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http://www.caradvice.com.au/71490/hiromu-n...-near-the-ring/

In a horrible and tragic twist of fate, the two-tone Lexus LFA Nurburgring Edition featured on CarAdvice yesterday has been involved in a fatal collision on roads outside the famous circuit, killing Toyota's chief test driver, 67-year-old Hiromu Naruse.

According to reports, the Lexus LFA driven by Naruse-san veered into oncoming traffic and had a head-on collision with two other test drivers in a BMW who are now in a critical condition.

Several sources have indicated that all occupants in both cars were wearing helmets at the time of the accident which underlines the severity of the crash.

Naruse-san had been with the Toyota Motor Corporation since 1963 and most recently had been chief of the Gazoo Racing teams which fielded the Lexus LFA entries in the Nurburgring 24-hour race.

Labelled the "Godfather of the LFA", Naruse-san was regarded as one of the most respected test drivers in Japan and is believed to have clocked more time on the Ring than any other Japanese driver.

Edited by PM-R33

More pics....

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-news/supe...00624-z0e6.html

Another reason to buy a Euro over Jap, No one can beat them in passenger safety. The LFA was way way over on the wrong side of the road.

It is sad to hear :) I have to wonder why he died though and the people in the BMW did? Considering both occupants of the LF A were wearing helmets etc, it is a bit worrying.

In the quest for speed, sacrifices are made to weight reduction, most of the sacrifices reduce the strength and crumple zone of super cars. The Italians and Germans have done it right. By the looks of this car Toyota has forgotten about safety to build a stupidly quick car. In the end that is what you have to expect can happen when travelling high speeds in any car. A helmet can improve the chance of survival, but it doesn't mean you can survive big crashes...

In the quest for speed, sacrifices are made to weight reduction, most of the sacrifices reduce the strength and crumple zone of super cars. The Italians and Germans have done it right. By the looks of this car Toyota has forgotten about safety to build a stupidly quick car. In the end that is what you have to expect can happen when travelling high speeds in any car. A helmet can improve the chance of survival, but it doesn't mean you can survive big crashes...

Hmmmm.... By the looks of the car you can judge whether Toyota have made a safe car or not? BAHAHAHAHAhhahahahahahhaha. :)

More pics....

http://theage.drive.com.au/motor-news/supe...00624-z0e6.html

Another reason to buy a Euro over Jap, No one can beat them in passenger safety. The LFA was way way over on the wrong side of the road.

In the quest for speed, sacrifices are made to weight reduction, most of the sacrifices reduce the strength and crumple zone of super cars. The Italians and Germans have done it right. By the looks of this car Toyota has forgotten about safety to build a stupidly quick car. In the end that is what you have to expect can happen when travelling high speeds in any car. A helmet can improve the chance of survival, but it doesn't mean you can survive big crashes...

As exiting as it is for me to have someone on the forum who is awsum enough to apparently have a Ferrari, let me just say:

A) If you have such an issue with Nissans and Japanese cars in general, join a Ferrari Forum

B) Find me evidence of a Ferrari with a 5 star safety rating....

Interestingly, NCAP 2009 top five does have a Euro car on top

http://www.goauto.com.au/mellor/mellor.nsf...A2576BA000EDCD8

Followed by 2 Japanese cars (2+3), then a Korean (4), with another Japanese and 2 Euros coming in equal 5th.. so of the 7 cars in the top 5, 3 are Japanese, 3 are European, and one is korean, making it 4 Asian cars all up... NO Italians, 1 German....

Further to that, suggesting that saving weight reduces crumple zones and strength... Crumple Zones are a designed weak spot, which is in actual fact a direct opposite to strenght.

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