigwigs honored invites sent out by the distinguished host, to include Dr. Francisco Duque, the former Health secretary who is now head of the Civil Service Commission.

No doubt, everybody was a star in her or his own right that night—even if only for this fleeting moment, which is an event that mustn’t be missed for its sheer impact on the fast-changing milieu of our times.

In the first place, you wouldn’t be included on the glittering guest list if you hadn’t earned your spurs in your chosen field of endeavor.

In the second place, maybe about 10 people were waiting in line that night to take your place had you not sent in your RSVP.

As Alfred Ty, the dapper-as-always chairman of Lexus Manila Inc., succinctly put it that night, “Tonight is truly a special one as Lexus Manila takes part in making automotive history.  Together, we will witness the unveiling of not just any car, but a supercar that embodies so much more than breakthrough engineering, a creation born out of everything that Lexus stands for, the pinnacle of our pursuit of perfection.”

Indeed, the Lexus LFA (Lexus Fuji Apex) has arrived!

And we were all lucky chaps gathered in that occasion since the Philippines was the only country in Asia to hold an official launch event for the Lexus LFA.

“There are only 500 units of this engineering marvel in the world,” said Alfred.  “And Lexus is proud to call itself home to one of them.”

Officially, the one installed at the Lexus Manila Showroom at The Fort and can be viewed for free by the public is known as “LFA No. 161.”   

On this special night, Alfred was profuse in thanking his guests as he waxed sentimental in describing the indescribable beauty of the Lexus LFA.

So special is the Lexus LFA that its price is not to be even talked about. 

It is so unique a car that it is, indeed, not just a car. As Alfred called it, it is a “supercar.” 

Is it priced P50 million, or even P100 million?

Maybe, the price won’t matter, really, since the engineering hours poured into it—it took no less than 12 years to build it—might be enough to produce a whole year supply of vehicles from a major carmaker in Japan.

And, you know what, the Lexus LFA is not even for sale.

“We want to share this rare and priceless automobile with the discerning public,” said Alfred.  “Our doors will be open always to showcase the LFA, the ultimate testament to everything that Lexus is capable of.”

When Alfred revved up the Lexus LFA, the crowd stood in rapt attention, as though a flag ceremony was going on.

The supercar emitted a sound so distinctly beautiful it elicited the quote of the night:  “If only for its sound, I’m going to buy it.”

Of course, that was from T. Anthony C. Cabangon, the publisher of BusinessMirror, whose passion for cars is legend and is rivaled only by his love for golf.

“With the LFA,” said Alfred, “we usher in a new design era for Lexus while remaining faithful to its L-Finesse philosophy of incisive simplicity, intriguing elegance and seamless anticipation.  Tonight, we celebrate not only Lexus’s finest automobile, but also the meaning behind how this creation stands as a halo model for all that is Lexus.”

Another beauty of the evening was the presence of Haruhiko Tanahashi, the chief engineer of the Lexus LFA who devoted almost the last 12 years of his life developing it.

Tanahashi, brought here specifically for the occasion, equipped his babe with a 4.8L, V10 engine and carbon fiber monocoque construction, lightweight aluminum alloy motorsport suspension and carbon-ceramic disc breaks. 

The supercar can go 100 kph in 3.7 seconds and has a top speed of 325 kph.  It boasts of 412-kW/560 hp (DIN) and can rev up to 9,000 rpm.  Its Formula  One-inspired sound is described by Tanahashi as “the roar of an angel.”  Tanahashi also tapped Toyota Motor Corp.’s heritage of traditional weaving looms to allow the vehicle to achieve a performance-enhancing lightweight construction, which is primed for future mass production applications.

As part of its development process, Tanahashi entered the LFA in the Nurburgring 24 hour-race in 2008 and 2009.

And, if I may add, more than the pleasure of shaking the hand of the man who invented the LFA, may I also express my gratitude to both Yuji Goto and Sonny Guerrero, the two affable Toyota bigwigs who found extra time to introduce me to Tanahashi-san that night.

It is not every day that you shake the hand of a genius, much more have a chat with the “man of the hour.”

For Daniel M. Isla, the president of Lexus Manila Inc., the night though “is not a night of bragging” but rather, it is a night to prove that “the makers of the LFA dared to believe and dared to walk through a borderless road of imagination, creativity and technical superiority.”

Isla, popularly known as Sir John in the motoring world, added, “The LFA is a statement that Lexus is more than just the looks.  It is more than just the pleasure of its quiet elegance.  It is more than just everything that Lexus already is. ”

Yes, it is, Sir John.

Thus, with the arrival of the Lexus LFA at the Lexus Manila Showroom, what is there to pine about more in the auto industry?

I guess that with this LFA No. 161 supercar safely parked on our home shores, the search for another one like it can never, ever be found here, there and everywhere.

Disagree? 

Honey don’t.

Pee stop. Toyota is a major sponsor once more when the 62nd Fil-Am Golf Tournament blasts off in Baguio City’s Baguio Country Club and Camp John Hay on November 23. Take a bow, Sherwin ChuaLim....