Just as we begin to deal with Nissan’s new GT-R sweeping all before it and establishing a new set of performance and value benchmarks for the Supercar genre comes the news that a Lexus LF-A mule has broken through the current production car lap record at the Nurburgring. Auto Express reports that Lexus insiders have revealed that a test mule has posted a 7 minute 24 second lap, destroying by three seconds the previous record set by Pagani’s Zonda F.

In a sign of the times ahead, a Japanese supercar has reset the performance benchmark at the world famous track and no-doubt has the traditional German / Italian supercar manufacturers and fans scratching their heads. Reportedly, the LF-A mule was powered by a 4.8-litre V10 engine with an output of 389kW/522hp and is capable of a 210mph top speed. Not massive power for a supercar, which gives you an inkling of the gains being made by the Japanese in the area of handling and suspension control.

With a 5.0-litre V10 powered Honda NSX in development, it really is time to take the Japanese manufacturers very seriously.