Top Toyota Test Driver Killed In Lexus LFA Crash

[Mulboyne]

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Autoblog: Toyota's chief test driver dies behind wheel of LFA in German
According to reports, Toyota's chief test driver, 67-year-old Hiromu Naruse, has died in a crash on highway 410 near the famed Nürburgring race track in Germany. He was driving the recently spied Lexus LFA Nürburgring Edition at the time of the accident, and reports say he veered into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with two others test drivers in a BMW. The two BMW test drivers survived the crash, though one is reportedly still in critical condition. German video of the crash scene after the accident took place can be viewed below. Police are investigating the crash and have yet to determine its cause.

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Naruse was heavily involved with the development of the Lexus LFA supercar he was driving, along with many other past sports cars from Toyota's history since he joined the company in 1963. Enthusiasts today call him the "Godfather of the LFA," though he was involved in the development of sports cars for Toyota going as far back as the storied 2000GT from the late 1960s. The prototype of a special edition version of the LFA that he was driving when the accident occurred was reportedly worth 1.5 million euros.

Autoblog tribute to Naruse

[Yokohammer]

As much as I love razzing Toyota over the brake failure issue, I really, really hope this isn't related to something like that. I'd much rather learn that the guy had a heart attack at the wheel, for example.

[Coligny]

As much as I love razzing Toyota over the brake failure issue, I really, really hope this isn't related to something like that. I'd much rather learn that the guy had a heart attack at the wheel, for example.

From the clip "die Nissan Lexus..." yeah... Papa Schultz got problems to recognize dem fureigners car...

Might be one of those bad reflex kicking in at the wrong time... When i'm too confused and lost or surprised I tend to drive on the right side of the road... Might have done the opposite...

[FG Lurker]

Maybe he was going kamikaze on the competition?

Okay, bad joke.

I'm sorry to hear of his death and I hope the two BMW drivers pull through.

[Mike Oxlong]

I wonder if it wasn't the age old problem of senior drivers...

[Tsuru]

From the pictures it certainly looks like one of them was driving on the wrong side of the road.... and I don't think it was the Bimmer. Empty road and the force of habit maybe? Or was he under the impression this road was part of the test track and there was no traffic supposed to be coming the other way when he got on the inside of that blind turn?

[Bucky]

. . . or a sticky accelerator?

[Christoff]

at least we know the air bags work.

[Kanchou]

Live by the super car, die by the super car.

As a test driver he's lucky to have made it to 62...

[Greji]

I wonder if it wasn't the age old problem of senior drivers...

Ahh, I'm not saying in thing about seniors and their driving, although I have been known to depress the gas petal up to my knee.....

[Mike Oxlong]