Sure, there are a lot of hot new cars being flashed in the Frankfurt Motor Show. There’s only one car, however, which has caught my eye. It’s not as luxurious or super as the rest of the cars on display. It does have a lot of guts, though, and that’s what really matters for the moment.

The Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racer isn’t your usual luxurious super car, but it lives up to Lotus’ commitment to motor sports. It has been stripped down from the stock Evora to a GT3-spec race car. Its engine, a 276-horsepower V6 Toyota engine, has been tuned up to 400 horses (kudos to Lotus) to make this car a real contender in the up and coming Nurburgring 24 set for May next year.

What else is there to love about this car? Nothing special, really. Just a new sequential gearbox for aggressively smooth shifting, carbon-composite body panels for extremely lightweight, 18-inch slick tires for sure grip plus six-piston AP Racing calipers for bringing the revs down real quick before downshifting. There’s also the track-spec suspension plus wings here and there to define its aerodynamics.

This might sound stupid, but if ever I was filthy, stinking rich, I’d prefer shedding some small, insignificant amount of dough for this fighter instead of the pompous 1.1 million-Euro Lamborghini Reventon Roadster.

There is one thing I like though about the Reventon Roadster, apart from its being perfect – it’s naturally aspirated. It’s so perfect in every sense that it seems to lack purpose, and thus becomes imperfect. Well, at least you can say that despite all the high-technology automated systems in the Reventon Roadster, you still won the race without a turbo, right? Right?

Apart from the fighting spirit living in the Type 124’s underdog engine, its small and lightweight package (around 1.2 tons) makes it fast ANYWHERE – period. It kinda’ reminds me of the venerable Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 from the 80’s. I just can’t get rid of my fascination with the legendary Eight Six. No wonder I’m so into the Type 124. It shares so many characteristics with the Eight Six, including being naturally aspirated. Now, here’s a fair fighter.

Check out Autoblog’s article on the Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racer here.

With the Frankfurt Auto Show just a few days from now, every car maker and auto enthusiast is already hyped up and the automotive world is now seeing a lot of activities—images of car models leaking and press releases here and there. Aside from automakers releasing the updated versions of their models and launching new hybrids on the show, tuners will also be there to display their works of art.

One such tuner is Brabus, which will be featuring its Black Baron E V12 sedan, a sedan based on the Mercedes Benz E-Class. The Black Baron is packed with power amounting to as much as 800 horses and torque of 1,100 Nm. All this power is coming from the car’s 6.3-liter bi-turbo V12 engine.

• The car can jump from 0 to 62 mph in a matter of 3.7 seconds, and to 124 mph in about 9.9 seconds
• Its top speed is 217 mph
• Its fuel economy is rated at 15 mpg
• CO2 emissions is at 372 g/km

Aside from power, there are still many other things to like about the Brabus E V12. Among these are its 19-inch alloy wheels that come in different designs, adjustable sports suspension, and its advanced braking system. The interior is also packed with luxurious features like carbon fiber trim and leather upholstery in black.

Only ten units of the car will be produced. And of course, huge price is already a given—it will be offered starting at $875,000.

[Photo: The Lexus Enthusiast]

Yesterday, I posted about the debut of the Lexus LF-Ch at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Although this model will be one of the highlights, it won’t be the only attraction as there will be a lot more Lexus models to be on display. Check out the press release below to see these models and to see more updates about the LF-Ch:

WORLD PREMIERE OF LEXUS LF-Ch AT THE 2009 FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW

* World premiere of LF-Ch, the new full hybrid premium compact concept
* World premiere of the updated LS model range
* Model year updates for GS, IS and IS F

Lexus will unveil the LF-Ch full hybrid premium compact concept at the forthcoming 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is joined on the Lexus stand by the world debut of the updated LS model range and revised versions of GS, IS and IS F.

Lexus LF-Ch

* Premium compact concept with Lexus Hybrid Drive
* Practical 5-door body, meeting the core needs of customers in the premium compact market

Reinforcing Lexus’ position as the only manufacturer to offer a range of hybrid vehicles, the LF-Ch concept will make its world premiere the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

LF-Ch combines stylish design and full hybrid technology in a practical 5-door compact package to fulfil the needs of the most demanding premium compact segment customers.

Benefiting from an electric-only driving capability, a key feature of Lexus Hybrid Drive, LF-Ch will allow for virtually silent urban driving with zero emissions.

Detailed information and images of the Lexus LF-Ch will be released on 10 September 2009.

Lexus LS

* Revised exterior and interior designs
* Updated equipment and redesigned seating
* Enhanced driving dynamics

Also making its world premiere at the show is the comprehensively revised LS model range, incorporating updates to the exterior and interior designs, a redesigned seating configuration, significantly updated equipment and enhanced driving dynamics.

The world’s only full hybrid vehicle in the premium luxury sedan segment, the Lexus LS 600h will be instantly identified as the high performance flagship of the LS model range through bespoke exterior and interior styling cues, improved packaging, and numerous enhancements to the vehicle’s Lexus Hybrid Drive system.

Lexus GS

* Revised exterior design, bringing further emphasis to full hybrid GS 450h
* Enhanced safety features
* New audio and navigation systems and revised colour range

The 2010 GS model range features enhanced safety features, new exterior and interior colours while the GS 450h’s status as the model range flagship has now been further reinforced through several bespoke styling cues. GS450h remains the world’s only full hybrid model in the premium mid-size segment. The 2010 GS range also benefits from upgraded audio and navigation systems.

IS and IS F

* F-Sport package available on IS sedan
* IS F now available with Limited Slip Differential
* New audio and navigation systems

A refreshed IS model range incorporates navigation and audio system upgrades, a new F Sport trim package and a revised IS F ultra-high performance sports sedan now available with a Limited Slip Differential.

The Frankfurt Auto Show is just around the corner, and automakers are starting to make their move to attract people to their display come the show. Toyota has been busy with the different models it’s planning to showcase on the said event. Added to these are the concept vehicles it’s bringing on the show: the Toyota Auris Hybrid Concept, the plug-in Prius Hybrid Concept, and two other concept vehicles based on the iQ. The Toyota showroom will have a lot of green, especially with the addition of the Lexus LF-Ch, which will make its debut on the said show.

Lexus released the first teaser image of the LF-Ch, a compact hybrid hatchback that aims to tackle models like the BMW 1 Series and Audi A3. Though the company didn’t give a lot of details regarding this hybrid concept, what we know now is that it will be a 5-door, front-wheel drive hatchback that is capable of running on purely electric mode. More details are expected to come out in the coming days.